Benjamin Köhler

Benjamin Köhler

Köhler in 2013
Personal information
Date of birth	(1980-08-04) 4 August 1980
Place of birth	West Berlin, West Germany
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Positions	Attacking midfielder left winger
Youth career
1986–1993	Normannia 08 Berlin
1993–1997	Reinickendorfer Füchse
1997–1998	1. FC Lübars
1998–2000	Hertha BSC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2000–2003	Hertha BSC	2	(0)
2001–2002	→ MSV Duisburg (loan)	22	(1)
2003–2004	Rot-Weiss Essen	34	(13)
2004–2013	Eintracht Frankfurt	229	(32)
2013	1. FC Kaiserslautern	8	(1)
2013–2017	Union Berlin	49	(5)
Total		344	(52)
International career
	Germany U21	3	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Benjamin Köhler (born 4 August 1980) is a German former professional footballer. Köhler, who is left-footed, could play flexibly on all offensive positions but often found himself on the left wing.

Career

After getting just one appearance with Hertha BSC he had a one-year loan stint with Duisburg; he finally moved to Regionalliga side Rot-Weiss Essen where he scored 13 goals. After that season, Eintracht Frankfurt scouted and finally signed him. In the promotion season he netted seven goals in 29 games. In the next season he had as many games while scoring three goals, one of which was among the goal of the week choices.

On 7 February 2015, his Union Berlin team-mates held a tribute to him in support after his diagnosis of stomach cancer after the seventh minute of the game, a 2–1 defeat of VfL Bochum. They received an ovation from both the fans and players from both teams. His contract was later renewed, even after the diagnosis. In July 2015 it was announced that he had beaten stomach cancer and he was given the all clear. In April 2016, Köhler's contract was extended until summer 2017.

At the end of his contract in summer 2017, Köhler's contract at Union Berlin was not renewed; moreover, he decided to put an end to his career because of knee issues. Following the end of his playing career, Köhler started working in an ice cream shop.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			DFB-Pokal		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Hertha BSC	2000–01	Bundesliga	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	2001–02	Bundesliga	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2002–03	Bundesliga	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
MSV Duisburg (loan)	2001–02	2. Bundesliga	22	1	1	0	0	0	23	1
Rot-Weiß Essen	2003–04	Regionalliga Nord	34	13	—		0	0	34	13
Eintracht Frankfurt	2004–05	2. Bundesliga	29	7	2	0	0	0	31	7
	2005–06	Bundesliga	29	3	5	0	0	0	34	3
	2006–07	Bundesliga	23	1	5	0	6	1	34	2
	2007–08	Bundesliga	29	3	2	0	0	0	31	3
	2008–09	Bundesliga	20	3	1	0	0	0	21	3
	2009–10	Bundesliga	31	4	1	0	0	0	32	4
	2010–11	Bundesliga	30	2	3	0	0	0	33	2
	2011–12	Bundesliga	32	9	2	0	0	0	34	9
	2012–13	Bundesliga	6	0	1	0	0	0	7	0
	Total		229	32	22	0	6	1	257	33
1. FC Kaiserslautern	2012–13	2. Bundesliga	8	1	0	0	0	0	8	1
Union Berlin	2013–14	2. Bundesliga	29	3	2	1	0	0	31	4
	2014–15	2. Bundesliga	18	2	0	0	0	0	18	2
	2015–16	2. Bundesliga	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	Total		49	5	2	1	0	0	51	6
Career total			344	52	25	1	6	1	375	54

External links

• Benjamin Köhler at WorldFootball.net
• Benjamin Köhler at fussballdaten.de (in German)
• Benjamin Köhler at eintracht-archiv.de (in German)