Bodo Illgner

Bodo Illgner is one of the most successful German goalkeepers in history. Less known and iconic than Neuer or Kahn, he was nevertheless one of the most important.

549

Games

628

Goals Conceded

184

Clean Sheets

Trophies

1985/96 FC Cologne (GER) 378 matches

(German Championship: 326 matches)

(German Cup: 27 matches)

(UEFA Cup: 25 matches)

1996/2001 Real Madrid (ESP) 117 matches

(Spanish Championship: 91 matches)

(Spanish Cup: 12 matches)

(Champions League: 14 matches)

With the National Team :

54 caps

(Friendly matches: 24 caps)

(World Cup qualifiers: 6 caps)

(World Cup: 12 caps)

(Euro qualifiers: 6 caps)

(Euro: 5 caps)

(US Cup: 1 cap)

1st cap: September 23, 1987 against Denmark (1-0)

Last cap: July 10, 1994 against Bulgaria (1-2)

U23: 7 caps

Bodo Illgner

Born on April 7, 1967 in Koblenz (GER)

German, Goalkeeper, 1m90

Nickname: Mr. 100%

Schumacher's replacement

Bodo Illgner was born on April 7, 1967 in Koblenz, Germany. He began his career in 1985, inheriting Harald Schumacher's place at FC Cologne and then in the German National Team, due to the release of the autobiography of the legendary FC Cologne player as well as his somewhat strong statements on doping.

With FC Cologne, Bodo Illgner would establish himself as one of the best goalkeepers in Europe without ever winning any trophies: German vice-champion in 1989 and 1990, DFB-Pokal finalist in 1991 and UEFA Cup finalist in 1986.

The goalkeeper at the top of Europe

At the end of the 1995/96 season he would have his best season at the club, over the season, he only conceded 38 goals in 40 matches and kept 17 clean sheets. A spectacular season. It was Fabio Capello who would change the destiny of the goalkeeper forever, who would be recruited to Real Madrid at the end of this wonderful season.

A perfectionist goalkeeper, he was nicknamed "Mr. 100%". In Spain, he would find a second youth. He had an incredible season upon his arrival, 51 matches played, 40 goals conceded and 21 clean sheets. The goalkeeper then silences the doubts that could exist about him.

With Real Madrid, he will win several trophies, including 2 Champions Leagues in 1998 and 2000, 1 Intercontinental Cup, 2 Liga, and 1 Spanish Super Cup. But the player will have to end his career in June 2001, due to an accumulation of injuries, he is then 34 years old.

The Guardian at the Top of the World

With Germany, Bodo Illger will experience great adventures, on the bench at Euro 1988, he is finally a starter at the 1990 World Cup, during the competition, he only concedes 5 goals in 7 matches, proof of an ability to be decisive in big matches. He then wins the World Cup.

He is also there during Euro 1992 where he has inconsistent performances, including a very poor performance against Sweden where he concedes 3 goals. During this tournament, he will nevertheless achieve surely the best performance with Germany in a major tournament, against Scotland: 8 saves, 63% of successful passes and 1 key pass.

Unfortunately the adventure with his country will end in failure, the 1994 World Cup where he makes good performances against notably South Korea, Bolivia and Spain, but he is eliminated in the quarter-finals by Bulgaria, 2-1. He then decides to leave the national selection, at the age of 27.