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René Adler facts for kids

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René Adler
René Adler 2022 (cropped).jpg
Adler in 2022
Personal information
Date of birth (1985-01-15) 15 January 1985 (age 40)
Place of birth Leipzig, East Germany
Height 1.91 m
Playing position Goalkeeper
Youth career
1991–2000 VfB Leipzig
2000–2003 Bayer Leverkusen
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2006 Bayer Leverkusen II 30 (0)
2006–2012 Bayer Leverkusen 138 (0)
2012–2017 Hamburger SV 117 (0)
2017–2019 Mainz 05 14 (0)
Total 299 (0)
National team
2000–2001 Germany U15 7 (0)
2001–2002 Germany U17 15 (0)
2002–2003 Germany U18 6 (0)
2003–2004 Germany U19 9 (0)
2004–2005 Germany U20 8 (0)
2005 Germany U21 4 (0)
2008–2013 Germany 12 (0)
  • Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

René Adler (born January 15, 1985) is a German former professional footballer. He was a talented goalkeeper who played for several big clubs.

Early Life and Start in Football

René Adler was born in Leipzig, East Germany. His dad, Jens Adler, was also a famous footballer for East Germany. René started playing football at a young age.

Youth Career

Adler began his football journey at age six. He joined the youth team of VfB Leipzig. He played there for nine years, learning the basics of being a goalkeeper.

In 2000, when he was 15, Adler moved to the youth system of Bayer 04 Leverkusen. This was a big step for his career.

Club Career Highlights

After playing for the youth teams, Adler joined the main teams. He played for three major clubs in Germany.

Time at Bayer Leverkusen

Adler joined the B team of Bayer 04 Leverkusen in 2002. He played eight games in the 2002–03 season. By 2003, he was part of the club's first team, which played in the top German league, the Bundesliga.

He had to wait a few years for his big chance. In February 2007, he finally made his Bundesliga debut. This was a very important game against Schalke 04, who were leading the league. Adler played amazingly, saving many shots. His team won 1–0, and his manager praised his "world-class saves."

Adler became the main goalkeeper for Bayer Leverkusen. He played many games for the team over the next few years. He even played in international club competitions like the UEFA Cup. However, he later faced some injuries. Because of these injuries, a new goalkeeper, Bernd Leno, took his place.

After 12 years with Leverkusen, Adler left the club in 2012. He had played 138 games for the first team.

Moving to Hamburger SV

In 2012, Adler signed a five-year contract with another Bundesliga club, Hamburger SV. He quickly became their main goalkeeper. He played 33 games in his first season with Hamburg.

Adler continued to play regularly for Hamburger SV. He made 117 appearances for the club over five years. In May 2017, he decided not to extend his contract and left the team.

Short Spell at Mainz 05

In July 2017, Adler joined 1. FSV Mainz 05. He played 14 games for them in the 2017–18 season.

Retirement from Football

On May 1, 2019, René Adler announced that he would retire from professional football. He ended his career after the 2018–19 season. Overall, he played in 269 top-flight matches in Germany.

Playing for Germany

René Adler also played for the German national team. He was a captain at different levels of youth football.

He played four games for the German U-21 team. He was also part of the German senior team that finished second in Euro 2008.

Adler became the first-choice goalkeeper for Germany during the World Cup qualifiers. He made his debut for Germany in October 2008 against Russia. Sadly, a serious rib injury stopped him from playing in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

He was out of the national team for two years due to injuries. He was called back in 2012 for a friendly game against the Netherlands. However, he was not chosen for the German squad for the World Cup 2014. Between 2008 and 2013, he played 12 games for the German national team.

Honours and Achievements

René Adler was recognized for his skills as a goalkeeper.

  • Individual
    • Best Bundesliga Goalkeeper: 2008

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: René Adler para niños

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