Jens Gerhard Lehmann (pronounced[ˈjɛnsˈleːman];[3] born 10 November 1969) is a German former professionalfootballer who played as agoalkeeper. He was a member ofArsenal's "Invincibles", playing every match of theirunbeaten title-winning season. He holds theUEFA Champions League record for the most consecutiveclean sheets, not conceding a single goal in eight consecutive full matches while he played for Arsenal. He also has the highest number of continuous minutes without conceding goals. In total, this lasted 853 minutes. He is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation.[4]
Lehmann was voted UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year for the 1996–97 and 2005–06 seasons, and was selected for threeWorld Cup squads.
Lehmann started his career in the 1988–89 season[5] withSchalke 04, playing for them for nearly a decade. His first years were rocky, notably a game againstBayer Leverkusen in 1993 in which he conceded three goals and was substituted after 45 minutes,[6] causing him to flee the stadium alone by tram rather than taking the team bus,[7] but Lehmann gradually established himself as a strong keeper lauded for his ability to intercept crosses.[citation needed]
He scored his first league goal on 12 March 1995 in a 6–2 victory over1860 Munich in the 84th minute, scoring Schalke's sixth goal from the penalty spot.[8] His second goal was a last-minute equaliser scored against bitter rivals, Borussia Dortmund, in theRevierderby on 19 December 1997.[9]
Lehmann left Schalke forAC Milan in 1998, but his performances were below par. In one gameGabriel Batistuta scored a hat-trick against him, including a goal from a free kick in the box which Lehmann had conceded by handling a back pass.[11] In another game he was substituted after giving away a penalty.[12] After just five matches, Lehmann was dropped. Believing he wouldn't get another chance at Milan, he left during the winter.[13]
In early 1999, Lehmann returned to Germany to play forBorussia Dortmund replacing long-time goalkeeperStefan Klos.[14] Lehmann had a difficult start there after several poor performances. Rumors arose that Lehmann might leave, with supporters viewing him critically.[citation needed]
But the tide eventually turned and Lehmann's form improved, becoming a reliable figure in the team. He played a significant part in the club's return to the upper echelons of German and European football. Borussia Dortmund began the 2001–02 season strongly and eventually won theBundesliga in2001–02. That same year, Borussia Dortmund reached the UEFA-Cup final, though the team lost to Dutch club Feyenoord Rotterdam.[15]
Around this time, Lehmann developed a reputation for his poor disciplinary record. In a match againstSC Freiburg, Lehmann kicked opposing attackerSoumaila Coulibaly after they collided in the penalty area. Lehmann was suspended afterwards. He currently holds the record for most red cards for any Borussia Dortmund player, and the record for most red cards for a goalkeeper in the German Bundesliga.[citation needed]
Lehmann's form slipped in the 2002–03 season, along with Borussia Dortmund's. His time at Dortmund was winding down, and after the season concluded, he left Dortmund. He was replaced byRoman Weidenfeller andGuillaume Warmuz, who had just left Arsenal.
Lehmann joinedArsenal on 25 July 2003 replacing the recently departedDavid Seaman. Arsenal's 2003–04 season was historic. The Gunners finished the2003–04 FA Premier League season unbeaten, becoming the first English club to accomplish the feat in the modern era and only the second to ever have an unbeaten season in English football's top tier, the only other team to accomplish this feat beingPreston North End in the 1888–89 season. Lehmann played every match in Arsenal's unbeaten season, though his swashbuckling playing style did lead to occasional mistakes. For example, in the title-winning match at local rivalsTottenham Hotspur, Lehmann pushed Tottenham strikerRobbie Keane as the pair waited for a Tottenham corner.[16] He also committed an error that led to the equalising goal in Arsenal's Champions League defeat at home to Chelsea the same season.[17] Despite these mistakes, Lehmann's addition to the Arsenal team had a major effect on Arsenal's ability to finish unbeaten. And Arsenal continued unbeaten until 24 October 2004. At the end of his first season at Arsenal, he had already played 54 times earning himself aPremier League winners medal.[citation needed]
By the middle of the2004–05 season, Lehmann's inconsistent form lead to SpaniardManuel Almunia starting in several matches instead. However, Almunia made a series of mistakes during several games, thus allowing Lehmann to regain his position. At the end of that season, as speculation again began to mount that he would be replaced over the summer, Lehmann cemented his position in the Arsenal goal with a man-of-the-match performance against Manchester United in the2005 FA Cup Final. He made several important saves and demonstrated great positional sense to keep the score 0–0 afterextra time, and then crucially savedPaul Scholes' shot in the penalty shootout, which Arsenal won 5–4.[citation needed]
Lehmann had an outstanding2005–06 season with Arsenal, making his 100th Premier League appearance for the club in their game againstWest Bromwich Albion on 15 April 2006. He was a key factor in his side's first-ever accession to theChampions League final; during their run Arsenal broke the record for the most consecutiveclean sheets in the Champions League with ten, breaking the record of seven that Milan had set just one year before. That run formed the bulk of an 853-minute spell without conceding a goal, overtaking the CL record for an individual goalkeeper set byEdwin van der Sar.[citation needed]
