Five things you did not know about: Miroslav Klose

Klose is one of the greatest in World Cup football. He broke the record for most goals in World Cups and has been a prominent figure in Germany’s last four outings in the coveted tournaments, apart from his club careers. But here’s what you do not know about the legend.

1. Klose trained to become a carpenter.

Here’s one fact you definitely have not heard. The greatest World Cup goal scorer trained to take up carpentry as a profession till he was 20 years old. Imagine the loss for Germany had he chosen to stick to it.

2. Klose is just one goal behind England’s 17 goal tally in World Cups.

This one is definitely surprising. The Polish born German’s 16 goals is just one shy of England’s 17 goals of England in all the World Cups they have played.

3. Klose is the only player to feature in four World Cup semi-finals.

The record-breaking 36-year-old does not just own the goal scoring record. He is the only player ever to appear in four semi-finals of a World Cup.

4. Germany has never lost a game where Klose has scored.

Everyone knows that Klose is the top scorer for Germany with 71 goals in 137 games. But the interesting fact is that the Bavarians have never lost on those 71 occasions when Klose has scored. Can’t say the same about anybody else, Can you?

5. Klose has met former pope his holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

The fact may not seem catchy but here’s something to make it so. The pope was a fan of Bayern Munich and particularly the ‘European’, as he refers himself.