now engaged to raise the team

Pfannenstiel's career was a true global adventure. He played at over 25 clubs, in 13 countries – being the only player to play at professional level in all six FIFA confederations.

In 2001, he was jailed for 101 days in Singapore on charges of match-fixing. He was held in inhumane conditions before being acquitted for lack of evidence. Later, he admitted that this experience completely changed his attitude towards life.

The spectacular Lutz Pfannenstiel: stole a penguin, was imprisoned for 101 days in Singapore and died three times on the football field

In 2002, then on loan at Bradford Park Avenue in England, he was declared clinically dead three times in one matchafter a violent collision caused his lungs to fail. Miraculously, he was back on the field a week later.

But one of the most famous – and bizarre – episodes of his career took place in New Zealand. On a trip with teammates, Pfannenstiel “stole” a penguin and took him home, where he kept him in the bathtub for a few days. “That damn penguin,” he recounted later, laughing, as reported by sportal.hu.

“Everybody asks me about it. Then, when they told me i could get kicked out of the country because of it i quickly returned it!” The story has become legendary and perfectly exemplifies Pfannenstiel's exuberant and adventurous nature.

The former player who became official is still today one of the most colorful personalities in the world of football. After his playing career, he worked as head of international relations at Hoffenheim, sporting director at Fortuna Düsseldorf, and then built the American team St. Louis City in MLS. Now, he opens a new chapter in Aberdeen, where he aims to lift the club to all levels.

Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack expressed confidence that Pfannenstiel's “expertise in coaching, scouting, youth player development and leadership, gained across different roles and cultures” would turn the team around.