Biography of Miroslav Klose: Tinker in the national jersey

Imagine Miroslav Klose in a soccer jersey: which shirt is he wearing?

It's not as if Miroslav Klose had never played for a club team. At 1 FC Kaiserslautern began the professional career of the striker; Otto Rehhagel was the coach and the club still a big number in the Bundesliga. Then: Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich, Lazio Rome. Championships, cup wins in Germany and Italy, finalist in the Champions League. 195 goals in the Bundesliga (121 goals / 74 assists), 84 points in Serie A (54/30). The season 2005/2006 at Werder is unforgettable: 25 goals, 13 assists - in 26 league games. These are Messi and Ronaldo values.

Yes, Klose was a successful striker in club football.

If you imagine Klose in a soccer jersey, you should still have it in mind, especially in the dress of the German national football team. Maybe you will hear the screaming of ZDF commentator Béla Réthy: "Klooooose!" With each hit the goal scream was felt an "o" longer, the legend status bigger. 71 goals in 137 international matches scored the attacker. Klose - that's the story of the national striker.

Author and sports journalist Ronald Reng, known for his books such as "Robert Enke: Too Short Life"; "Gamedays", reminiscent in the biography "Miro" now published once again on the great moments of the ex-professional; The fact that Klose's career began not as a junior performance center for a national club, but as a carpenter, as a source of resettlement from Poland. That Klose fought as a 20-year-old still a regular place at FC Homburg, far away from professional football.

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Ronald Reng
Miro: The official biography of Miroslav Klose

Publishing company:

Piper

Pages:

448

Price:

EUR 22,00

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Reng conducted several interviews with Klose over three years, talking to companions, to Uli Hoeneß or Thomas Schaaf, to old friends and former youth coaches, to those who believed in Klose - and those who had already written him off. The story of the unusual path of a footballer in the world top has been read more often. But, and these are the exciting, new insights, Reng is trying to explain how Klose managed to become the most successful striker in the DFB history, with 16 goals even the most successful attacker in World Cup history.

Klose was not born with a sense of goal. But he was curious, open to things that at first glance did not have much to do with football - and in the end were crucial to his success.

Between a hobbyist and a home improvement

As a carpenter, Klose was already trying to develop techniques for transporting roof tiles to his colleagues the quickest. He gained his curiosity in the professional business: During the 2002 World Cup, Klose often sat in the treatment room of Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt - and watched for hours as the team doctor felt injury to his teammates. He spent whole days with DFB masseur Klaus Eder, so he got to know his own body. Also a reason why Klose could still be at the age of 36 at the World Cup in Brazil one of the pillars in the world champion team of national coach Joachim Loew. Why did he draw a line under career only at the age of 38?

Klose was a tinkerer, he had the perfect shot explained by the Lauterer Nasenpflaster legend Olaf Marschall (Spoiler: Klose is not happy with his shot on goal). Even at his famous goal celebrations, the somersault, he has worked for years. But to be absorbed in his role, Klose needed space on the football field; how much, became clear in his time in Bavaria under Louis van Gaal. The Dutch coach has a clear idea of ​​football, and it is said that there is no ear for counter-opinion. A stubborn head.

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Van Gaal's plan for Klose looked like this: always run to the first post. But Klose had now perfected to lurk in the back of the defense to let the opponent with feints in the empty. Klose was ready for something new, but van Gaal's demands overwhelmed him, he did not share them: In two years under van Gaal Klose get only four Bundesliga goals. If you imagine Klose today in a jersey, then probably not in Bayern dress. The national coach, however, always stuck to Klose. Even though he was out of shape due to injury, Joachim Löw took the striker to the big tournaments, and when June came, Réthy shouted back into the TV microphone.

When Reng wants to talk to Löw about Klose, a short appointment was actually planned. Löw loses but then the overview of the time, writes the author, the national coach does not stop talking. Klose and Löw, they owe their big moments to each other. Klose was always there, one of those quiet leaders in the national jersey. If the national coach is criticized today, perhaps this can also be explained with Klose: his eternal striker is no longer there. Löw has not found a replacement today.

Klose is currently working on a coaching career. He has overseen the Under-17s of FC Bayern Munich for more than a year, and Sport Director Hasan Salihamidzic had hoped to win Klose for the club's U19 for the new season. Klose refused, he did not see himself ready yet.

Miroslav Klose still wants to learn.