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| Career | |
| Position: | Forward |
| Clubs: | SG Blaubach-Diedelkopf, FC Hamburg (up to 1999), Kaiserslautern (since 1999) |
| International appearances: | 38 |
| International goals: | 16 |
| International debut: | 24/03/2001, Germany-Albanie (2-1) |
| Last international appearance: | 06/06/2004, Germany-Hungary (0-2) |
| First international goal: | 24/03/20001, Germany-Albania (2-1) |
| Last international goal: | 18/02/2004, Croatia-Germany (1-2) |
Appearances : 1 (2002), 7 matches, 5 goals
Finalist (2002)
Finalist (2003)
Biography
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| German forward Miroslav Klose reacts after he scored a goal during the Group E first round match Germany/Ireland of the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan, 05 June 2001 at Kashima Ibaraki Stadium. AFP PHOTO ODD ANDERSEN |
Germany made a surprise run to the 2002 World Cup final where they were beaten 2-0 by Brazil, a disappointment lightened by the emergence of Kaiserslautern striker Miroslav Klose, who scored five goals out in Asia.
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| Germany's forward Miroslav Klose (11) makes a flip after scoring the second goal as Saudi Arabia's goalie Mohammed Al Deayea at looks on at the Sapporo Dome in Sapporo, Japan, 01 June, 2002 during match 4 group E of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea Japan opposing Germany and Saudi Arabia. AFP PHOTO GABRIEL BOUYS |
Klose treated TV viewers the world over to his trademark backflip each time he scored, including three in the 8-0 humiliation of Saudi Arabia.
His feats sparked comparisons with former great Gerd Muller, who picked up the nickname the 'Bomber' with his tally of 68 goals from 62 international matches for Germany.
He was born in the Silesia region of Poland which was German territory before World War II. His father was a professional footballer at Auxerre in France in the 1980's and the family moved to Germany when Miroslav was nine-years-old.
He played in regional sides before joining the Bundesliga club Kaiserslautern in 1999.
Rudi Voller gave him his international debut on March 24, 2001 in a 2-1 win over Albania where he rewarded the coach's faith with a goal.
"He gives everything, reaches deep down into himself," noted Voller, who knows a thing or two about strikers haveing scored 47 international goals from 90 games himself.
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| South Korean national soccer team defender Kim Tae-young (L) fights for the ball with German forward Miroslav Klose 25 June 2002 at the Seoul World Cup stadium during their semi-final match of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. AFP PHOTO - EMMANUEL DUNAND |
Hat-tricks seem to be Klose's speciality as he also bagged three goals in matches against Israel and Austria ahead of the 2002 World Cup, performances that ensured his presence on the giant stage.
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| FC Kaiserslautern's (GER) Miroslav Klose (front) and Steffen Freund celebrate Klose's goal against FK Teplice (CZE) during their UEFA Cup first round match in Kaiserslautern 24 September 2003. AFP PHOTO DDP/ALEXANDER HEIMANN GERMANY OUT |
There are now younger men challenging for his spot, notably Kevin Kuranyi, who knocked Klose of his perch and onto the substitutes bench in 2003.
He looks set to quit Kaiserslautern at the end of the 2003-04 season, with VfB Stuttgart, Borussia Dortmund and mighty Bayern Munich hot on his trail.
¨To one day pull on a Bayern shirt would be a dream come true for any player," Klose freely stated.
Two years after the World Cup launched him on the international scene Euro 2004 could propel him to further heights with a move to one of the European giants, though Klose himself will be more intent on hunting more goals and another crown for his nation.