Diego Klimowicz

Diego Fernando Klimowicz (born 6 July 1974) is an Argentine retired footballer who played as a centre forward.
He started and finished his 18-year professional career with Instituto, but competed mostly in Spain and Germany, notably amassing Bundesliga totals of 213 games and 71 goals in the latter country.

Club career

Born in Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Klimowicz started his career at Instituto Atlético Central Córdoba in the Primera B Nacional. In 1996 he was sold to Rayo Vallecano of La Liga, scoring 11 goals in his first season but being relegated to Segunda División; the latter club was later banned from buying or selling foreign players, for failing to pay the accorded sum of 240 million pesetas.

Klimowicz returned to the Spanish top division in December 1997, when he signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Real Valladolid. However, after netting just seven times across all competitions during his spell at the Estadio José Zorrilla he returned to his country in 1999, joining Club Atlético Lanús.

In December 2001, Klimowicz was transferred to VfL Wolfsburg, going on to remain in Germany – and its Bundesliga – for the better part of the following decade. He netted a career-best 15 goals in the 2003–04 campaign, helping his team finish in tenth place.

In May 2007, Klimowicz moved to fellow league side Borussia Dortmund on a two-year deal. On 25 August, his brace was crucial to the hosts' 3–0 home defeat of FC Energie Cottbus; he added four goals in their runner-up run in the DFB-Pokal, being booked as a second-half substitute in the decisive match, lost 1–2 to FC Bayern Munich after extra time.

In the 2008–09 winter transfer window, Klimowicz signed with VfL Bochum. On 2 March 2010, the 35-year-old announced his retirement from professional football due to a hip injury; however, on 24 December, he decided to come back from retirement and re-joined his first team Instituto on a one-year contract.

International career

In 2001, there were talks of Klimowicz playing either for the Poland or the Ukraine national teams, but at the end nothing became materialized.

Personal life

Klimowicz's younger brother, Javier, was also a footballer. A goalkeeper, he gained caps for Ecuador.

Klimowicz's grandfather was born in Poland before World War II, in a territory that later became part of Ukraine.

Career statistics

Honours

Club

Borussia Dortmund

• DFB-Pokal: Runner-up 2007–08