Stefan Klos


Stefan Klos is a German former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
His seventeen-year career was spent with Borussia Dortmund and Rangers. He won thirteen major trophies in total, including four Scottish Premier League titles and the 1997 Champions League.

Club career

Borussia Dortmund

Born in Dortmund, Klos arrived at Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 1990, from neighbouring TSC Eintracht Dortmund. He made his Bundesliga debut on 4 May 1991 at only 19, in a 2–2 home draw against SG Wattenscheid 09.
From 1991–92 onwards, Klos became the undisputed starter, relegating longtime first choice Wolfgang de Beer to the bench. He took part in 31 games for the runners-up during that season, and Die Borussen went on to win back-to-back national championships during his spell.
In addition to playing every match in 1996–97 for the third-placed team, Klos added 11 in that season's UEFA Champions League as they won the tournament for the first time ever. He left the club with more than 350 official appearances.

Rangers

On 24 December 1998, Klos signed with Scottish club Rangers on a contract that made him one of the highest-earning players in Europe. He replaced Lionel Charbonnier as first-choice and was nicknamed 'Der Goalie', a play on Andy Goram's 'The Goalie' moniker. He won his first Scottish Premier League title that season.
In a match against Heart of Midlothian at Tynecastle Park during 2000–01, Klos produced an outstanding performance: as both Arthur Numan and Claudio Reyna were sent off for the away side he made several crucial saves in a 1–0 win, courtesy of a Jörg Albertz penalty; Celtic won the league, however.
In the 2002–03 season, Rangers won the treble, with Klos again the undisputed starter. He was appointed team captain in July 2004, but six months later picked up a knee ligament injury in training, missing the remainder of the campaign and being replaced by Ronald Waterreus. The Dutchman retained his place even after Klos regained full fitness.
Klos looked set to challenge new signing Lionel Letizi after Paul Le Guen's arrival at the start of 2006–07, but he suffered a biking injury which gave long-term third choice Allan McGregor the chance to play. On 22 February 2007, he made his first appearance of the season for the first team against Hapoel Tel Aviv FC in the round of 32 of the UEFA Cup, after McGregor was sent off.
Klos left Rangers at the end of the season after eight and a half years, having appeared in 298 games across all competitions. He retired at the age of 36, and subsequently settled in Switzerland.
In 2009, Klos was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame.

Honours

Club

Borussia Dortmund
Rangers