Hans-Jörg Butt

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Hans-Jörg Butt (born 28 May 1974 in Oldenburg) is a German footballer who currently plays for FC Bayern Munich in the German League, as a goalkeeper.

Known for taking penalty kicks, he netted nearly 30 goals in Germany's top flight,^[1] and played with Hamburger SV, Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich in his country, having arrived in the league's powerhouse at already 34.

During his career, Butt scored three times from the penalty spot against Juventus, once with each club.^[2]

[edit] Club career

Butt started his professional career with modest VfB Oldenburg, achieving promotion to the second division. He moved to Hamburger SV in 1997 and, in 1998–99, hit seven goals for the team – all from the penalty spot, adding nine in similar fashion the following season.

Butt joined Bayer 04 Leverkusen on a free transfer in 2001, being the side's undisputed starter in the subsequent campaigns (he only missed one league match in his first five seasons combined, and added seven goals), and appeared in all the games (17) for a team that lost to Real Madrid in the 2002 Champions League final, scoring a penalty in a 3–1 home win against Juventus FC, in the second group stage.

In a hilarious situation, in 2003–04, after scoring a penalty in an away match against FC Schalke 04, on 17 April 2004, Butt was busy celebrating with his teammates and, as he went back into his goal he found the ball in the net. A Schalke player (Mike Hanke) shot the ball from the halfway line, after a quick kick-off.^[3]

After losing Leverkusen's nets to the young René Adler during 2006–07, Butt decided to cancel the contract that linked him to the club until 2009. He activated a clause that allowed him to leave the club should he fail to appear in less of the games during the second half of the season.^[4] In July 2007, he signed a two-year deal with Portuguese giants S.L. Benfica.^[5] Butt made his Reds debut in the Summer tournament of Torneio de Guadiana, held between Benfica, Sporting Clube de Portugal and Real Betis. In the tournament, he saved a penalty against Betis, helping Benfica with the final win. At Benfica, however, he played understudy to Portuguese international Quim, and was used in the cup matches. He only made one league appearance for Benfica, coming on as a substitute after Quim was sent off against C.S. Marítimo, in October 2007. In this match, he saved a penalty from Ariza Makukula with his first touch of the game, and Benfica eventually won 2–1.

On 4 June 2008, Butt signed a two-year contract with reigning champions FC Bayern Munich and was expected to act as backup to Oliver Kahn's heir, highly rated young Michael Rensing.^[6] He made his debut for the club in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg match against Sporting Clube de Portugal, in a 7–1 home drubbing, on March 10, 2009. With Rensing dropped to the bench following a 5–1 loss at Vfl Wolfsburg, he also started the remaining games of the season, as the initial first-choice was also nursing a hand injury.

After the team's poor start to the 2009–10 season with Rensing in goal, Butt was reinstated. On 8 December 2009, he scored his first goal for the club, a crucial penalty in the club's last Champions League group stage match, at Juventus, coming from behind to a 4–1 victory - after this feat, Butt managed to score a goal against Juventus in the Champions League for all three major German clubs he represented.^[7]

[edit] International career

Butt was Germany's third-choice goalkeeper, behind Oliver Kahn and Jens Lehmann, at both the UEFA Euro 2000 and the 2002 FIFA World Cup, remaining an unused substitute in both tournaments.

He won three international caps for Germany in friendly matches, with his debut coming against Liechtenstein, on 7 June 2000, where he appeared for the second half of an 8–2 routing.

[edit] Personal

Butt is married to his wife Katja, and the couple has one daughter and one son.^[8]

[edit] Honours

[edit] Club

• UEFA Champions League: Runner-up 2001–02
• German Cup: Runner-up 2001–02

[edit] National team

• FIFA World Cup: Runner-up 2002

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Bayern Munich player profile
• Career stats at Fussballdaten (German)
• Leverkusen-who's who (German)
• FootballDatabase stats

v • d • e Germany squad – UEFA Euro 2000 1 Kahn • 2 Babbel • 3 Rehmer • 4 Linke • 5 Bode • 6 Nowotny • 7 Scholl • 8 Häßler • 9 Kirsten • 10 Matthäus • 11 Rink • 12 Lehmann • 13 Ballack • 14 Hamann • 15 Wosz • 16 Jeremies • 17 Ziege • 18 Deisler • 19 Jancker • 20 Bierhoff • 21 Ramelow • 22 Butt • Coach: Ribbeck

v • d • e Germany squad – 2002 FIFA World Cup Runners-up 1 Kahn • 2 Linke • 3 Rehmer • 4 Baumann • 5 Ramelow • 6 Ziege • 7 Neuville • 8 Hamann • 9 Jancker • 10 Ricken • 11 Klose • 12 Lehmann • 13 Ballack • 14 Asamoah • 15 Kehl • 16 Jeremies • 17 Bode • 18 Böhme • 19 Schneider • 20 Bierhoff • 21 Metzelder • 22 Frings • 23 Butt • Coach: Völler