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Stuttgart Goalie Jens Lehmann Looks Back Fondly At Time With Milan & Arsenal

The German shot stopper has made it clear that playing abroad was a major plus in his development...

Nov 2, 2009 4:05:15 PM

Bundesliga: VfB Stuttgart - Werder Bremen, Jens Lehmann (firo)

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Bundesliga: VfB Stuttgart - Werder Bremen, Jens Lehmann (firo)

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Jens Lehmann

Stuttgart shot stopper Jens Lehmann is already turning 40-years-old on November 10, but the controversial glovesman is still the undisputed number one at the Schwaben. Looking back at his career, the veteran goalie has pointed out his time abroad as crucial in his career.

"For me, to play in a foreign country was a great experience. I think to play in a foreign league makes you more admired in your own home country. I don't think I would have become the number one national-team keeper if I had stayed in Germany," Lehmann was quoted as saying on uefa.com.

"I don't think I would have learned as much by staying here. In Milan, we did a lot of tactical work and I also had to learn the Italian pace of the game.

"And obviously with Arsene Wenger in England I had to learn the overall pace of that game. That was very important for me, the fact that I learnt these different systems of play, even if at first these new systems seemed a little foreign to me."

Stuttgart lock horns with Spanish side Sevilla on Wednesday in the fourth matchday of the Champions League group stage.

Stefan Coerts, Goal.com