Arsenal’s legendary ‘keeper Jens Lehmann turns 45 today, so it’s a very appropriate time to look back on some of the highlights of his stellar career as well as celebrate the man and fiery competitor who brought Gooners an unbeaten season and a UEFA Champions League Final.
Lehmann’s career with Arsenal included some of the greatest achievements in club history, but his career’s success was certainly not predictable. His early stages included stints at Schalke 04, which had many a rough moment, as well as a short spell at AC Milan where he was dropped after five appearances and left the club after only six months.
Even his years at Borussia Dortmund were marked by rumours of an early parting before he put together a solid campaign in 2001/02 that led to a Bundesliga title.
Lehmann joined Arsenal during the summer of 2003 to replace David Seaman in the net. And what a debut season it was for the German and the Gunners as they rambled to the Premier League title in the Invincibles season. Lehmann was in goal for all 38 matches and, despite some high-profile mistakes caused by his aggressive nature, he was a key cog in the Invincibles machine. It was, in his words, the greatest accomplishment of his career.
Of course I can say that having won the trophy without losing a game was the biggest thing I’ve ever achieved.
I made some saves of course, but you never know if it was crucial to win a game. Early in the season we played Manchester United, and in the last minute they had a penalty, and Van Nistelrooy missed, he only hit the crossbar, and that was probably the defining moment when we knew we could go quite far – luck was on our side as well.
Lehmann also fondly remembers his teammates and his words reflect the healthy team spirit and sense of respect that permeated the dressing room. When asked about the world-class players of that side, he did not hesitate.
Of course there was Thierry Henry, when he was at his peak, not only this year, but even the year after.
There were some other great guys, Bergkamp, Vieira, Campbell, Cole. I could name all the team, because everybody played his role within this team and everybody respected each other, so we had a fantastic team spirit.
In another interview with Nik Brumsack of Arsenal.com, Lehmann credited his back line teammates for teaching him how to organise a defence.
I played with great players. We had world-class players in every department on the pitch. I learnt how to organise a back four from Sol Campbell and Martin Keown. In Germany we played that but it was just an approach. There was no real system of how to play, how to move and how to keep distances. That’s what I learned away at Arsenal.
Lehmann also has a great deal of respect for Arsène Wenger, despite their tendency to disagree on elements of the game. Their relationship could most aptly be described as respectful, but fiery.
Arsène Wenger is a coach who not only inspires you on the pitch but as well off the pitch, because when you talk to him you are always finding it very exciting and you are always getting some great information about some other things in life.
I was arguing with him quite often, particularly when he took me out of goal, but then after 20 minutes of arguments we would talk for another half an hour on private things, very smooth and relaxed, so there was always a professional relationship and a private one, and the private one is still very good right now.
It was the perfect start to his Arsenal career. Lehmann and the squad won another trophy in 2005, the FA Cup, before appearing in the Champions League Final in Paris against Barcelona in 2006. A match that made Lehmann infamous for being the only ‘keeper ever sent off in a Champions League Final.
Despite the run that led to the final which included a legendary penalty save against Juan Roman Riquelme in the semi-final vs. Villarreal, Lehmann continues to have regret over his decision-making that led to his sending off in the final.
I always question myself if I could have done better in the game against Barcelona when I touched Samuel Eto’o and got sent off after this foul. I should have made a decision to stay in my box, but for some reason I went out.
Lehmann remained with the club until 2008 when he returned to Germany for a season with VfB Stuttgart. He briefly came out of retirement during the 2010/11 season when Arsenal suffered a rash of goalkeeper injuries before retiring for good after the season. He appeared in one game for the Gunners, his 200th appearance for the club, and a 3-1 victory against Blackpool. He retired for good following the 2010/11 season.
The now-retired shot-stopper also had a distinguished international career, gaining 61 caps for the German national team. He was often overshadowed by Oliver Kahn, but was named the starting German keeper for the 2006 World Cup, in which the Germans finished third.
The highlight of Lehmann’s World Cup was almost certainly the penalty shootout victory against Argentina, when he used a note in his sock to remind him of the Argentine shooters’ tendencies before saving attempts from Roberto Ayala and Esteban Cambiasso. Lehmann played in every game of that World Cup except for the third-place game, which he offered to Kahn as a retirement gift.
Lehmann has been busy since his retirement from the game. He first spent his time studying for his coach’s badges under the tutelage of Arsène Wenger and the Arsenal coaching staff, but his managing career never really took off.
Most recently, Lehmann has found himself heavily involved with a project called Kicking Girls which is run by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and encourages and supports girls’ involvement in the game.
In many ways, Lehmann represents all that is great and tragic about supporting the Arsenal. Capable of jaw-dropping feats and achievements as well as heartbreaking failures in the worst possible moments, Lehmann connects with fans because he is in many ways the embodiment of the club in its best and worst moments. He is remembered extremely fondly by club and supporters alike.
