Miroslav Klose

My professional career only began at 21, really.

I could very well see myself ending my professional career at Kaiserslautern.

I might have a different understanding of the term 'football star.' If I shoot a few balls after training, it's perfectly normal that I collect them afterwards.

Teams in the past have been slow starters yet gone on to win the World Cup.

Those who know me well know that the World Cup is my goal.

It would be a joke to compare Gerd Muller to other strikers. What he achieved, the number of games and the goals scored, is unique. That's what I have told him in person.

I don't personally think of myself as an icon, but it's definitely an incredible thing. Scoring 16 goals at the World Cup is something you only usually dream about.

I want to win something with Lazio, and I am not talking about just winning games.

Team success stood, and stands, above everything for me.

The team's success always came first for me.

I've been exposed to so many different cultures.

I spent five years in Italy, and the Italians have a slightly different lifestyle. Everything is a bit slower and more easygoing. You can feel that when you live there; you become a little more relaxed about typically 'German' things like accuracy and punctuality.