Bayern Munich'sHasan Salihamidžić had been the last to net against Lehmann, in the 64th minute of a last 16 first leg match on 22 February 2005; Lehmann kept a clean sheet in the second leg, and then a further seven during Arsenal's run in 2005–06 (Almunia played in the other five matches in the group stages). The final clean sheet was earned in the semi-finals againstVillarreal, after Lehmann saved an 89th minuteJuan Román Riquelme penalty. In thefinal againstBarcelona, with the score still goalless, Lehmann was sent off in the 18th minute for aprofessional foul after bringing downSamuel Eto'o, making him the first player and – so far – only goalkeeper to ever be sent off in a Champions League/European Cup final. Arsenal would go on to lose 2–1 despite having the lead at half-time, but that did not stop him from being named the Champions League Goalkeeper of the Year for the 2005–06 season after going 853 minutes without conceding a goal.[18]
His remarkable run was finally ended on 13 September 2006 byHamburger SV'sBoubacar Sanogo, who scored a consolation goal in the 89th minute of Arsenal's first group stage match of the2006–07 Champions League season.[citation needed]
Lehmann's contract at Arsenal was due to expire in summer 2007 and during the2006–07 season there was much speculation he would leave the club on aBosman transfer. However, it was reported on 26 April 2007 that he had signed a year's extension on his contract, tying him to the club until 2008.[19]
In the first league game of the 2007–08 season, Lehmann made a serious error after just 52 seconds, allowingDavid Healy to score forFulham. However, Lehmann's blushes were spared late in the game as Arsenal won 2–1. In his second league match againstBlackburn Rovers he fumbled aDavid Dunn shot to allow Blackburn to equalise, in a game that finished 1–1. On 24 August, the BBC reported that he returned to Germany to treat anAchilles tendon injury which he picked up during international duty againstEngland, meaningManuel Almunia took his place for Arsenal's third match.[citation needed]
Lehmann subsequently had to wait nearly four months to make another competitive appearance for Arsenal, which came in their final Champions League group match againstSteaua Bucharest. Nearly one month later, he played only his fifth competitive game of the season for Arsenal, againstBurnley in the third round of theFA Cup; meanwhile third-choice goalkeeperŁukasz Fabiański was selected for theLeague Cup games. Lehmann expressed frustration at being number two to Manuel Almunia[20] fearing it could cost him the number one jersey in the Germany national team forEuro 2008. However, Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger described Lehmann's attitude as "super-professional".[21]
On 26 January 2008, Lehmann appeared in Arsenal's second FA Cup game of the season, keeping his second successive clean sheet as Arsenal beatNewcastle United 3–0. Manager Arsène Wenger later promised Lehmann that, if he stayed at Arsenal, he would play every game in the FA Cup.[22] On 29 January, Lehmann suggested that he will stick with Arsenal until his contract expires at the end of the season. Lehmann gave his reasons as his relationship with the fans, players, family situations and his chance to still be able to win things at the club; believing he "wouldn't have had this chance somewhere else."[23] On 2 February, following an injury to Almunia, Lehmann returned in goal for Arsenal in the Premiership for an away fixture againstManchester City, more than five months after his last league appearance; Arsenal won the match 3–1. Due to Almunia catching flu straight after the injury, Lehmann kept his place in goal for the following three matches in February, including the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 against Milan, but also the 4–0 loss to arch rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup.[citation needed]
After another injury to Almunia in early April 2008, Lehmann was back in goal for the away game against Manchester United on 13 April 2008. Arsenal lost that game 2–1, virtually ending their Premier League title hopes for the season, their third consecutive season without a major trophy. There was speculation that would be his last game for Arsenal, but on 19 April, Lehmann played in the home game againstReading, which Arsenal won 2–0. The following week, Łukasz Fabiański was given his Premier League debut againstDerby County and Almunia returned to the bench for the game. However, Lehmann made another appearance and was brought on for Fabiański in the last 20 minutes of the game againstEverton on 4 May, Arsenal's final home game of the season. He was given a standing ovation after the match as he bowed and clapped to the fans. Later that day, Wenger confirmed that it was Lehmann's farewell appearance.[24]
In early June 2008, it was announced that Lehmann had signed a one-year contract forVfB Stuttgart.[25] He joined the team's pre-season training on 24 July 2008,[26] and made his debut for the club on 30 July 2008 in a friendly match against former team Arsenal. His competitive debut for the club came on 10 August 2008 in the first round of theDFB-Pokal, a 5–0 away victory overFC Hansa Lüneburg, and his Bundesliga debut one week later in Stuttgart's 3–1 away victory atBorussia Mönchengladbach.[citation needed]
On 3 April 2009, Lehmann extended his contract at VfB Stuttgart until the summer of 2010[27] and in August 2009, he announced that he would retire on 30 June 2010.[28]
