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Oliver Kahn was born in Karlsruhe in 1969. Even in early childhood, Oliver Kahn was a passionate footballer.

At the age of six, he started out as a field player at SC Karlsruhe before switching to goalkeeper. Nonetheless, his parents insisted he obtain a good education parallel to sport. After obtaining the entry qualifications, he studied economics while continuing to play football. At the tender age of 18, he made it into the professional squad of SC Karlsruhe. 1987 - Bundesliga debut with SC Karlsruhe. 1994 - transfer to German championship record holder FC Bayern Munich. At that time, the transfer was the most expensive goalkeeper transfer in the history of the Bundesliga. He became one of the most successful German professional footballers of all time and the most successful German goalkeeper ever: among other things, eight times German Champion, six times German FA Cup winner, 2001 winner of the Champions League, the highest achievement in European club football. In his career, he played 864 official matches, including 554 Bundesliga matches, 424 with FC Bayern Munich, 86 matches as goalkeeper of the German national team and 141 matches in the European Cup and Champions League. Three times World Goalkeeper of the Year. In 2002, Best Player and Best Goalkeeper at the World Cup in Japan / South Korea. He has received countless other prizes and awards for his outstanding sporting and particular personal achievements, among others for his team spirit and exemplary behaviour during the 2006 World Cup in Germany. In the summer of 2008, his 22nd year as a professional footballer, he ended his unparalleled career.

Since September 2008, Oliver Kahn has been appearing as a football pundit during international matches and other selected football highlights on ZDF (2nd German TV channel). Within the framework of the "I Can Do It Tour With Oliver Kahn" – an initiative of “easy living” and the German Prevention of Cruelty to Children Association – the former professional footballer is keenly involved in motivating young people in Bavarian schools. Oliver Kahn is the initiator and a member of the jury in the Chinese TV casting show "I Never Give Up - The Kahn Principle", a show with contestants that aims to find up-and-coming goalkeeping talent in China. Golf is Oliver Kahn's great passion. As an ambassador for the Ryder Cup – the most prestigious golf match in the world – he is strongly committed to Germany's bid to host the event in 2018.

Photo by Manfred Esser

"Der Ryder Cup in Deutschland wäre Emotion pur. Ein phantastisches Erlebnis, das den deutschen Golfsport enorm beflügeln würde."