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Emotional Kahn Ready to Bow Out
BAYERN Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn reaches the end of the line in his 21-year career on Saturday against Hertha Berlin as the curtain comes down on the 2007/08 Bundesliga season.
The 38-year-old will guard the Bavarians' goal for the last time before hanging up his gloves and he could even set a new record in the process.Conceding only one goal against Hertha would mean he will have let in only 22 goals all season - one less than his own Bundesliga record.
And the three-times world goalkeeper of the year has a lot to look back on over two decades.
"There were so many glorious moments," he recalled. "Even smaller ones which never reached the public.
"Depressing defeats, euphoric victories and Getafe, well that is certainly up there near the top."
Indeed Kahn's final season has seen some of the most dramatic moments of his career with the extra-time win over Getafe in the UEFA Cup topping the list of positive experiences and going some way to erasing one of the most negative - defeat to Manchester United in the 1999 Champions League final.
"It was always important that the last year was one of the best, even if in hindsight it has been one of the most stressful," he added.
Following the final whistle at the Allianz Arena on Saturday, the team will lift the Bundesliga crown which they sealed a fortnight ago.
For Kahn, it will be the 17th trophy of a vast collection and, as captain, it will be he who lifts it in front of 69,000 spectators.
Many more thousands will be awaiting the record German champions in the city's Marienplatz, where the team will then show off their latest trophy along with the DFB-Pokal and League Cup.
It will also be an emotional occasion for coach Ottmar Hitzfeld who leaves to become coach of Switzerland in July.
"I am an emotional person and know it may be hard to hold back the tears," predicted Hitzfeld earlier this season.
Now he has led Bayern to three titles, the tears will be flowing on Saturday with even Kahn unable to rule out the waterworks.
"If I cry, then I cry," he added.
Many Bayern fans will also shed tears after seeing the man who has kept goal for the last 14 years take a bow, but they will thank him for the memories at 1715 CET on Saturday - the end of his 557th Bundesliga game and the end of an era.
The game could also mark the end of Sofian Chahed's career with Hertha after he had an argument with coach Lucien Favre this week.
The 25-year-old was not happy at being left out of the side last weekend, but Favre has hinted it is something he will have to get used to.
"Everybody has competition to deal with in life and you have got to accept it," said Favre.
Copyright (c) 2008 Press Association
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