Halloween special: Bundesliga horror stories
It is that time of year again, when floorboards creak, witches cackle and cobwebs hang from every doorway.
The Bundesliga has had its fair share of horror stories over the course of 52 seasons and to mark Halloween this year, bundesliga.com highlights some of the worst...
No way through
In 2003, VfB Stuttgart goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand became a nightmarish figure for strikers across the top-flight, going 884 consecutive minutes (almost ten matches!) without conceding a goal. That unbeaten streak remains a Bundesliga record to this day.
Barren spell
When it comes to scoring goals, former 1. FSV Mainz 05 and Hannover 96 defender Markus Schuler is the unluckiest man in Bundesliga history. He failed to find the net in 182 top-flight games. Of the players currently active, Hamburger SV’s Dennis Diekmeier leads the way – he has played 145 Bundesliga games without ever scoring.
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Depressing runs
In 2012/13, Greuther Fürth became the first club in Bundesliga history to go an entire season without winning a home game. In 1965/66, meanwhile, Tasmania Berlin embarked on a winless run that stretched to 33 competitive matches.
Bogey team
Former SC Freiburg striker Alexander Iashvili no doubt still has nightmares about playing against Bayern. He lined up against them in 11 matches – and lost every time.
Dire straights
Between 30 November 1963 and 23 January 1965, Borussia Dortmund missed seven successive penalties. That had never happened before - and has never happened again since.
Spot-kick expert
Former Hamburg and 1. FC Nürnberg goalkeeper Rudi Kargus was a bogey man for all penalty takers during his playing days. The custodian saved more spot-kicks (23) than anyone else in Bundesliga history.