JURGEN KLINSMANN

Born in 1964

Played in the German clubs' Stuttgarter Kickers, VfB Stuttgart, Bayern Munich, Italian clubs Inter Milan and Sampdoria, English club Tottenham Hotspur, French AS Monaco. " In the years 1987-1998 had 108 caps for the Federal Republic of Germany.

Parents Jurgen Klinsmann and still bake bread in his bakery near Stuttgart. When a famous footballer, currently (2004) lives in America, staying at home, it also sometimes gets to the furnace - for his own pleasure. Since the work of the baker he knows firsthand: as a child my father insisted that he really has mastered this craft, although Jurgen since the early years surprised everyone with a bright football talent.

Playing in the nursery team of amateur club Gayzlingena small town, he scored goals in almost every game. Pedantic German football statistics have estimated that from ten to fourteen years Jurgen spent 254 balls. The local press seriously called him "a little Gerd Muller," and predicted a great future. Since early summer it was perfectly placed kick with both feet, he possessed great speed and dribbling skillfully played head.

Professional career as a football player Jurgen started in the club second division of football of Germany "Stuttgarter Kickers", when he was seventeen years old. During this time he has ever played in the junior national team of Germany and as always scored many goals, for which he earned the nickname "Golden goal-scorer. " In twenty years, became a player Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart, where he has already come true for soccer glory. In 1984, Stuttgart won the title of Germany, which contributed a lot of goals scored Klinsmann. Finally, in 1987, the then coach of West Germany Franz Beckenbauer took it in his South American tour. December 12 Jurgen Klinsmann for the first time came on a T-shirt team in a friendly game with Brazil.

Photo — «Jurgen Klinsmann»

It is unlikely that the father Jurgen, teaching profession baker's son, assumed, what an amazing career he was destined to reality. He has performed in major events - from the World Championships before the Olympic games, sweepstakes European Cup, played in teams of four, knew the big victories and disappointing defeats, and has consistently remained always aiming at the wrong gate of the Golden scorer.

Already in 1988, Juergen participated in two major tournaments of the season - the European Championships, held in Germany, and the XXIV Olympic Games in South Korea. Both won him the bronze medal. A year later, Klinsmann for the first time along with VfB Stuttgart played in the UEFA Cup final against Napoli, which then in his best form was Maradona. The match ended in victory in Naples, Napoli - 2:1. One of the goals scored by Maradona. The return match in Stuttgart, has brought a draw - 3:3. Now one of the goals was counted Klinsmann. UEFA Cup following two games won the Naples club.

In 1989, Klinsmann has left for Italy. As part of Milan then shone the famous Dutch trio - Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten. His bitter rival, Inter decided to bet on the German troika invited, in addition to Klinsmann, Andreas Brehme and more and Lothar Matthaus. The following year, 1990, all three in the national team became world champions Germany, and the Milanese public was expecting from the German legions of great accomplishments. They were followed in 1991 when Inter won the UEFA Cup, having won on aggregate AS Roma.

At the European Championships in 1992 team lost to Germany in the final match of the national team of Denmark. Klinsmann after the tournament was in Monaco, where he again went on to score goal after goal. The beautiful game and it showed at the World Championships in 1994. In five of the match, he scored five goals, but this impressive series of stop unexpected defeat of the Bulgarian team in the quarterfinals.

Photo — «Jurgen Klinsmann»

Soccer fate was such that in the next four years, Jurgen Klinsmann played in the English club Tottenham Hotspur, then at home to Bayern Munich, then went to the Italian Sampdoria and finally returned to Tottenham Hotspur. In 1996 he again won the UEFA Cup - this time with Bayern, beaten in the final of the French club Bordeaux. One of the five goals scored by German players in two matches belonged to Klinsmann.

From Bayern Munich as the "Golden striker went along with the German national team to England for the European Championship in 1996. He was thirty-two years, and on the field, he went to the captain's armband. The first match of group tournament with Czech team Klinsmann, however, missed because of illness, but the second scored his two goals against the Russian team. And after the final match with the same Czech team captain Jurgen Klinsmann of Germany took the European Cup in Europe from the hands of Queen Elizabeth II. So the Golden striker, have already won the 1990 world title and became champions of Europe.

A long and colorful football career Jurgen Klinsmann was completed in 1999, when he was thirty-five years. A year earlier, as a captain in the German national team, he participated in another World Cup, already the third for himself on the account. Here, he scored three goals for his team, but the German team was able to reach only to the quarterfinals, where suffered a major defeat from Croatia - 0:3.

Now Jurgen Klinsmann lives in California, since married to an American Centerfolds Debbie Hine, and all of his time giving the family. His farewell match took place in Stuttgart, where his football career began: "Stuttgart" played against the team of football stars, among them Ruud Gullit, Rudi Voller, Jurgen Kohler.