Overview
- The former East and West Germany international marks his birthday on Thursday with a small celebration at home and plans a separate family gathering later in December.
- Kirsten scored 182 Bundesliga goals for Bayer Leverkusen, a club record that also cements his status as the league’s leading scorer of the 1990s.
- He won 100 caps across East Germany and the unified national team, with his first 49 appearances coming for the DDR.
- After playing only for Dynamo Dresden and Bayer Leverkusen, he now serves Dynamo as a brand ambassador and sponsor liaison, calling for immediate stability and a longer-term push back toward the Bundesliga.
- His playing career ended in November 2003 at age 37 due to a Borreliose (Lyme disease) diagnosis.