Happy Birthday, Oliver Kahn – The Titan Who Inspired Me to Never Give Up
Happy Birthday, Oliver Kahn – The Titan Who Inspired Me to Never Give Up
27th May 2008, Kolkata —
A night that still gives me goosebumps.
A moment that wasn’t just about football, but about history, emotion, and personal pride.
It was my honour and privilege to organize the farewell match of Oliver Kahn for Bayern Munich, Kolkata in India — in a city where football lives in every heartbeat.
Over 1,20,000 fans filled Salt Lake Stadium, and another 45,000 stood outside, just to witness the final roar of Der Titan.
But for me, this wasn’t just about that night.
This was about a 17-year association with Oliver Kahn — a journey that shaped how I see life, leadership, and resilience.
In all those years, I saw up close the man behind the gloves — fiercely passionate, endlessly driven, and above all, unbreakable.
His “Never Give Up” spirit didn’t just echo from the goalpost — it echoed into my life.
It pushed me to chase goals others thought impossible, to believe that no dream’s too far if you’re brave enough to fight for it.
Oliver, you’ve been more than a football icon to me.
You’ve been a mentor, a motivator, and a mirror of inner strength.
From Munich to Kolkata, from football fields to life’s challenges —
you inspired me how to stand tall, even in storms.
Happy Birthday, Titan.
Your legacy lives on — not just in football, but in every soul you’ve inspired to never give up.