Position: Goalkeeper
Born: 15.06.69
Club: Bayern Munich

An imposing all-rounder with excellent reflexes and authority, Oliver Kahn is one of the world's top goalkeepers yet has been relegated to the role of understudy in the current Germany squad.

Having started at his hometown club of Karlsruhe, Kahn was signed by Bayern Munich in 1994 for a then-record fee for a goalkeeper of £2million.

He made steady progress at international level, being third-choice keeper for the 1994 World Cup, second choice at Euro 96 and France 98 and number one for the woeful Euro 2000 campaign.

That, however, was not Kahn's fault, though, as the often outspoken stopper kept up his fine performances to be a mainstay in a side that managed to reach the 2002 World Cup final against Brazil.

Although he gifted Ronaldo his decisive first goal with a handling error, the tournament further established Kahn as one of the world's leading keepers.

The two-time German Player of the Year first reached global prominence 12 months previously when Bayern lifted their first Champions League crown. Kahn was the hero on that occasion, saving three of Valenica's seven penalties as Ottmar Hitzfeld's side claimed club football's most coveted prize.

Throughout his long career with the Bavarian giants, Kahn has won six Bundesliga titles and recently both parties agreed to extend his current deal until 2008 when the giant stopper is sure to retire.

Kahn, three times the World's Best Goalkeeper, has one figure standing in his way - Jens Lehmann, who has proved to be a bitter rival with both men publically announcing their dislike of one another on numerous occasions.