Lutz The Globetrotting Goalkeeper

Lutz Pfannenstiel is a former Nottingham Forest trialist who is set to become the first footballer to play on all five continents, if he fulfills his dream of playing in Brazil.

To date, Lutz from Zwiesel in Germany has played for 24 teams in 14 different countries. He’s had a colourful career to say the least that has seen him almost lose his life on a football pitch to serving time in prison for match fixing in Singapore, a charge he was later cleared of by FIFA.

Way back in 1996 he came to Nottingham in the hope of making it in the top flight of English football. He was brought here by Nottingham football agent Kevin Mason. Unfortunately for Lutz he never made it here, due to stiff competition from Mark Crossley and Tommy Wright. Lutz said rather modestly of his time at the City Ground. “I signed on non contract terms due to regulations(by then there was no Bosman rule and not that many foreigners around) so I was able to play friendlies and reserve matches. I tried my best, but Moose and Tommy were hard to beat. They left me there as an emergency in case Tommys knee gets worse. After a while and quite a bad game against Barnsley, I was told that I was free to go if I find another club or I can stay and train. I actually left but returned another few times within the next few month as I was called back to train and be there just in case. After a while I signed in Scandinavia and my registration went there. I gave it my best, but it just didn’t work out.”

In 2001 he was playing for Bradford Park Avenue, when a horrific collision with an opposing player rendered him unconscious. He has since been told that he actually died three times before being revived! Lucky for Lutz he was soon on the pitch again and back to his globetrotting ways.

Vital Forest will be talking to the likeable and modest Lutz again soon and will bring you the latest on his current club Vancouver Whitecaps and where he goes next, as well as the possibility of getting into the record books.

If you have a question for Lutz, then contact forest@vitalfootball.co.uk.