Hans Jörg Butt is the most prolific goalscorer in Bundesliga history. - © imago sportfotodienst

bundesliga

Hans-Jörg Butt: the goalscoring goalkeeper

08.09.2023

Most goalkeepers are known for the shots they stop, some for dropping too many clangers. Hans-Jörg Butt was one of a select few with a reputation for scoring...

A veteran of 387 Bundesliga appearances for Hamburg, Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich, Butt hung up his gloves - and boots - in summer 2012. The former Oldenburg youth player, who got his career break with his hometown club in Bundesliga 2, also enjoyed a stint at Portuguese giants Benfica, and won four senior Germany caps. He lifted the 2009/10 Bundesliga and DFB Cup with Bayern, before being unseated by the great Manuel Neuer's arrival from Schalke in summer 2011.

Butt's goalkeeping report card reads a fairly ordinary 482 goals conceded and 104 clean sheets across 34,601 minutes of Bundesliga action. He saved nine of 32 penalties faced, whilst scoring 26 of 31 taken. To date, no other goalkeeper in Bundesliga history has scored more than twice (Andreas Köpke and Jens Lehmann).

Hans Jörg Butt lifts the Meisterschale aloft in 2010. - imago sportfotodienst

Butt was at his most prolific in Hamburg colours, with seven goals in 1999/00, nine in 2000/01 and three the following campaign. He converted at least one spot-kick in five of his six seasons at Leverkusen, but was - with the exception of 2010/11 - largely a back-up at Bayern.

The penalty expert did get the better of the legendary Gianluigi Buffon in a must-win group game in the 2009/10 UEFA Champions League, though, where he still holds the record as the competition's top-scoring keeper (three goals - one each for HSV, Leverkusen and Bayern; all against Juventus). Bayern went on to reach that season's final, with Butt between the posts for the 2-0 loss to Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan.

Hans-Jörg Butt misplaced his only Bundesliga penalty attempt as a Bayern Munich player (against Mainz). - Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images

Butt is only human, after all. And amidst the individual errors no goalkeeper is immune to, the goals conceded and his five failed penalty attempts, there stands a whopping, great blooper of sorts.

After sinking a penalty against Schalke in the 2003/04 season, there were pats on the back and high fives all round as Butt retreated to his own 18-yard area. Unbeknown to him, Mike Hanke had just taken aim from the centre circle. Butt glanced over his shoulder as he strided over the penalty spot, but it was too late. Leverkusen had given the Royal Blues an extraordinary lifeline, though they did hold out for a 3-2 win.

Watch: Hans-Jörg Butt left red-faced by Mike Hanke

In the Bundesliga's entire history, fans have never seen anything quite like it. An imitable moment, courtesy of an inimitable goalkeeper. Hans-Jörg Butt, we salute you!