A former goalkeeper has died aged 54 after a two-year battle with cancer.
Georg Koch played for top European clubs such as PSV, Rapid Vienna and Dinamo Zagreb.
The shot-stopper started his professional career with Fortuna Düsseldorf in Germany’s Bundesliga in 1992.
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He retired after a firecracker exploded near him while playing for Rapid Vienna against derby rivals Austria Wien.
Georg suffered hearing damage and issues with his balance that forced him to hang up his gloves in 2009.
The German goalkeeper, who was born in Bergisch Gladbach, came out of retirement in September 2009 to join sixth-tier club SC Herford.
But he only played one senior game for the team and retired for the second and final time just two months after signing.
He made a total of 213 top-flight and 165 second-division appearances.
With Dinamo Zagreb, Koch won the league title and the Croatian Cup.
After retiring, he remained involved in football, working as a goalkeeping coach.
Georg was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May 2024, as reported by Need To Know.
Doctors only gave him six months to live.
At the time, he said: “The disease is incurable, I will die.
“But God hasn’t decided when He’ll take me yet.”
“I have to come to terms with the illness, complaining doesn’t help and it’s never been my style.”
He passed away at noon yesterday (4 Mar), just one month after his 54th birthday.
Arsenal Invincible Jens Lehmann said: “It’s a sad day, Georg Koch has died. Far too soon!
“We often played against each other and he was often better than me.”
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