Benjamin Köhler
German footballer
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Benjamin Köhler (born 4 August 1980) is a German former professional footballer.[1] Köhler, who is left-footed, could play flexibly on all offensive positions but often found himself on the left wing.
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Köhler in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 4 August 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | West Berlin, West Germany | ||
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | |||
| Youth career | |||
| 1986–1993 | Normannia 08 Berlin | ||
| 1993–1997 | Reinickendorfer Füchse | ||
| 1997–1998 | 1. FC Lübars | ||
| 1998–2000 | Hertha BSC | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2003 | Hertha BSC | 2 | (0) |
| 2001–2002 | → MSV Duisburg (loan) | 22 | (1) |
| 2003–2004 | Rot-Weiss Essen | 34 | (13) |
| 2004–2013 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 229 | (32) |
| 2013 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern | 8 | (1) |
| 2013–2017 | Union Berlin | 49 | (5) |
| Total | 344 | (52) | |
| International career | |||
| Germany U21 | 3 | (0) | |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
After getting just one appearance with Hertha BSC he had a one-year loan stint with Duisburg; he finally moved to Regionalliga side Rot-Weiss Essen where he scored 13 goals. After that season, Eintracht Frankfurt scouted and finally signed him. In the promotion season he netted seven goals in 29 games. In the next season he had as many games while scoring three goals, one of which was among the goal of the week choices.
On 7 February 2015, his Union Berlin team-mates held a tribute to him in support after his diagnosis of stomach cancer after the seventh minute of the game, a 2–1 defeat of VfL Bochum. They received an ovation from both the fans and players from both teams. His contract was later renewed, even after the diagnosis. In July 2015 it was announced that he had beaten stomach cancer and he was given the all clear. In April 2016, Köhler's contract was extended until summer 2017.[2]
At the end of his contract in summer 2017, Köhler's contract at Union Berlin was not renewed;[3] moreover, he decided to put an end to his career because of knee issues.[4] Following the end of his playing career, Köhler started working in an ice cream shop.[5]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | DFB-Pokal | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Hertha BSC | 2000–01[6] | Bundesliga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2001–02[7] | Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2002–03[8] | Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| MSV Duisburg (loan) | 2001–02[7] | 2. Bundesliga | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 |
| Rot-Weiß Essen | 2003–04[9] | Regionalliga Nord | 34 | 13 | — | 0 | 0 | 34 | 13 | |
| Eintracht Frankfurt | 2004–05[10] | 2. Bundesliga | 29 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 7 |
| 2005–06[11] | Bundesliga | 29 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 3 | |
| 2006–07[12] | Bundesliga | 23 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6[a] | 1 | 34 | 2 | |
| 2007–08[13] | Bundesliga | 29 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 3 | |
| 2008–09[14] | Bundesliga | 20 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 3 | |
| 2009–10[15] | Bundesliga | 31 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 4 | |
| 2010–11[16] | Bundesliga | 30 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 2 | |
| 2011–12[17] | Bundesliga | 32 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 9 | |
| 2012–13[18] | Bundesliga | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Total | 229 | 32 | 22 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 257 | 33 | ||
| 1. FC Kaiserslautern | 2012–13[18] | 2. Bundesliga | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| Union Berlin | 2013–14[19] | 2. Bundesliga | 29 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 4 |
| 2014–15[20] | 2. Bundesliga | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2 | |
| 2015–16[21] | 2. Bundesliga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 49 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 6 | ||
| Career total | 344 | 52 | 25 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 375 | 54 | ||