On 14 March 2011, German tabloidBild reported that Lehmann was in talks to come out of retirement, due to an injury crisis at Arsenal leaving them with only one fit senior keeper,Manuel Almunia.[29] Lehmann was also scheduled to spend six weeks working on his coaching badges at his old club.[30] Due to the injury of Arsenal goalkeepersWojciech Szczęsny,Łukasz Fabiański andVito Mannone, on 17 March 2011 Lehmann signed for Arsenal on a rolling contract until the end of the season.[31] Lehmann was named as a substitute in Arsenal's match againstWest Bromwich Albion on 19 March 2011. Despite newspaper reports that he might replace Almunia, due to the Spaniard's poor performances,[32] Lehmann made his first appearance inArsenal's reserves on 29 March 2011 against Wigan, when Arsenal lost 2–1.[33]
On 10 April 2011, Lehmann started for the first team in an away game againstBlackpool. He was forced to start the game when Almunia was injured in the warm up.[34] Winning 3–1, it was his 200th appearance for Arsenal. Lehmann became the oldest player to play for Arsenal in the Premier League but not the oldest to play for the Gunners in all competitions, a record held byJock Rutherford. Lehmann's contract with Arsenal expired at the end of the season, and then he decided to retire once again.[citation needed]
On 8 September 2018, a match was organised between Arsenal legends and Real Madrid legends in which Lehmann appeared afterDavid Seaman picked up injury during training. He eventually made two saves in the second half and then saved a shot from Alfonso in the subsequent penalty shoot out. Arsenal legends won 5–3 on penalties, with Lehmann scoring the last penalty for Arsenal.[35]
Lehmann made his debut for theGermany national team againstOman in February 1998 and earned 61caps for his country, 32 of which were friendlies.[36]
He had a well-publicised rivalry with formerBayern Munich goalkeeperOliver Kahn, whose presence long prevented Lehmann from becoming the number one goalkeeper of the national team. Lehmann was in the squad which finished as runners-up in the2002 World Cup, but he didn't play any matches in the competition, as Kahn was still Germany's first choice goalkeeper.[citation needed]
On 7 April 2006, however, Germany national coachJürgen Klinsmann announced that Lehmann would be Germany's first-choice goalkeeper for the upcomingWorld Cup. Lehmann conceded two goals in Germany'sopening match of the World Cup, both scored byCosta Rica'sPaulo Wanchope although Germany won the match 4–2. Lehmann played strongly in the next three games, conceding no goals and allowing Germany to sweep their group undefeated and beat Sweden convincingly in the Round of 16.[37]
The highlight of Lehmann's international career came in thequarterfinal match (30 June 2006, Olympiastadion, Berlin) against Argentina. The game remained tied 1–1 after 90 minutes and extra time. The game came down to penalty kicks and Lehmann carried his team through, picking the right direction for all spot kicks, making saves from ArgentiniansRoberto Ayala andEsteban Cambiasso and almost saving a third. Meanwhile, the Germans made all four of the necessary spot kicks to win the penalty shoot-out 4–2. Lehmann's prowess in the shootout was aided by notes given to him before the kicks – an idea from Germany's chief scout, Swiss-bornUrs Siegenthaler. Germany's goalkeeping manager,Andreas Köpke, gave Lehmann a sheet of paper with the penalty tendencies of seven of the Argentinians, with Lehmann keeping the paper in his right sock.[38] Only two of the seven players on the note (Ayala andMaxi Rodríguez) ended up taking penalties, but Köpke had predicted both correctly and Lehmann saved Ayala's kick.[38] Before the last shot from Cambiasso, Lehmann looked at the paper for a long time even though Cambiasso's name was not even on it. Lehmann then saved the penalty, ending the game.[38] The story about the paper features in the filmDeutschland. Ein Sommermärchen. Lehmann was considered a hero by the German public after these saves, and he received praise even from long-time rival and backup keeper Oliver Kahn.[39]
Germany's opponent in the semifinals was Italy. The Italians had the better chances to score but Lehmann made several spectacular saves, including one in extra time where he dived out of goal to intercept an Italian player who had broken loose from the defence, punching the ball clear with his fist and temporarily knocking out the Italian in the process. He allowed two goals within a minute of each other with only a few seconds remaining in extra time, which put Italy into the World Cup final.[40] The retiring Oliver Kahn was given the honour of starting in the third place play-off match, an offer made by Lehmann himself. Kahn was made captain for that game due to the injury toMichael Ballack. Germany defeated Portugal 3–1 for the third place (bronze) medals.[41]
In August 2006, Lehmann revealed that during the World Cup he was suffering with a foot injury that he claims was a result of wearing different boots. TheGerman Football Association ordered their players to wear only those manufactured by principal sponsorAdidas as opposed to Lehmann's sponsorNike. This has now been overturned thanks to Lehmann and several other players protesting about the decision and the players are now free to wear boots made by other companies. The same month, Lehmann suggested that he may retire from league and international football after playing for Germany inEuro 2008.[42] However, he subsequently stated in January 2007 that he had not made any decision on retirement.
