Any time fans get an opportunity to meet legends of the game, they usually jump at the chance. That’s why April will be so exciting for many supporters in South Florida. Footballing greats Lothar Matthäus and Ray Clemence will be visiting Miami-Dade and Broward counties, respectively, to spend time with those who want to know more about their times in the sport.
German legend
Lothar Matthäus, a winner of the UEFA European Championship in 1980 and the 1990 FIFA World Cup with West Germany, has accolades in international tournaments most players dream of. At the club level, he won the Serie A title with Internazionale of Milan in 1988–89 and the Bundesliga with FC Bayern Munich seven times. It is Bayern Munich that will bring him to Coral Gables, as he will be visiting supporters at Fritz & Franz Bierhaus to watch the team’s DFB-Pokal (German Cup) semifinal against Bayer Leverkusen. According to the Facebook event page, “watch-party goers will have the chance to win FC Bayern Munich USA prizes, meet Lothar Matthäus, our mascot Berni, as well as being able to get up close and personal with our trophies (Bundesliga Official, UEFA Champions League, and DFB-Pokal)!”
The greatest goalkeeper?
Ray Clemence, widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers to play in English football, is a member of both the Tottenham Hotspurs and Liverpool club halls of fame. It is with Liverpool, however, that Clemence acheived his greatest success: Five First Division titles, an FA Cup, a League Cup, two UEFA Cups and three European Cups. With Spurs he added an FA Cup and a UEFA Cup. Clemence is one of only 25 players to have made over 1,000 career appearances. Clemence even topped the Total Football‘s poll of the best ever goalkeeper. He beat the likes of Peter Shilton, Lev Yashin, Gordon Banks and Pat Jennings.
Clemence will appear in Oakland Park in Broward County at The Fox and Hounds British American Pub. According to the Facebook post on the pub’s website, admission is $20 for a night of questions, photographs and autographs.
