FC Bayern and BVB have fought some memorable duels in the history of the Bundesliga. The game on November 9, 2002 was particularly curious, because in the end BVB striker Jan Koller was in the Dortmund goal. at SPOX and GOAL the former Dortmund goalscorer explains how it came about.
At the final whistle, Jan Koller flitted a tentative smile across his lips. But even 19 years after his strange temporary job between the posts, the joy is limited.
“It wasn’t a highlight because we lost the game,” said Koller SPOX and GOAL. “If we had won it would of course have been different.”
It was certainly not because of him that the Dortmund team lost 2-1 after a heated game in the Munich Olympic Stadium. Rather, Koller had even prevented Bayern’s third goal with a brilliant act. In a long-range shot by Michael Ballack, the 2.02-meter giant grabbed safely. But wait a minute, wasn’t Koller actually a striker?
Indeed, the record scorer of the Czech national team (55 goals) scored 79 goals in 184 games for BVB between 2001 and 2006 – but on November 9, 2002, other skills were required in the Munich Olympic Stadium. He had initially pursued his actual occupation and had given Dortmund a 1-0 lead early on (7th). But the heated game tipped over.
Jan Koller has to go into the BVB goal after Lehmann was sent off
After a yellow-red card against Torsten Frings (41st), Munich won the game 2-1 thanks to goals from Roque Santa Cruz (62nd) and Claudio Pizarro (66th). Bayern’s second goal was accompanied by angry protests from Dortmund. Jens Lehmann, who had already been warned, could not hold back and saw yellow-red (66th).
“We had already changed three players and then the goalkeeper also had to go out”, Koller remembered the strange scene that will also be part of the documentary “Jan Koller – the story of a simple boy”, which will be released in February 2022. “I had to step in because I played as a goalkeeper when I was young. So the choice fell on me – and that in the game against Bayern,” he added.
As a 15-year-old Koller had guarded the gate at his youth club Smetanova Lhota. Now he slipped on the orange jersey with the number 1 from Lehmann and slipped into the unfamiliar role of goalkeeper on the big Olympiastadion stage in front of 63,000 spectators. And he didn’t just keep his box clean against Ballack. The tall striker also picked one or the other flank safely out of the air in the best goalkeeping manner.
Koller made it into the team of the matchday as a goalkeeper
At the kicker Koller then made it into the team of the matchday – as a goalkeeper mind you. As a gift for his temporary job, the club gave him a pair of large goalkeeper gloves with his name on it.
When he thinks back to the special games against Bayern, another game comes to mind. “The highlight for me was actually my last Bundesliga game before I moved to Monaco,” said Koller SPOX and GOAL. “We played in the Allianz Arena and I scored two goals, so it was a nice farewell to the Bundesliga.”
Koller: “Of course I’ll keep my fingers crossed for BVB”
The former crowd favorite still has his ex-club in view today. “Of course I keep my fingers crossed for BVB,” said Koller. “It will be a very difficult game, but I think BVB will win 3-2.” (Saturday, from 6.30 p.m. in the LIVETICKER)
The now 48-year-old has remained loyal to football even after retiring from AS Cannes in 2011. Every now and then he ties up his kick shoes for an amateur team in his Czech homeland – and even puts on goalkeeper gloves. And he has not forgotten anything.
In June he even saved a penalty in one game. The video he posted on Instagram of it went viral. His sober comment: “After the first half I didn’t feel like running anymore, so I helped the boys as a goalkeeper.”
