Master predator Miroslav Klose retires
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
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Miroslav Klose, the all-time record goalscorer in FIFA World Cup finals, has called time on his distinguished playing career and is joining Germany's coaching staff.
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Miroslav Klose, the top scorer in FIFA World Cup history with 16 goals, has brought an end to his playing career and will now join Joachim Löw's coaching staff with the national team.
The striker, 38, who retired from international football after the World Cup in Brazil two years ago, was out of contract at Lazio at the end of last season. Klose is Germany's record international scorer with 71 goals from 137 games. The German Football Association (DFB) says that he will now undergo an individual training program "with the clear aim of embarking on a coaching career".
Klose said: "I celebrated my greatest successes in the national team and this was a wonderful time which remains unforgettable. That is why I'm delighted to return to the DFB. In the past few months, I have thought a lot about continuing my playing career, but also about looking at new avenues, namely becoming a coach."
Löw is certain Klose can now make a difference from the sidelines. "I've always been able to rely on Miro and that's why I'm really pleased that he is now going to be part of our team," he said. "He's a role-model as a person and a sportsman who always puts everything else after the team and success.
"With his views and his experience, I can see him very well as a coach in the future and we are happy to support him along the way with the DFB. I am sure that we the coaches are going to benefit as much from his presence here as we did when he was a player. We're looking forward to working with Miro."
UEFA.com takes his World Cup tally goal by goal.
Korea/Japan 2002
1,2,3: Germany 8-0 Saudi Arabia, group stage
In his first World Cup – little more than a year after his debut for Germany – Klose nodded the first two goals against a totally overwhelmed Saudi Arabia. In the second half Klose was on target for the third time, again with a header.
4: Germany 1-1 Republic of Ireland, group stage
Klose's fourth headed goal after a cross by Michael Ballack was not enough for Germany, who conceded Robbie Keane's equaliser in added time.
5: Cameroon 0-2 Germany, group stage
Klose sealed progress to the last 16 with the second goal of the game after 79 minutes, becoming the only player to head five in a World Cup. Although Germany reached the final, the striker scored no more goals in this tournament.
Germany 2006
6,7: Germany 4-2 Costa Rica, group stage
In the opening game of Germany's home World Cup, Klose was on target twice. After 17 minutes the striker slid in Bastian Schweinsteiger's pass from close range to make it 2-1. Shortly after the hour mark goalkeeper José Francisco Porras saved Klose's header only to concede the third from the rebound.
8,9: Ecuador 0-3 Germany, group stage
After a 1-0 win against Poland, Klose again scored two goals in the third group match. After four minutes Schweinsteiger set him up and shortly before the break Ballack found Klose, who rounded keeper Cristian Mora to slot the ball into the empty net.
10: Germany 1-1 Argentina (aet, 4-2 pens), quarter-finals
After Roberto Ayala's headed goal shortly after the break Germany desperately attacked to avoid an early elimination and was rewarded with the equaliser ten minutes from time. Tim Borowski flicked on and Klose headed in his tenth World Cup finals goal.
South Africa 2010
11: Germany 4-0 Australia, group stage
In a one-sided game, Klose headed the second goal on 26 minutes from a cross by Philipp Lahm.
12: Germany 4-1 England, round of 16
In a memorable last-16 game, Klose scored the first goal after 20 minutes, collecting a long ball from keeper Manuel Neuer before shaking off Matthew Upson and beating David James.
13, 14: Argentina 0-4 Germany, quarter-finals
In the quarter-finals, Germany made short shrift of Argentina and Klose scored two more goals. After Thomas Müller's early strike, Löw's team had to wait until midway through the second half to score the second goal, when Klose exploited Podolski's build-up from close range. Shortly before the end Klose rounded off a convincing performance with the fourth, volleying in Mesut Özil's perfect cross.
Brazil 2014
15: Germany 2-2 Ghana, group stage
An unused substitute in the first group game against Portugal, when Germany won 4-0, Klose came off the bench to score with his first touch to rescue a draw on matchday two. With nearly 20 minutes to go Toni Kroos' corner was flicked towards goal by Benedikt Höwedes and Klose prodded in at the far post.
16: Brazil 1-7 Germany, semi-finals
On a night when more than one record was broken – Brazil's worst World Cup defeat; the first time any team has scored seven in a World Cup semi-final – Klose made it to 16 finals goals. Kroos and Müller set him up, and though Júlio César parried his first effort, Klose kept cool to tidy away the loose ball.