Franz Beckenbauer has called for Jens Lehmann to cede his position as Germany goalkeeper after Euro2008 in order to give younger players a chance.

    According to Deutsche Welle’s report on Monday, the German soccer monarch hailed the ongoing European Championship at Switzerland and Austria as a perfect opportunity for Lehmann, 38, to step aside from national duties to make room for the country’s up-and-coming prospects.

    “Such a tournament is always an opportunity to quit and to allow a new era to start,” said Beckenbauer.

    “I would tell Jens to retire after Euro to give younger men a chance to play.”

    Lehmann has been Germany’s first choice goalie since 2006 when he assumed the mantle from Oliver Kahn.

    Standing in Lehmann’s shadow are Hanover’s Robert Enke, 30, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Rene Adler, 23, who are both members of Germany’s current Euro squad.

    Analysts have touted Adler, finishing fifth in Bundesliga 2007-08 player of the year awards, as the most promising German keeper in the Bundesliga and a likely heir to the No. 1 jersey.

    Lehmann has not yet spoken about his national team future after this year’s Euro.

Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann will return to the Bundesliga after UEFA EURO 2008 after signing for VfB Stuttgart a one-year contract.

Free transfer
The 38-year-old is leaving Arsenal FC on a free transfer after five seasons, having lost his place to Manuel Almunia, and he tied up the Stuttgart move before linking up with the Germany squad. Lehmann, voted best goalkeeper at the 2006 UEFA Club Football Awards, said: “Discussions with the people at Stuttgart have been very good from the start. I am looking forward to playing for them and being back in the Bundesliga next season.”

First choice
Lehmann previously made 329 Bundesliga appearances – and scored two goals – for FC Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund either side of a short spell at AC Milan. He won the 1997 UEFA Cup with Schalke, having helped them gain promotion in 1990/91, and the 2001/02 Bundesliga crown with Dortmund. At Arsenal he was part of the club’s unbeaten 2003/04 Premier League triumph, their 2005 FA Cup win and the run to the 2006 UEFA Champions League final. Stuttgart coach Armin Veh said: “Jens Lehmann was our first choice for a goalkeeper from the very beginning. There is no questioning his quality and our whole team can benefit from the wealth of his experience.”

Jens Lehmann (born November 10, 1969 in Essen) is an award-winning German football goalkeeper who plays for Arsenal and the German national team. He was voted UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year for 2005-06, and he has been selected for three World Cup squads. He is expected to leave Arsenal following the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2007-08 season.

Club career

Schalke 04

Lehmann started his career in 1988 with Schalke 04, playing for them for nearly a decade. His first years were rocky, notably a game against Bayer Leverkusen in 1993 in which he conceded three goals and was substituted after 45 minutes, causing him to flee the stadium alone by tram rather than taking the team bus, but Lehmann gradually established himself as a strong keeper lauded for his ability to intercept crosses.

He scored his first league goal on 12 March 1995 in a 6–2 victory over TSV 1860 München in the 84th minute, scoring Schalke’s sixth goal from the penalty spot. His second goal was a last-minute equaliser scored against Borussia Dortmund on 19 December 1997.

Lehmann became Schalke’s team hero in their 1997 UEFA Cup final victory over Internazionale, after playing a strong season and saving an Ivan Zamorano penalty in a penalty shootout.

A.C. Milan

He left Schalke for A.C. Milan in 1998, but did not play well and was dropped after just five matches. Believing he wouldn’t get another chance at Milan he left during the winter.

Borussia Dortmund

He returned to Germany to play for Borussia Dortmund, winning the Bundesliga in 2001–2002. A fiery personality with a poor disciplinary record, he holds the Bundesliga record for the number of sendings-off for a goalkeeper (five).

Arsenal

2003-04 Season

(more…)