Lars Leese

Lars Leese

Personal information
Date of birth	(1969-08-18) 18 August 1969
Place of birth	Cologne, West Germany
Height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	DSK Köln (Manager)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1992–1995	VfB Wissen	25	(0)
1995–1996	SCB Preußen Köln
1996–1997	Bayer Leverkusen	0	(0)
1997–1999	Barnsley	16	(0)
2000–2001	SCB Preußen Köln
2001–2003	Borussia Mönchengladbach II
2003–2005	1. FC Köln II	29	(0)
Managerial career
2005–2011	SV Bergisch Gladbach 09
2011–2013	SSVg Velbert
2013–2014	SSVg Velbert
2015–	DSK Köln
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Lars Leese (born 18 August 1969) is a German former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is currently the manager of DSK Köln.

Playing career

Born in Cologne, West Germany, his youths club were Fortuna Köln, 1. FC Köln and BC Efferen. From 1989 until 1995, he played for low-tier sides Spfr Neitersen (1989–1992) and VfB Wissen (1992–1995) before joining fourth-tier SCB Preußen Köln. In 1996, he transferred across the Rhine river to play for Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen. However, being third goalkeeper, he did not get to play a single match. In June 1997, he therefore transferred to newly promoted English Premier League side Barnsley for £250,000. Leese played in England for just two seasons, appearing in 16 league games and four League Cup matches.

After his two-year contract at Barnsley was not extended, he returned to his native Cologne and played the 2000–01 season for Preußen Köln and from 2001 to 2003 at the reserves of Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach. Two more seasons at 1. FC Köln followed, where he was captain of the Reserve team and also called up as a substitute for some Bundesliga matches in the 2004–05 season. In the summer of 2005, he ended his active career.

Coaching career

From 2005 to 2011, he was the coach of fifth-tier SV Bergisch Gladbach 09. In 2011, he took over at SSVg Velbert.

On 5 May 2015, it was confirmed that DSK Köln new manager was Leese.

Further reading

Leese is the subject of the book "Der Traumhüter" ("The Keeper of Dreams") by German sports journalist and author Ronald Reng.

External links

• Lars Leese at Soccerbase
• Lars Leese at WorldFootball.net
• Lars Leese at fussballdaten.de (in German)