Raphael Schäfer
Encyclopedia
Raphael Schäfer (born 30 January 1979 in Kędzierzyn-Koźle
, Poland
) is a German
football goalkeeper who plays for 1. FC Nuremberg.
. At the age of 12 he was scouted by Hannover 96
and joined the ranks of their youth teams. He became part of the first-team squad with 17 but never made it into the starting line-up.
Thus, he decided to join Regionalliga side VfB Lübeck
before the 1998–99 season. At Lübeck he quickly became the first-choice goalkeeper but his team failed to qualify for the 2. Bundesliga
in three consecutive seasons.
and he became the second choice goalkeeper behind former German Under-21-international Darius Kampa
. When Kampa had a series of weak showings for the team, coach Klaus Augenthaler
gave Schäfer the chance to shine in his first Bundesliga game against Borussia Mönchengladbach
in March 2002. Despite playing a good game, Schäfer still remained as second choice as Augenthaler still considered Kampa his first choice keeper. When the club was relegated
the following year, Schäfer had played three games for the Franconian side.
At the start of the 2003–04 season, Nuremberg were plagued by financial trouble and looking to cash in on several players including Kampa. Manager Wolfgang Wolf
appointed Schäfer as the first choice goalkeeper as he expected Kampa to leave the club before August 2003. However, Kampa was not sold but Schäfer remained the number one goalkeeper. He stayed in this position throughout the entire season despite substantial fan backing for his rival, Kampa.
Even after Kampa was sold to Mönchengladbach before the 2004–05 season, which saw Nuremberg back in the top flight, Schäfer still had to fight off skepticism in his abilities from parts of the Nuremberg supporters. He answered his critics by showing substantial improvements throughout the following two seasons and was voted skipper of the Nuremberg team before the start of the 2006–07 season.
, making his debut for them on 10 August against Schalke 04
. However, his performances were not as they were expected to be and he could not live up to the expectations. In summer 2008 he was replaced by Jens Lehmann
as Stuttgart's number one keeper.
Kedzierzyn-Kozle
Kędzierzyn-Koźle is the capital city of Kędzierzyn-Koźle County, Silesia, Poland. Kędzierzyn-Koźle is a place of a major river port, has rail connections with all major cities of Poland and serves western outskirts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union....
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
) is a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
football goalkeeper who plays for 1. FC Nuremberg.
Early career
Schäfer began his footballing career at SC Drispenstedt in a suburb of HildesheimHildesheim
Hildesheim is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located in the district of Hildesheim, about 30 km southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste river, which is a small tributary of the Leine river...
. At the age of 12 he was scouted by Hannover 96
Hannover 96
Hannoverscher Sportverein von 1896, commonly referred to as Hannover 96, Hannover or simply 96, is a German association football club based in the city of Hanover, Lower Saxony.-Foundation to WWII:...
and joined the ranks of their youth teams. He became part of the first-team squad with 17 but never made it into the starting line-up.
Thus, he decided to join Regionalliga side VfB Lübeck
VfB Lübeck
VfB Lübeck is a German association football club playing in Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein in the country's north. In addition to its football side the 1,000 member sports club also has departments for badminton, women's gymnastics, handball, and table tennis....
before the 1998–99 season. At Lübeck he quickly became the first-choice goalkeeper but his team failed to qualify for the 2. Bundesliga
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
in three consecutive seasons.
Nuremberg
Schäfer transferred to Nuremberg in July 2001. The club had just been promoted to the BundesligaFußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
and he became the second choice goalkeeper behind former German Under-21-international Darius Kampa
Darius Kampa
Darius Kampa is a German football player. As of February 2009, he plays for SpVgg Unterhaching. He also holds Polish citizenship. He spent 5 seasons in the Bundesliga with 1. FC Nuremberg and Borussia Mönchengladbach.-External links:...
. When Kampa had a series of weak showings for the team, coach Klaus Augenthaler
Klaus Augenthaler
Klaus "Auge" Augenthaler is a former football player and now manager.-Playing years:...
gave Schäfer the chance to shine in his first Bundesliga game against Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach is a German association football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. The team plays in the Bundesliga and is one of the country's most well-known, well-supported, and successful teams. Borussia Mönchengladbach has over 40,000 members and is the sixth...
in March 2002. Despite playing a good game, Schäfer still remained as second choice as Augenthaler still considered Kampa his first choice keeper. When the club was relegated
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
the following year, Schäfer had played three games for the Franconian side.
At the start of the 2003–04 season, Nuremberg were plagued by financial trouble and looking to cash in on several players including Kampa. Manager Wolfgang Wolf
Wolfgang Wolf
Wolfgang Wolf is a German football coach and a former player.-Career:As a player, he spent 12 seasons in the Bundesliga with 1. FC Kaiserslautern and Stuttgarter Kickers.-Coaching career:...
appointed Schäfer as the first choice goalkeeper as he expected Kampa to leave the club before August 2003. However, Kampa was not sold but Schäfer remained the number one goalkeeper. He stayed in this position throughout the entire season despite substantial fan backing for his rival, Kampa.
Even after Kampa was sold to Mönchengladbach before the 2004–05 season, which saw Nuremberg back in the top flight, Schäfer still had to fight off skepticism in his abilities from parts of the Nuremberg supporters. He answered his critics by showing substantial improvements throughout the following two seasons and was voted skipper of the Nuremberg team before the start of the 2006–07 season.
VfB Stuttgart
In July 2007, he moved to Nuremberg's Bundesliga rival VfB StuttgartVfB Stuttgart
Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons...
, making his debut for them on 10 August against Schalke 04
FC Schalke 04
Fußball-Club Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04, commonly known as simply FC Schalke 04 or Schalke , is a German, association-football club originally from the Schalke district of Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia. Schalke has long been one of the most popular football teams in Germany, even though major...
. However, his performances were not as they were expected to be and he could not live up to the expectations. In summer 2008 he was replaced by Jens Lehmann
Jens Lehmann
Jens Gerhard Lehmann is a German former football goalkeeper. He was voted UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year for the 1996–97 and 2005–06 seasons, and he has been selected for three World Cup squads. He was a member of Arsenal's Invincibles, playing every match of their famous unbeaten title winning...
as Stuttgart's number one keeper.