Name: Miroslav Klose
Born: June 9, 1978, in Opole, Poland
Position: Striker
Pro club: Lazio
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Why is he in the news?
Nobody has scored more World Cup goals than Miroslav Klose. Watching him dart across the pitch at the 2014 World Cup has been a chance to glimpse history in the making—to see records broken and benchmarks set. And he may not be done yet.
The 36-year-old Polish-born German striker arrived in Brazil with 14 World Cup goals in three tournaments, one goal behind Brazilian legend Ronaldo. Klose matched Ronaldo’s record in the 71st minute of Germany’s 2–2 draw against Ghana in the group stage, entering the game as a substitute and scoring 112 seconds later. To celebrate, he did a leaping somersault, his once-trademark post-goal routine—he’s older now and has struggled with injuries, so acrobatic displays are rare. It was a nostalgic moment for fans of “Salto-Klose.” And then came Germany’s brutal, clinical 7–1 victory over Brazil in the semifinal. Klose made history in the 23rd minute, scoring off a rebound to reach 16 World Cup goals, the most all-time.
The soft-spoken, humble Klose, who is known for his sportsmanship and sense of fair play—he once famously admitted to a referee that a goal he’d scored had been a handball, saying he wanted to set a good example for kids watching on TV—has said this will likely be his last international tournament. But he’ll have a chance to add to his record and extend the gap between his tally and Ronaldo’s in the final versus Argentina.
He’s special because
Klose is the greatest German striker of his generation, and the only recognized striker on the current German squad. With 71 goals in 136 games, he’s also Germany’s all-time top scorer. He has impeccable timing and a practised ability to leap—a skill that results in stunning headers.
Club career
A late bloomer, Klose worked his way through the ranks of amateur football, finally arriving at FC Kaiserslautern in his early twenties.
His first major contract came with Werder Bremen in 2004. One year before its expiration, Klose moved to Bayern Munich, where he signed a new four-year agreement, taking him to the end of the 2010–2011 season.
Klose signed a three-year pact with Italian outfit Lazio in 2011. He had seven goals and two assists in 22 appearances for Lazio this past season. In May 2014, he signed a contract extension with the club until June 2015. Having undergone foot surgery in September 2013 and dislocated his shoulder in November, Klose’s suggestions that his next club season could be his last are understandable.
International career
After turning down an offer to join Poland’s national team, Klose took his place with Germany and played his first international game in 2001 during World Cup qualification. He scored in his first appearance (as a late substitute) and went on to score five goals in 2002 in South Korea and Japan.
Klose has since appeared in three more World Cups and three European Championships. He scored five goals in his second World Cup in 2006, earning the Golden Boot, and scored four in 2010. Klose is one of only three men to have scored in four different World Cup tournaments (the others are fellow German Uwe Seeler and Brazilian legend Pele).
Despite not scoring a single goal at Euro 2004 when he was recovering from a knee injury, Klose’s lengthy international career allowed him to take sole possession of Germany’s goal-scoring record with his 69th goal in June 2014.
His most famous moment
Klose made his mark on the international stage in his World Cup debut in 2002. All five of his goals scored were headers—a World Cup record—and he showcased his front-flip goal celebration, making his second-place finish in total goals at the tournament even more memorable for fans (and opponents).
Here’s an interesting fact
At age 19, Klose split his time between playing amateur soccer and training to become a carpenter. He progressed through the amateur ranks, giving up carpentry only after making the first team of Kaiserslautern at age 22. Less than two years later, he made his World Cup debut.
He said it
“I’m a striker and strikers want to score goals. And naturally I want to stay on top of the scorers list as long as possible.” — Klose, speaking after nabbing the all-time World Cup scoring record
What they’re saying about him
“When he’s fit, then he is terribly important for my team. His secret is his professionalism, his strength is his will.”— German national team coach Joachim Loew