Stefan Klos

Stefan Klos

Klos in 2005
Personal information
Full nameStefan Klos
Date of birth16 August 1971
Place of birthDortmund, West Germany
Height1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Youth career
TuS Eving-Lindenhorst
Eintracht Dortmund
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1990–1998Borussia Dortmund254(0)
1999–2007Rangers208(0)
Total462(0)
National team
1991–1993Germany U2117(0)
1992Germany Olympic2(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Stefan Klos (born 16 August 1971) is a German retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

His 17-year career was solely associated with Borussia Dortmund and Rangers, winning 13 major titles with both teams combined, including four Scottish Premier League titles and the 1997 Champions League.

Club career

Borussia Dortmund

Born in Dortmund, Klos arrived at Borussia Dortmund in the 1990 summer, from neighbouring TSC Eintracht Dortmund. He made his Bundesliga debut on 4 May 1991 at only 19, in a 2–2 home draw against SG Wattenscheid 09.

From his second season onwards Klos became the club's undisputed starter, relegating longtime first-choice Wolfgang de Beer to the bench. His worst output was 31 games in precisely that season, as Die Borussen went on to win back-to-back national championships, also finishing second in 1991–92.

In addition to playing in all the league matches in 1996–97 – league conquest – Klos added 11 appearances in the season's UEFA Champions League (46 official games for the season), as Borussia won the tournament for the first time ever. He left the club with more than 350 official contests to his credit.

Rangers

On 24 December 1998 Klos signed with Scottish giants Rangers, on a contract that made him one of the highest-earning players in Europe.[1] He replaced Lionel Charbonnier as first-choice and was nicknamed 'Der Goalie', a play on club legend Andy Goram's "The Goalie" moniker; he won his first Scottish Premier League title that season.

In a game against Heart of Midlothian at Tynecastle Stadium during the 2000–01 season, Klos produced an outstanding performance: as both Arthur Numan and Claudio Reyna were sent off for the away side he made several crucial saves in an eventual 1–0 win, courtesy of a Jörg Albertz penalty; Celtic won the league however.

In 2002–03, Rangers won the treble, with Klos again an undisputed first-choice. He was appointed team captain in July 2004.

Klos picked up a knee ligament injury in training in January 2005,[2] missing the remainder of the season and being replaced by Ronald Waterreus.[3] The Dutch retained his starter status even after he regained full fitness.

Klos looked set to challenge new signing Lionel Letizi after Paul Le Guen's arrival at the start of the 2006–07 season, but he suffered a biking injury which gave long-term third choice Allan McGregor the chance to play. On 2 November 2006, he made his first appearance of the season for the first team against Hapoel Tel Aviv FC in the UEFA Cup group stage, after McGregor was sent off (2–0 home win).

Klos left Rangers at the end of the season after eight and a half years at the club, having appeared in 298 official games. He retired at the age of 36 and subsequently settled in Switzerland; in 2009, he was inducted into the Rangers Hall of Fame.[4]

Honours

Borussia Dortmund
Rangers

References

  1. ↑ Duncan, Colin (26 May 2012). "Rangers in crisis: Contract shows Stefan Klos paid same as David Beckham". Daily Record. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  2. ↑ "Klos out for rest of the season". BBC Sport. 29 January 2005. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
  3. ↑ "'Keeper Waterreus joins Rangers". BBC Sport. 31 January 2005. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  4. ↑ "Hall of Fame". Rangers F.C. Retrieved 10 March 2012.

External links