Miroslav Klose
Miroslav Josef Klose arrived in the Silesian city of Opole, Poland on the 9th of June 1978. His father Josef worked as a professional footballer for Odra Opole before leaving his homeland in 1978 to join French club Auxerre. His mother Barbara Jeż played handball for the Poland women's national team. The family belonged to a German minority group known as Aussiedler who had stayed behind when borders shifted after World War II. Eight-year-old Miroslav joined his father in Kusel, West Germany during 1986 knowing only two words of German language. He developed skills with local club SG Blaubach-Diedelkopf while working as an apprentice carpenter.
Klose began his professional career at age 20 with FC Homburg reserves in 1998. Twelve months later he moved to 1. FC Kaiserslautern where he made his Bundesliga debut in April 2000. During the 2001, 02 season he scored sixteen goals and missed top scorer status by just two goals. March 2004 saw him sign a four-year contract with Werder Bremen for five million euros. He made his league debut on the 6th of August 2004 replacing Paraguayan striker Nelson Valdez against Schalke 04. On the 29th of August 2004 Klose scored his first goal in a 2, 1 home loss to VfL Wolfsburg. By 2005, 06 he finished as the league's top goalscorer with twenty-five goals.
Bayern Munich president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirmed a transfer agreement on the 26th of June 2007. Klose completed his medical on the 28th of June 2007 before signing a four-year deal. The club won both the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal during the 2007, 08 season. In 2010 he helped Bayern secure the DFL-Supercup with an eightieth-minute goal. Contract negotiations failed in early 2011 leading to his departure after scoring only one goal in twenty matches. Nine days later he signed a three-year contract with Italian Serie A club Lazio. On the 16th of October 2011 he scored the winning goal in the Rome derby against Roma but radical fans displayed a sign reading Klose mit us that mimicked Nazi imagery. He condemned the display stating politics should stay out of stadiums. During the 2012, 13 season he scored five goals against Bologna marking the first time since 1984, 85 a player achieved such a feat in Serie A.
Klose made his international debut on the 24th of March 2001 against Albania as a substitute for Germany. Two minutes from time he headed home the winner in a 2, 1 victory celebrating with a front-flip. Five headed goals at the 2002 World Cup in Korea-Japan tied him with Rivaldo for second-highest scorer. He became the first player to score five headers in a single tournament. The 2006 World Cup in Germany saw him win the Golden Boot with five goals including an eightieth-minute equaliser against Argentina. Sixteen total goals across four tournaments between 2002 and 2014 broke Ronaldo's previous record of fifteen. On the 8th of July 2014 he scored his sixteenth goal against hosts Brazil in the semi-finals giving Germany a two-nil lead. This achievement made him the third player in history to score in four different World Cups.
Jerzy Engel traveled to Germany in January 2001 to persuade Klose to represent Poland. The request was declined by Klose who stated I have a German passport and if things are still running this way I have a chance to play for Rudi Völler. An interview given to Przegląd Sportowy on the 9th of June 2008 revealed the decision was not easy. He added that if Polish officials had been faster he would be playing for Poland. Despite the choice he does not regret it as he won medals in World Cup tournaments with Germany. His international career included seventy-one goals in one hundred thirty-seven appearances for the national team.
Klose retired from professional football on the 1st of November 2016 after five years at Lazio. One month later he joined the coaching staff of the German national team. Bayern Munich named him coach for their U-17 team on the 11th of May 2018 under a two-year contract. On the 7th of May 2020 he signed a one-year deal as first-team assistant manager under Hansi Flick before leaving in May 2021. Rheindorf Altach announced his appointment as head coach on the 17th of June 2022. His tenure ended in March 2023 when the club parted ways with him. On the 11th of June 2024 1. FC Nürnberg appointed Klose as their new head coach in the 2. Bundesliga.
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Common questions
When and where was Miroslav Klose born?
Miroslav Josef Klose arrived in the Silesian city of Opole, Poland on the 9th of June 1978. His family belonged to a German minority group known as Aussiedler who had stayed behind when borders shifted after World War II.
How many goals did Miroslav Klose score across four World Cup tournaments between 2002 and 2014?
Sixteen total goals across four tournaments between 2002 and 2014 broke Ronaldo's previous record of fifteen. On the 8th of July 2014 he scored his sixteenth goal against hosts Brazil in the semi-finals giving Germany a two-nil lead.
Which club did Miroslav Klose join after leaving Bayern Munich in 2011?
Contract negotiations failed in early 2011 leading to his departure after scoring only one goal in twenty matches. Nine days later he signed a three-year contract with Italian Serie A club Lazio.
Who appointed Miroslav Klose as head coach of 1. FC Nürnberg in 2024?
On the 11th of June 2024 1. FC Nürnberg appointed Klose as their new head coach in the 2. Bundesliga. He previously served as head coach for Rheindorf Altach from June 2022 until March 2023.
What was Miroslav Klose's international goal tally before retiring from professional football on November 1st 2016?
His international career included seventy-one goals in one hundred thirty-seven appearances for the national team. He retired from professional football on the 1st of November 2016 after five years at Lazio.