Kevin Kurányi (born March 2, 1982) is a German-Panamanian (German-Brazilian)
football (soccer) player, who currently plays for the Bundesliga
team Schalke 04.
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Kurányi started his career in
1988 at the Portuguese club Serrano FC Petropolis. In 1993 he
transferred to Las Promesas Panama where he had played for only
one year before he went back to Serrano FC Petropolis. But after
two years (1996) Kevin changed again to Las Promesas Panama
where he played until 1997. Then he signed a contract at the
German football team VfB Stuttgart where he spent a very
successful time.
After he had played 33 games (10 goals) for the amateur team he
played 99 matches for the professional team where he scored 40
goals. He also took part in 22 European team championship games
and scored 10 goals. He left his former club VfB Stuttgart
during the transfer window in summer 2005.
For the German national football team Kevin has played 35 times,
scoring 14 goals as of January 2006. He played for his adopted
country at Euro 2004, at the Confederations Cup 2005 and he will
attend at the world cup in Germany (2006).
Although born in the South American country of Brazil to a
Panamanian mother, he qualifies for Germany through his father,
a German of Hungarian extraction. His grandfather was born in
Budapest. His birthplace and ancestry would also have enabled
him to play for Brazil, Panama, or Hungary.
