Erol Sabanov (born 16 May 1974) is a German former footballer of Turkish Bulgarian origin who played as a goalkeeper. He is currently the assistant manager and goalkeeper coach of Stuttgarter Kickers.

Career

Turkish Turkish may refer to: *a Turkic language spoken by the Turks * of or about Turkey ** Turkish language *** Turkish alphabet ** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation *** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey *** Turkish communities and mi ...

descent, Sabanov began his career with VfR Aalen, and spent nine years playing for the first-team, in the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg and later the Regionalliga Süd after the club won promotion in 1999. In 2002, he signed for

1. FC Saarbrücken 1. FC Saarbrücken (german: 1. Fußball-Club Saarbrücken e. V.) is a football club based in Saarbrücken, Saarland. The club plays in the 3. Liga, which is the third tier of football in Germany. The club began its existence as the football de ...

, with whom he won promotion to the

2. Bundesliga The 2. Bundesliga ( ) is the second division of professional football in Germany. It was implemented 11 years after the founding of the Fußball-Bundesliga as the new second division for professional football. The 2. Bundesliga is ranked below ...

in 2004. He played the first two matches of the 2003–04 season at this level, but lost his place to

Peter Eich Peter Eich (born 18 June 1963) is a German former footballer who played as a goalkeeper for SV Waldhof Mannheim, FC 08 Homburg and 1. FC Saarbrücken 1. FC Saarbrücken (german: 1. Fußball-Club Saarbrücken e. V.) is a football club based ...

, and left the club in November 2004. In January 2005, Sabanov signed for Jahn Regensburg, where he spent eighteen months, leaving in 2006 after the club were relegated from the Regionalliga Süd. He spent a year with SSV Reutlingen, serving as understudy to Marco Langner, before joining

1. FC Heidenheim 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 is a German association football club from the city of Heidenheim, Baden-Württemberg. History The current day club was formed in 2007 through the separation of the football section from parent association ''Heidenheimer ...

of the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg in 2007. Sabanov was Heidenheim's first choice 'keeper as they won promotion to the Regionalliga Süd in his first season, and to the

3. Liga The 3. Liga is a professional association football league and the third division in Germany. In the German football league system, it is positioned between the 2. Bundesliga and the fourth-tier Regionalliga. The modern 3. Liga was formed for t ...

the following year. He lost his place to

Frank Lehmann Frank Lehmann (born 29 April 1989) is a German professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club SV Elversberg. Club career Lehmann began his career with VfB Stuttgart, and made one appearance for the reserve team, on the last day of t ...

for the 2011–12 season, but won it back eleven games into the following season. He retired at the end of the 2013–14 season, having helped Heidenheim win promotion to the

References

External links

* 1974 births Living people German footballers Association football goalkeepers German people of Turkish descent VfR Aalen players 1. FC Saarbrücken players SSV Jahn Regensburg players SSV Reutlingen 05 players 1. FC Heidenheim players 2. Bundesliga players 3. Liga players People from Aalen Sportspeople from Stuttgart (region) Footballers from Baden-Württemberg {{Germany-footy-goalkeeper-stub