football
Miroslav Klose awarded the UEFA President’s Prize
Miroslav Klose received the President’s Award from UEFA. photo
© Daniel Cole/AP/dpa
Miroslav Klose has received a special award from UEFA. The former star striker is only the third German to receive this award.
World Cup record goalscorer Miroslav Klose has received the UEFA President’s Award for his lifetime achievement in football. The 45-year-old was presented with the award-related trophy by UEFA boss Aleksander Ceferin shortly after the Champions League groups’ draw in Monaco.
“Throughout the glorious history of football, certain names have shone with an aura of excellence that is difficult to reproduce. One of those names is Miroslav Klose,” Ceferin said of the exceptional German striker and DFB record scorer. The Palatinate is a “role model for fair play,” said the UEFA boss. Not only Klose’s successes were highlighted, but also two scenes from his career at Lazio Rom and Werder Bremen in particular, when he conceded a handball after scoring a goal and decided not to take a penalty.
Fair play for Klose “more important than trophies”
“For me it’s more important than words, if you can let actions speak, that sticks,” said Klose. The actions are even more important than the trophy he just got, he added.
Since 1998, the continental association has honored special personalities in football with the President’s Award. Klose is the third German to receive this honor after long-time DFB and DFL functionary Wilfried Straub in 2006 and Franz Beckenbauer in 2012.
Klose scored a total of 16 World Cup goals in the World Cup tournaments from 2002 to 2014, his last on the way to winning the World Cup in the legendary 7-1 semi-final against Brazil. It was also his 71st and last goal in the DFB jersey, with which he extended his German record in the 137th international match.
After his active playing career, Klose initially worked as an assistant coach at the DFB and FC Bayern Munich. His first position as head coach at the Austrian club SCR Altach ended in spring with a premature separation.