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Stefan Klos, a reclusive former hero of the Rangers, said that his favorite Ibrox memory was when the team celebrated for a week straight and still won the Old Firm Scottish Cup Final.
This week marks the 53rd birthday of the German goalie, who has maintained a very quiet profile since quitting football in 2007 following 10 championships with the Rangers and an induction into their Hall of Fame. Since retiring, he has made Switzerland his home. He has turned down offers to work as a football pundit or as a goalkeeping instructor.
But Klos talked about the cultural shock of joining Rangers and their partying mindset in a rare interview conducted in his native country. In 1999, Rangers famously won the league title at Parkhead in a game that was nicknamed the “shame game.” The season ended with a 1-1 tie against Kilmarnock at Ibrox, and the following week was the Scottish Cup final against Celtic, which the Light Blues won courtesy of a goal from Rod Wallace, and Klos revealed the strange preparations.
A year before to joining Rangers, Klos won the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund. He stated to 11freunde, “I had offers from Real Zaragoza and Valencia when I decided to leave Dortmund.” I initially thought that the sun in Spain would be ideal for me. Rangers, though, was a good fit.
Legendary goalkeeper Andy Goram had recently retired, and their talks with the management were extremely compelling. Jorg Albertz, who I was acquainted with from my military days, was also a player there. I vividly recall wondering, “Where have I ended up here?” as I sat among the players at our first meal. The F word was the only thing I could understand!
“However, everyone was really cordial. The women who worked in the kitchen had been there for fifty years. I immediately felt at home. There was already a lot of alcohol there. A few members of the French crew took a glass of red wine with their dinner. However, the manager always ensured that no bottles were placed on the table since he was aware that they would eventually become empty.
The Scots drank what was there, if anything. There was an incredible celebration in 1999 when we took home the title. Because we were to play in the Scottish Cup Final the following weekend, the manager granted us until Wednesday off.
However, our defense and captain didn’t start practicing again until Friday. They had to take care of business at home after been missing for a long! Then, we narrowly prevailed to win the Cup. In Germany, that would have been unthinkable.
“Although I am a Catholic, nobody at Rangers has ever inquired about it.” But it was best for a player to use the restroom if he felt the urge to relieve himself prior to kickoff. He was jeered as he sang it in the stadium.”
Additionally, Klos said that he never truly enjoyed playing football and that he is content with his calm life beside the Swiss Alps. “My career ended when I was 34,” he stated. Following the surgery, I had five months of treatment, and I was mentally prepared to declare that I had had enough of spending 15 years on the football field every Saturday and Wednesday.
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