Free agent
June 6, 2011
German national team striker Miroslav Klose is looking for a new club after he and Bayern Munich failed to reach agreement on a contract extension. The soccer club announced on Monday that it would part company with the 32-year-old striker when his contract expires on June 30.
"We'd have been happy for him to extend his stay, but when it came to the length of a new contract, we were unable to agree on a mutually acceptable period," Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in a statement posted on the club's website.
Klose, who joined Bayern from Werder Bremen in 2007, scored 53 goals in 150 games for the Munich club. He had reportedly been seeking a two-year contract, while the club was only prepared to give him one year plus an option for a further year. Klose had previously said that money would not be an issue
Successful spell
"I've had four good and successful years here in Munich, and I'd like to thank FC Bayern very much indeed for that. The opportunity to play for this club was always very special," the 32-year-old Klose said.
The Polish-born striker twice won both the Bundesliga championship and the German Cup during his years with Bayern.
Klose's departure from Munich came as no big surprise after an injury-plagued season in which he scored just one goal in 20 Bundesliga appearances - and lost his place in the starting 11 to Mario Gomez.
Another injury
Klose has remained in fine form in the national team, scoring 61 goals in 109 appearances. However a rib injury sustained in a friendly against Uruguay on May 29 ruled him out of this month's qualifiers for the 2012 European Championship.
While his destination remains unclear, there has been much speculation in the German media linking him to a move to Spain, Italy or England. Among the clubs said to have expressed interest are Valencia, Lazio and Everton.
Author: Chuck Penfold (SID, Reuters)
Editor: Michael Lawton