The "Mannschaft"

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National team player Jens Lehmann

Number:

Date/place of birth:

10.11.1969 in Essen

Height:

1,90 m

Weight:

87 kg

Club:

Arsenal London

Former clubs:

DJK Heisingen
Schwarz-Weiß Essen
Schalke 04
AC Mailand
Borussia Dortmund

Position:

Goalkeeper

Matches	Goals	W	T	L	Percentage	In	Out
61	0	41	10	10	67%	5	2

all statistics

Jens Lehmann: The penalty hero

Prior to the World Cup 2006 the so-called 'goalie question' took hold of the whole German football nation. The fight for 'Number One' between Oliver Kahn, who had a decisive part with an impressive performance in bringing Germany to the World Cup Final 2002 in Japan and Korea, and his contender Jens Lehmann did not only preoccupy the regulars' tables. Shop was talked everywhere, discussions didn't cease, until then National Coach Jürgen Klinsmann made his decision public: He opted for Jens Lehmann.

Lehmann's biggest moment during the tournament surely was the quarterfinal against Argentina at Berlin's Olympic Stadium, when he stopped the penalties by Esteban Cambiasso and Roberto Ayala. It meant the semifinal for the team. Ever since his popularity at fans is at a high. But Kahn, too, won sympathies, as he wished luck in an unforgettable scene to his rival just before the shootout started.

Lehmann, who actually is the goalkeeper with the longest unbeaten run in the German National Team, managed to keep his great shape after the World Cup as well. During the EURO-qualifiers he assured the ticket to the Finals in Austria and Switzerland for the 3rd-placed team of the World Cup. At his English club FC Arsenal, where he celebrated the Championship in his first year 2004 and won the F.A.Cup one year later, times were not as good for the 38-year-old, since he lost his place as a first-team regular to Spaniard Manuel Almunia. After five mostly successful years his engagement in London ended this summer.

In Germany Lehmann kicked off his professional career in 1989 at then second-league Schalke 04, managing to promote to the Bundesliga shortly after. In his ten years bearing the colours of the 'Royal Blues', he won the UEFA Cup in 1997, but also lived his darkest moment in 1992, when a torn lateral collateral ligament, cruciate ligament and meniscus threatened to end his career prematurely. He made it to the headlines in 1997, scoring a goal out of play as the first keeper in Bundesliga history: On December 19 he headed the 2-2 equaliser against Ruhr rivals Borussia Dortmund in the 90th minute.

One year later he was transferred to AC Milan, but returned just half a year later to Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund. He won the German title in 2002 with the 'Yellow-Blacks', before he changed to FC Arsenal in 2003. In the Championship year 2004 he was elected best keeper of the Premier League, 1997 and 2006 he won the award as best European goalkeeper of the year.

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* Thomas Müller only against Ivory Coast on November 18th

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