Looking back at Oliver Kahn's farewell match in India

On 27 May, 2008, Oliver Kahn bid adieu to the sport in Kolkata.

There was a time when German Bundesliga giants FC Bayern Munich came to India for Oliver Kahn’s farewell match. Back on 27 May 2008, 15 years ago, Bayern Munich took the field against Mohun Bagan in front of a capacity crowd at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) in Kolkata, India.

Marketed as Oliver Kahn’s farewell game, the legendary custodian saw about 130,000 fans fill the stadium to witness his greatness live. By his admission, it was the largest crowd ‘King Kahn’ ever played in front of.

Oliver Kahn’s farewell

Oliver Kahn is regarded as one of the most successful goalkeepers of all time. He won multiple accolades at both international and club levels including the UEFA Euro and the UEFA Champions League. The eight-time Bundesliga winner played 55 minutes of the match that saw FC Bayern Munich beat Mohun Bagan by a 3-0 scoreline at the Salt Lake Stadium. Zan Schaldrauff scored two goals in the 18th and the 52nd minute. In the 55th minute of the game, Ze Roberto scored the final goal of the game.

The farewell game saw him receive numerous gifts as well, from a trophy studded with about 8000 diamonds to a model boat plated with silver and more trophies on top of that. It is worth noting that this was Ottmar Hitzfeld’s last game as Bayern Munich’s manager too. 

Where is Kahn today?

Oliver Kahn was recently dismissed from his position as the CEO of FC Bayern Munich moments after the club won its 11th Bundesliga title in a row on the final day of the league. Along with the legendary custodian, club director and former player Hassan Salihamidzic was also sacked. 

The club aims to start afresh next season as it was reliant on Borussia Dortmund’s last-day collapse to win the league. Reports from Germany believe that the sacking of Julian Nagelsmann and some underwhelming decisions, such as signing Sadio Mane, were defining factors in the sacking of Kahn and Salihamidzic.

Oliver Kahn became FC Bayern Munich’s CEO as recently as 2021, spending just over two years in the role.