With Ime Okon recently completing a free transfer to German side Hannover 96, here are some of South Africans who have also plied their trade in the football-rich nation.
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Earlier this week, the Bundesliga 2 side announced that the 21-year-old would be joining their ranks. Okon becomes the first Bafana Bafana representative to ever play for the club, completing the move courtesy of his agency, Football First. Coincidentally, his agent Lance Davids also briefly played his football in Germany. From 2002 to 2006, the former defensive midfielder represented TSV 1860 Munich.
The early part of the 21st century proved fruitful for South African stars plying their trade in one of Europe’s most prestigious leagues, with the path paved for Davids by players such as Delron Buckley. No South African has made more appearances in German football than the Durban native, who featured in a total of 355 matches for German sides during his near two-decade spell in Europe.
The former Bafana Bafana star turned out for some major sides in the Bundesliga, including 1997 UEFA Champions League winners Borussia Dortmund. Despite spending four years at Signal Iduna Park, Buckley never crossed paths with another South African legend who also played there: Steven Pienaar.
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While the star known as Schillo is perhaps most recognised for his time with Ajax Amsterdam and Everton, he also enjoyed a brief stint with the German giants. The Johannesburg native played 27 matches for the club, registering just one assist during that time – but it was this experience that opened the pathway for his move to the Premier League.
Some other South Africans who featured in Bundesliga include Siyabonga Nkosi and Glenn Jordens.
