Jens Lehmann facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jens Lehmann

Lehmann in a charity match in 2019
Personal information
Full name	Jens Gerhard Lehmann
Date of birth	(1969-11-10) 10 November 1969 (age 55)
Place of birth	Essen, West Germany
Height	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1987–1998	Schalke 04	274	(2)
1998–1999	AC Milan	5	(0)
1999–2003	Borussia Dortmund	129	(0)
2003–2008	Arsenal	147	(0)
2008–2010	VfB Stuttgart	65	(0)
2011	Arsenal	1	(0)
Total		621	(2)
International career
1989–1990	West Germany U21	6	(0)
1998–2008	Germany	61	(0)
Managerial career
2017–2018	Arsenal (goalkeeper coach)
2019	Augsburg (assistant manager)
2020–2021	Hertha Berlin (board member)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Germany FIFA World Cup Runner-up 2002 Korea/Japan Third 2006 Germany UEFA European Championship Runner-up 2008 Austria-Switzerland FIFA Confederations Cup Third 2005 Germany
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jens Gerhard Lehmann (born 10 November 1969) is a famous German former footballer. He played as a goalkeeper. He was a key player for Arsenal's "Invincibles" team. This team went an entire season without losing a single match.

Lehmann holds a UEFA Champions League record. He kept the most consecutive clean sheets (meaning no goals were scored against him). This amazing streak lasted for eight full matches while he played for Arsenal. He is seen as one of the best goalkeepers of his time. He was also named UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year twice.

Playing for Clubs

Schalke 04 Years

Jens Lehmann started his professional career in 1988 with Schalke 04. He played for this team for almost ten years. After a challenging start, Lehmann became a very strong goalkeeper. He was known for being good at stopping crosses.

He even scored his first league goal on 12 March 1995. It was a penalty kick in a 6–2 win. His second goal was a last-minute goal against their rivals, Borussia Dortmund. This happened on 19 December 1997. Lehmann became a hero for Schalke when they won the 1997 UEFA Cup Final. He saved a penalty in the shootout, helping his team win the trophy.

Short Time at AC Milan

In 1998, Lehmann moved to AC Milan in Italy. However, his time there was short and challenging. He played only five matches before leaving the club.

Borussia Dortmund Adventures

Lehmann returned to Germany in 1999 to play for Borussia Dortmund. He had a tough start here too, with some difficult performances. But he worked hard and his skills improved a lot. He became a very reliable player for the team.

Lehmann helped Borussia Dortmund become one of the top teams in Germany and Europe again. They won the Bundesliga in the 2001–02 season. That same year, they reached the UEFA Cup final, but lost to Feyenoord. During his time at Dortmund, Lehmann was known for getting red cards sometimes. He holds the record for the most red cards for a goalkeeper in the German Bundesliga. He left Dortmund after the 2002–03 season.

Arsenal's Invincible Goalkeeper

Joining the Gunners in 2003

Lehmann joined Arsenal on 25 July 2003. He replaced the legendary goalkeeper David Seaman. Arsenal's 2003–04 season was truly special. The team finished the 2003–04 FA Premier League season without losing any games. They were called "The Invincibles." This was a huge achievement in English football.

Lehmann played in every single match during this unbeaten season. His energetic style of play helped Arsenal a lot. He played 54 games in his first season and won a Premier League medal. Arsenal's unbeaten run continued until October 2004.

FA Cup Hero in 2005

In the middle of the 2004–05 season, Lehmann faced competition for his spot. Another goalkeeper, Manuel Almunia, played in some matches. But Almunia made some mistakes, and Lehmann got his position back.

Lehmann proved his worth in the 2005 FA Cup Final against Manchester United. He made many important saves to keep the score 0–0. Then, in the penalty shootout, he saved a crucial shot from Paul Scholes. Arsenal won the FA Cup 5–4, and Lehmann was named man of the match.

Champions League Record in 2006

Lehmann had an amazing 2005–06 season with Arsenal. He helped his team reach the Champions League final for the first time ever. During this journey, Arsenal set a new record. They kept ten consecutive clean sheets in the Champions League. This meant no goals were scored against them for a very long time.

This incredible run lasted for 853 minutes without conceding a goal. Lehmann broke the Champions League record for an individual goalkeeper. In the final against Barcelona, Lehmann was sent off early in the game. Arsenal eventually lost 2–1. Despite this, he was named the Champions League Goalkeeper of the Year for that season.

