• Oliver Kahn, also known as "Der Titan," is the only goalkeeper to have won the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball.

• Kahn’s 14-year career at Bayern Munich saw him win 22 titles, including 8 Bundesliga titles and a Champions League trophy.

• Known for his commanding presence, Kahn became a club legend and one of football’s most decorated goalkeepers.

When a player is the only goalkeeper in the game’s history to have won the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball, he is undoubtedly a name that should strongly be considered as the greatest in his position. We are talking about Oliver Kahn, one of the best goalkeepers produced by German football. He is known for his magnificent stint with Bayern and the German national team, as he was an instrument for both club and country during his prime. Kahn was also popularly known as Der Titan (“The Titan”) Due to his commanding presence in goal and aggressive style. This article will be looking at Der Titan’s time at Bayern Munich, which saw Kahn establish himself as one of the greatest in club history.

Early years at Bayern

Oliver Kahn's impressive performances at Karlsruher SC eventually resulted in Bayern signing the player. He was brought as a replacement for Raimond Aumann at the beginning of the 1994–95 season, with a then goalkeeper record €2.38 million being paid for the player. The German went on to establish himself as Bayern's first-choice goalkeeper, and went on to put up impressive performances for the Bavarians. A rupturing of his cruciate ligament at the time however saw the player sidelined for 6 months.

He made his return and won the UEFA Cup with Bayern in 1996, beating Bordeaux 3-1. The 1996–97 Bundesliga season saw even more success for the player, with Kahn winning his first ever league title with the Bavarians. He was also named German Goalkeeper of the Year for the second time in his career (the first in 1994).

A sharp decline

Oliver Kahn went on to have a highly disappointing 2002–03 season, with the player accounting injuries, personal problems and a lack of motivation as the primary reasons for his rapid decline at the time. The effect of these were most obvious in the Champions League that season, as Kahn's mistake allowed Roberto Carlos to score for Real Madrid and eventually dump Bayern out of the European competition. Despite the drastic loss of form, Kahn was still able to win Bundesliga with Bayern the following season.

The end

During the 2007–08 season, Kahn announced his intention to honour his contract and keep playing for the Bavarians. On 2 September 2007, he made history at the age of 38 by becoming the league's all-time leader among goalkeepers in matches played. Kahn's final European appearance for Bayern came in the UEFA Cup semi-final on 1st May 2008 against Zenit Saint Petersburg, which ended with the German's losing 4-0. This was followed by his final league match for Bayern which took place on 17 May, as Bayern destroyed Hertha Berlin 4-1.

After 2 decades in professional football and 14 years with Bayern, it was time for Kahn to say Goodbye. He had his professional farewell in a testimonial match versus the select Germany XI on 2 September 2008, which ended 1–1. Kahn's final appearance for Bayern Munich was on 27 May 2008 at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata against Mohun Bagan. The Match had a massive 120,000 turnout, and ended with Bayern winning 3-0.

Legacy

Oliver Kahn bid farewell to Bayern as one of the greatest ever players in the club's history. His 14 years with the club saw him win an astounding 22 titles, including 8 league titles, 6 DFB-Pokals, and a Champions League. The German also received numerous individual accolades during his time at Bayern, being named best Bundesliga goalkeeper, IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper, Best European Goalkeeper, UEFA Club Football Awards best goalkeeper, German Footballer of the Year on multiple occasions. He will forever be remembered as one of the greatest and most successful German's in football history.

FAQs

Why is Oliver Kahn called "Der Titan"?

Kahn earned the nickname "Der Titan" due to his commanding presence, aggressive style of play, and leadership qualities on the field.

What are some of Oliver Kahn’s major achievements at Bayern Munich?

During his time at Bayern Munich, Kahn won 8 Bundesliga titles, 6 DFB-Pokals, a Champions League title, and multiple individual awards like the IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper.

When did Oliver Kahn retire from professional football?

Kahn retired in 2008 after a farewell season with Bayern Munich. His final match was in India, where Bayern played against Mohun Bagan in front of 120,000 fans.