Today's Edition
LONDON (PA Media/dpa)
Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack claims Lutz Pfannenstiel can be the catalyst for success for the Dons after making Pittodrie the latest stop in the German's extraordinary football career.
The 52-year-old will join Aberdeen next month as sporting director after a similar post with Major League Soccer side St Louis City ended in August.
Pfannenstiel had a uniquely eventful playing career, which saw him become the first man to play for clubs in all six FIFA confederations. He represented 25 clubs in all, including Nottingham Forest, Wimbledon and Huddersfield.
The goalkeeper spent 101 days in a Singapore prison after being found guilty of match-fixing charges in 2000 but protests his innocence.
The former German youth international stopped breathing three times while playing for Bradford Park Avenue in the Northern Premier League in 2002 following a collision with Clayton Donaldson, who later played for Hibernian. He was resuscitated on the pitch.
Pfannenstiel has detailed other episodes in his playing career in his autobiography, including modelling for Armani and "borrowing" a penguin from a wildlife colony and keeping it in his bath for two days in New Zealand.
His playing career spanned 13 countries, including Malaysia, Brazil, South Africa, Canada, Namibia, Armenia and Albania.
Since hanging up his gloves, he has worked as a TV pundit in Germany, set up a charity to campaign on climate change awareness, and worked for a number of clubs in recruitment and scouting.
