It’s probably Oka (or Orhej) Nikolov:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oka_Nikolov

35 y.o., plays for Eintracht Frankfurt

Oka Nikolov is a 35 year-old Macedonian keeper. Who’s been a backup with Frankfurt since 1994.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oka_Nikolov

If you’re interested in Nikolov, other keepers you might be interested in include: Hislop, Shaka.

http://www.diez.hn/F%C3%BAtbol...-le-pican-los-pies-por-debutar

Ex-FCD Ramón Núñez has signed with CD Olimpia in Honduras; he made his debut last Sunday.

Wrongo StevieoToro!

His professional career started in 1991 at Eintracht Frankfurt. First, he was the second goalkeeper behind Uli Stein and then later Andreas Köpke. After Köpke left the club because of the relegation to the Second Bundesliga, Nikolov became Frankfurt’s new first goalkeeper. In 2002, Dirk Heinen came to Eintracht Frankfurt and Nikolov lost his position once again. However, the season was no success and Frankfurt had to go to the Second Bundesliga. So Nikolov was given another chance.

After the promotion to the Bundesliga in the 2005–06 campaign Nikolov won the goalkeeping spot from Markus Pröll due to an injury. In the 2006–07 season, Pröll was the number-one keeper again, but due to problems caused by his renewed rib injury, Nikolov once again became a regular in February 2007.

Yo, Teddy, I can read Wikipedia, too.

From the infobox:

“Senior Career:
1994– Eintracht Frankfurt 308″

What’s wrong with giving people a look at a different aspect of the club? I think it’s interesting to hear from the guy responsible for the upkeep of our first rate facility.

What’s worse? Overseeing the grounds of one of the best fields in MLS or devoting one’s life to an amateur website such as this one?

Apparently not Stevieo as you said, “Who’s been a backup with Frankfurt since 1994.”

Now if you COULD read you would have read Wicko to say, “After Köpke left the club because of the relegation to the Second Bundesliga, Nikolov became Frankfurt’s new first goalkeeper” and “However, the season was no success and Frankfurt had to go to the Second Bundesliga. So Nikolov was given another chance” along with 2 more references to Oka being the FIRST team GK at various times in his career.

If you COULD read, you would have said, “Who’s been a sometimes starter and sometimes backup with Frankfurt since 1994″

Now go back to your 2nd grade reading lessions little Stevieo

I agree gbbomber, I liked the Tom Jones article. Good perspective.

gbbomber,

Nothing wrong with the article. Just a lame attempt at humor on my part. You are old enough to know who Tom Jones is?

Teddy is a tool

Dude, Teddy: 308 matches in 16 years = 19.25 matches/season. Sure, a bunch of starts thrown in there, but not a full-time regular for most of that stretch. But don’t just take my word for it, take the German Wiki, which I *can* read:

# 1994 bis 1996 [3rd choice]
# 1996 bis 2000 [starter]
# 2000/01 [backup]
# 2001 bis 2004 [starter]
# 2004/05 [backup]
# 2005/06 [backup]
# 2006/07 [backup]
# 2007/08 [backup]
# 2008/09 [starter, lost his job]
# 2009/10 [starter]

So, in 17 years, he’s been a starter for 8.5 years and lost his job 3 times. Has been capped 5 times for Macedonia, but not in the last 5 international competitions (WCs or Euros).

Sorry if I misrepresented details of your Dad’s career. I just don’t think he’s an upgrade or an investment in the future.

My bad: including the current season, he’s played 17 seasons. Mea maxima culpa.

So the real question then, is whether Nikolov (or any Bundesliga level goalkeeper) would be a strong performer in MLS.

Not easy to say until we get a chance to watch him. MLS has a tendency to have strong keepers due in part for the tendency for Americans to produce strong keepers. However, the offensive talent level Nikolov faced in Germany is stronger than MLS for sure, meaning if he is good enough to keep a position at E.Frankfurt for that many years, he simply CANNOT be a medicre talent. So without knowing anything else, logic would indicate he is at least worth a tire kick or two.

Also friends, 35 is not necessarily old for a keeper. There are plenty of examples of keepers playing top flight football at 35-40 years of age.

There is only one old keeper who I hope is over the hill this year…Pat Onstead. LOL!

As an impartial observer, it seems to me that being a starter for 8.5 seasons out of 17 equals part time starter/part time backup, and not a backup since 1994. So, TEDDY WINS. Just sayin. Congrats, Teddy. Now everybody play nice. GO FCD!!!

Wasn’t lame humor Chamo. If they didn’t get the Tom Jones reference they are lame. Probably don’t who Englebert Humperdink is either.

Whoa-oh-oh-oh!

“As an impartial observer, it seems to me that being a starter for 8.5 seasons out of 17 equals part time starter/part time backup, and not a backup since 1994″

Ditto – Teddy’s right and SteveToro please quit posting useless crap.

it wouldnt be a proper soccer thread without people flaming each other, ehh

Chase – what are you – 7 years old? Tell your mommy to limit your computer use.

Thank you Rex and Robert. As I said Oka has not only been a backup at Frankfurt since 1984 He has been both a starter and a backup for them during that time period. It simply is not the same as “Who’s been a backup with Frankfurt since 1994.” Successful reading requires the ability to comprehend what you are reading.