Chapter Thirty-Three: He Is Klose

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The sixth round of the Bundesliga came after an unusually long break following the fifth round—nearly nine days—and much had transpired during that interval.

First, Bayern Munich failed in their attempt to poach a promising player. Then, numerous top clubs scrambled to extend invitations. Meanwhile, Mourinho employed a subtle strategy, meeting secretly with Möller to help the “black shop” Porto claw back one point.

Setting aside whether Möller would end up like a one-season wonder—a player who shines briefly before fading into obscurity—his mere age of seventeen was enough to stir the interest of major clubs. Of course, there were many captivating young talents at the time.

For instance, Ronaldinho, rumored to have piqued Barcelona’s interest, though Paris Saint-Germain, intent on transforming themselves into a genuine powerhouse, was unlikely to let him go anytime soon.

Or Cristiano Ronaldo and Quaresma. Barcelona openly favored Quaresma, making a move around 2003. Yet, due to Quaresma’s stamina issues and inconsistencies such as imprecise passing, his price hovered around six million euros—far below the nearly forty million euros commanded by the fleet-footed Cristiano Ronaldo.

Back then, Ronaldo’s fame paled compared to Quaresma’s, but Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United still paid £12.24 million for him. At that time, the British pound was stronger than the euro, with the euro yet to reach a 1:10 ratio against the yuan, while the pound was roughly 1:12.

But Möller wasn’t concerned with all that. What mattered was the man before him: Miroslav Klose, the future top scorer in World Cup history, the rising star Klose! Klose!

In the sixth round, Munich 1860 traveled to face Kaiserslautern. The opposing lineup was less important than remembering the name of their striker: Klose.

“Do you know Klose? Why does Kaiserslautern have Klose?”

“Are you talking about last season’s top German scorer and best rookie?”

The question was from Möller, but the answer came from Shao Jiayi! Shao knew Klose, yet his calm demeanor was striking. Klose, who at 35 would still achieve a rare feat of scoring five goals in a single season, and Tony, who at 38 would win the Serie A Golden Boot—both legends, both monsters.

Meanwhile, online forums ignited. A thread titled “He Is Klose” exploded in Möller’s fan community.

Do you remember that Klose from the Korea-Japan World Cup in 2002? In the group stage, he scored three spectacular headers against Saudi Arabia.

After his second goal, Klose celebrated unexpectedly: calmly jogging to the sideline before executing a flawless forward somersault, graceful and elegant like a beautiful white swan.

German football is traditionally known for its discipline, so Klose’s passionate display caused quite a stir.

He also scored against strong teams like Ireland and Cameroon, finishing with five goals to claim the Silver Boot.

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In his first World Cup, Klose set a new record as the first player to score five headed goals in a single tournament, surpassing the “God of Headers” Kocsis from the 1950s Hungary team.

Now, he was challenging another standout World Cup player, having scored two “lucky” goals and breaking the record for the youngest World Cup player. Möller, the youngest World Cup player himself, was up for the challenge. If forced to choose a winner, it would be Klose.

The reason was simple: he was Klose.

Once the post went up, the comments flooded in.

“I’m rooting for Klose! Long live Klose!”

“As a seasoned fan, I was initially skeptical, but his performance has been increasingly phenomenal. Slow but steady progress.”

“ZBIUXA: The first time I saw Klose was just joining the World Cup hype. My first impression was, ‘He’s so tall and skinny... won’t he fall over with just one push?’ But he plays remarkably well... and I’ve followed him ever since.”

“Chinese football rise up, you guys! Love your country or not? I support Möller!”

“K, take my knees! The comment above is wrong—this has nothing to do with patriotism. If China played Germany in the World Cup, of course, I’d support Möller and China. But now? Haha!”

“Tony, the header king? He’s a god? My Tony is about to explode!”

“I’m backing Klose. Wait until Tony plays in the top division! He’s still in the second tier, Palermo, right?”

“Don’t argue about Beckham’s free kicks. Who wins or loses is uncertain! Klose is down because his girlfriend dumped him? He’s in a slump?”

“What about the transfer rumors? Watch this space! Many teams aren’t clamoring for Klose now, but if he keeps performing, someone will pay big.”

“The ‘King of Football Lottery’ topic—everyone knows that. But Klose always seems a bit off. I didn’t bet on the Munich 1860 vs. Kaiserslautern match. Both teams are struggling.”

Putting aside the debate, at Fritz-Walter Stadium, home of the Bundesliga’s “Red Devils” Kaiserslautern, the crowd roared passionately:

“Miro Klose! Football God!”

Well, Klose, once dubbed “the striker from heaven” by Beckenbauer after the World Cup, had thus been “promoted” to God.

But so what? Möller was not afraid! He was Klose! That was perfect—a forward like Klose was exactly the target Möller sought to pursue and surpass.

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Kaiserslautern’s red jersey on Klose made him look like a blazing flame. Möller’s blue-and-white striped kit resembled a crashing wave. Klose, let me extinguish your fire!

“Hello everyone, I’m Chen Nu. I’ll be commentating this match. Both sides have rookies: our Möller, and Klose. Who is truly the strongest young star? The 24-year-old Klose or the 17-year-old Möller?”

Chen Nu’s words were typical hometown support—17 versus 24 was a subtle nod toward his own country’s player.

On the field, the situation was grim. Everyone shouted one name, eyes fixed on the fiery figure charging with the ball. Tall, long-legged, and elegant in style, Klose danced on the pitch, a spectacle of grace and beauty.

Möller’s expression was serious. How did Klose rise? As a poacher-type striker, what was their greatest skill? Scoring goals with ease!

Möller had given up the chase. Some might say Klose was overrated, that he faltered in big matches and struggled to score. But consider this: when Klose played in the World Cup, the German team was in decline. Yet even so,

Klose struck down Rooney (4–1), Messi (4–0), Ibrahimović (2–0), and Cristiano Ronaldo (3–1).

There was no intention to disparage anyone—at that time, Klose was like a peak-era Kaka, a near-bug in the game.

Klose’s physique and speed were not exceptional. Given his physical gifts, his achievements were remarkable. He was versatile—heading, shooting, dribbling, poaching, and positioning all above average—though none were world-leading. Viewed as an all-rounder, he was akin to Rooney later on, a utility piece moved wherever needed, sometimes overused.

Unfortunately, his lack of robust strength meant he never dominated like Vieri or Drogba, who could bulldoze defenders and force goals. Nor did his dribbling thrill with solo runs past multiple opponents.

Fairly speaking, many criticized his lack of knockout-stage and big-match goals. But during his prime years, Germany was not stronger than other top national teams, and neither was his Bundesliga club, the “Red Devils.”

Thus, Klose’s lack of solo brilliance was less glaring, while his team-oriented style was more fitting. Yet his lethal efficiency against weaker opponents proved that when his team held the advantage, he was a clinical finisher.

And now, Klose was seizing the moment! Rooney bowed before him, Messi’s expression darkened in his presence, and Cristiano Ronaldo wept in defeat with teammates—so what of Möller?

Simon Jentz’s face was grave as he watched the fiery Klose approach. Though Klose looked somewhat subdued, perhaps not at his best, listen to the Kaiserslautern fans’ chants:

“Miro Klose! Football God!”