Lehmann set a national team record of not conceding a goal for 681 minutes in a friendly againstSwitzerland on 26 March 2008. In Euro 2008, he was one of only two players born in the 1960s, with the other beingAustria'sIvica Vastić. Lehmann started every match as Germany reached the final. They lost 1–0 to Spain; a lack of communication between Lehmann andPhilipp Lahm allowed Spain'sFernando Torres to net the only goal in the match.
On 8 August 2008, Lehmann announced his retirement from international football. He made his decision following a two-hour talk with the Germany national team's coachJoachim Löw and goalkeeping coachAndreas Köpke, stating that he was not able to give them any guarantee that he will continue to play football following the end of his one-year contract with VfB Stuttgart in June 2009. He has since retired and subsequently worked towards his full FIFA coaching license at Arsenal.[43][44]
Considered to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world in his prime, as well as one of the best goalkeepers in the history of the Premier League, and one of Arsenal's and Germany's greatest goalkeepers, Lehmann was a talented and experienced keeper, who was renowned for his agility, reflexes, strength, and acrobatic shot-stopping abilities; however, he was also known for his efficiency rather than spectacular playing style.[45][46][47][4][48][49][50] A well–rounded goalkeeper, he was also highly regarded in the media for his distribution with either foot, as well as his handling, physical presence, positioning, reading of the game, and his ability to come off his line and collect or punch crosses, which allowed him to command his area effectively.[45][46][51][52][53][54][55] He was also known for his eccentric personality, and for being extremely outspoken.[47][4][56][57] Moreover, he possessed a strong mentality, tactical sense, and leadership qualities, and was also known for his ability to handle pressure and communicate with his back–line.[58][59][60] One of the best goalkeepers of his generation, his playing style served as an inspiration forManuel Neuer.[51] However, despite his ability, he was also known to be inconsistent at times.[56][61]
Ahead of the 2017–18 season, it was confirmed that Lehmann would return to Arsenal once again as assistant coach.[62] On 19 June 2018, Arsenal confirmed that Lehmann had left the club as part of new head coachUnai Emery's coaching staff changes.[63] On 29 January 2019, he was appointed assistant coach ofFC Augsburg alongsideManuel Baum, as the team were only 15th in theBundesliga.[64] In May 2020,Tennor Holding BV named Lehmann, among others, as its representative on the supervisory board ofHertha BSC.[65] One year later, he was sacked after sending pundit and former footballerDennis Aogo aWhatsApp message calling him a "quota black guy",[66] in relation to Aogo's work as an expert atSky. Lehmann had previously apologized via aTwitter post.[67] In November 2024, it was announced that he's set to manage one of the 12 teams in the upcomingBaller League UK, asix-a-side football league.[68][69]
In 1999, he married Conny, a middle school teacher. Lehmann later adoptedLasse, Conny’s son from her previous marriage to footballerKnut Reinhardt. The pair also have two children.[70]
In September 2024, Lehmann was fined €135,000 by a court inStarnberg for damaging his neighbour's garage with a chainsaw.[71]
He is board member of the youth football foundation Stiftung Jugendfußball, founded 2000 upon the initiative ofJürgen Klinsmann. Lehmann also acts as ambassador of the foundation Power-Child Campus South Africa[72] that supports children affected by HIV and well as foundations ofBert Trautmann,Christoph Metzelder and former Arsenal goalkeeperBob Wilson.[citation needed]
He participated in theSoccer Aid football match on 6 June 2010 for the Rest of the World team in aid ofUNICEF.[73]
Lehmann made his film acting debut with the German/South African productionThemba.[74] He plays Big John Jacobs, a football coach andtalent scout, who discovers Themba, a young and ambitious youth, who is faced with poverty, AIDS and violence, but eventually makes his way on to theSouth African national team.[75] The movie is based on a novel by Lutz van Dijk and premiered at theBerlinale 2010.[76]
^"Jetzt ist mein Zahn weg" [Now my tooth is gone].Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). 23 August 2009. Archived fromthe original on 28 October 2009. Retrieved12 January 2010.
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