Later Arsenal Years

Lehmann's amazing clean sheet run ended in September 2006. His contract was set to expire in 2007, but he signed an extension until 2008.

Lehmann playing for Arsenal in 2007

In the 2007–08 season, Lehmann had some challenging moments early on. He also dealt with an injury. Manuel Almunia became the main goalkeeper for a while. Lehmann expressed his desire to play more games. He wanted to keep his spot in the German national team.

He returned to play in some FA Cup and Champions League matches. In April 2008, he played his last home game for Arsenal. He received a standing ovation from the fans. It was a special farewell for him.

Time at VfB Stuttgart

In June 2008, Lehmann signed a one-year contract with VfB Stuttgart. He made his debut for the club in July 2008. He extended his contract until 2010 and announced his retirement in August 2009.

Coming Back to Arsenal

In March 2011, Lehmann came out of retirement for a short time. Arsenal had many injured goalkeepers, so he returned to help. He signed a contract until the end of the season.

On 10 April 2011, Lehmann started a game against Blackpool. He had to play because Manuel Almunia got injured during warm-up. Arsenal won 3–1, and it was Lehmann's 200th game for the club. He became the oldest player to play for Arsenal in the Premier League. After this, his contract ended, and he retired again.

In 2018, Lehmann played in a charity match for Arsenal legends. He made some great saves and even scored a penalty in the shootout.

Playing for Germany

Lehmann with the Germany national team in 2006

Lehmann first played for the Germany national team in February 1998. He played 61 games for his country. He had a big rivalry with fellow German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn. Kahn was often the first-choice goalkeeper for Germany. Lehmann was part of the squad that finished second in the 2002 World Cup. However, he did not play any matches.

2006 FIFA World Cup Hero

In April 2006, Germany's coach announced that Lehmann would be the main goalkeeper for the 2006 World Cup. Lehmann played well in the group stage.

A highlight of his international career was the quarter-final match against Argentina. The game went to a penalty shootout. Lehmann was amazing, saving two penalties from Argentinian players. He had some notes in his sock that helped him guess where the players would shoot. Germany won the shootout 4–2. Lehmann became a hero in Germany for these saves. Even his rival, Oliver Kahn, praised him.

Germany lost to Italy in the semi-finals. Lehmann made several great saves in that game. Oliver Kahn played in the third-place match, which Germany won.

Lehmann set a national team record in March 2008. He did not concede a goal for 681 minutes in a friendly match. He played in every match as Germany reached the final of Euro 2008. They lost 1–0 to Spain.

In August 2008, Lehmann announced his retirement from international football.

How He Played

Jens Lehmann was considered one of the best goalkeepers of his time. He was known for his quick reflexes and amazing shot-stopping skills. He was also good at kicking the ball and catching crosses. Lehmann was a strong leader on the field. He was also known for his unique personality and for speaking his mind. His playing style even inspired other famous goalkeepers like Manuel Neuer.

After Football

After retiring from playing, Lehmann returned to Arsenal as an assistant coach in 2017. He left the club in 2018. In 2019, he became an assistant coach for FC Augsburg. From 2020 to 2021, he was a board member for Hertha Berlin.

Personal Life

Jens Lehmann studied economics while playing football. He is married to Conny and has three children.

Charity Work

Lehmann is involved in several charity organizations. He is a board member of the Stiftung Jugendfußball, which supports youth football. He also helps foundations that support children affected by HIV. He has played in charity football matches to raise money for UNICEF.

Acting Role

Lehmann made his acting debut in the German/South African movie Themba. He played a football coach who discovers a talented young player. The movie is about a young boy facing challenges like poverty.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Awards and Achievements

Schalke 04

• UEFA Cup: 1996–97
• 2. Bundesliga: 1990–91

AC Milan

• Serie A: 1998–99

Borussia Dortmund

• Bundesliga: 2001–02
• UEFA Cup runner-up: 2001–02

Arsenal

• Premier League: 2003–04
• FA Cup: 2004–05
• FA Community Shield: 2004
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2005–06

Germany

• FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2002; third place: 2006
• UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2008
• FIFA Confederations Cup third place: 2005

Individual Awards

• kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season: 1995–96
• UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year: 1997, 2006
• UEFA Club Football Awards Best Goalkeeper: 2005–06
• Arsenal Player of the Season: 2005−06
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2006
• Most clean sheets in the Premier League: 2003–04

See also

In Spanish: Jens Lehmann (futbolista) para niños