/ 4 September 2008

Kahn readies for life off the pitch

He may have officially retired following his testimonial in Munich this week, but former Germany captain and goalkeeper Oliver Kahn already has a busy programme planned to fill in the gaps when he would have been training or playing.

The 39-year-old was in Bayern Munich’s goal for the last time on Tuesday night at the Allianz Arena when a Germany XI were held to a 1-1 draw by Bayern.

But having won the Champions League and played in the 2002 World Cup final, Kahn will be just as busy in his new career as a pundit and talent spotter for Bayern.

”For me there is no retirement, I am the sort of person who likes to stay busy and I will start attacking my new life this month,” said Kahn, who has the third highest amount of appearances in the Bundesliga with 557.

”There is no new life, only another period of my life.”

But football will still play a huge role.

Next Wednesday, he will begin his new role as an expert pundit for German television station ZDF when Germany play Finland in Helsinki in a World Cup 2010 qualifier.

”Expert? I will never actually use this word to describe myself,” said Kahn in his usual blunt style.

But having been the victim himself of over-critical pundits in the past, Kahn says he will guard against misinterpretation of what he sees on the pitch.

”Some people lean on the side of over-interpretation,” he said.

”But I will always guard against it.”

On top of his television work, Kahn will also turn his eyes to Asia — and China in particular — where he will be on the look out for goalkeeping talent for Bayern.

”That is an enormous task, because there is no real club structure in China,” said Kahn.

”Plus there is the sheer size of the country.”

Kahn will search through hours of video tape of Chinese club games before expanding his search to Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia before a possible scouting mission to visit the countries.

And Kahn also has plans to set up a football academy for schoolchildren in Bavaria, where he will preach the values of being a good goalkeeper.

”I will try to make clear to the pupils that talent alone is not enough,” said Kahn.

”One succeeds in life only with perseverance, hard work and the will to achieve,” said Kahn, who was capped 87 times for Germany.

”You don’t have to be the best to win — just the most persistent.” — AFP