Oliver Kahn not missing the game

AFP - 1 September 2008 15:20

Former Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, seen here in May 2008, insisted Monday he was not missing the game after hanging up his gloves following 20 years as a professional.

BERLIN (AFP) - Former Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn insisted Monday he was not missing the game after hanging up his gloves following 20 years as a professional.

"There aren't many things I miss. They say you can fall into a hole after (playing) such a long time but I've not felt anything like that," Kahn told the website of the German Football Federation (DFB).

"Matches, training, competition and all of that - I don't need that any more. What I do miss is just the team, the business of being together," said Kahn, whose temperamental approach led to his being nicknamed "Vul-Kahn."

Kahn, 39, made 557 appearances in the Bundesliga for Dortmund and Bayern and will Tuesday bid farewell in a testimonial at Bayern's Allianz-Arena when the Bavarians will take on a German select XI.

Kahn added he did not consider himself to be headed for retirement as such.

"I have spent the first half of my life playing football and I still want to do loads of things in the second half," said Kahn, who will begin working as a TV consultant on September 10, when Germany meet Finland in a World Cup qualifier.

He furthermore has business interests in Asia, where he won renown during the 2002 World Cup, helping Germany reach the final where they lost to Brazil.