Kahn says he's ready to step down as captain
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn said he was ready to step down as Germany captain after coming under fire for an ugly foul in the Bundesliga at the weekend.
"If anybody has the impression that I do not deserve this role any more, I will naturally step down immediately," Kahn told Monday's issue of German sports magazine Kicker.
Kahn, who has a reputation for losing his temper, grabbed striker Thomas Brdaric's neck in Bayern's 2-1 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
The Bayern skipper was booked for the offence but many commentators in the German media said he should have been sent off.
Brdaric, who later received his marching orders for a second bookable offence, said after the match that he had feared for his life.
"It's pointless to discuss it," Kahn told Kicker when asked about Brdaric's comments.
"My image is not that important," said Kahn, adding that several other fouls by other players in the Leverkusen game were more serious than his.
"The moralists should be glad they have me. When Bradric kicks Jens Jeremies's shin or when Schalke goalkeeper (Frank) Rost shoves one of his own team mates, nobody's interested. The name Oliver Kahn is easier to sell."
Kahn became the first goalkeeper to win FIFA's Golden Ball award for the best player in this year's World Cup after his saves put Germany through to the final, which they lost 2-0 to Brazil.
The 33-year-old has a tendency to over-react under pressure and has committed several nasty fouls throughout his career.
In April 1996, he pushed Bayern team mate Andreas Herzog out of the penalty area after the Austrian international had committed a defensive blunder in a Bundesliga game.
In April 1999, he made unwanted headlines with a kung-fu style kick aimed at Borussia Dortmund's Stephane Chapuisat. In the same game he attempted to bite the neck of another Dortmund striker, Heiko Herrlich.
In March last year he moved up front in a game against Rostock and punched the ball into Rostock's goal with his fists.
