Frank Rost
A steadfast German goalkeeper whose career was a masterclass in longevity, guarding the nets in the Bundesliga for over 15 seasons with commanding presence.
Born 1973 (age 53)·German footballer·Birthday: June 30·Generation X
Biography
Frank Rost’s name became synonymous with reliability between the posts in German football. Standing tall and physically imposing, he spent the bulk of his career with Werder Bremen and Schalke 04, where his shot-stopping and command of the penalty area made him a fan favorite and a consistent fixture. Rost was a key part of Werder’s 2004 domestic double-winning side, providing a solid foundation for their attacking flair. His career extended into his late thirties, a rarity for goalkeepers at the top level, and included a brief, late-career adventure with the New York Red Bulls in MLS. He retired having left a mark not with flashy saves, but with the quiet, week-in, week-out assurance that defines a true professional.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Frank was born in 1973, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Frank Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Frank's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double with Werder Bremen in the 2003-2004 season.
- Played over 300 Bundesliga matches across his career for Werder Bremen, Schalke 04, and Hamburger SV.
- Was the starting goalkeeper for Schalke 04 during their run to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals in 2008.
- Earned four caps for the German national team between 2002 and 2003.
Did You Know?
He is one of the few goalkeepers to have saved a penalty from Bayern Munich's legendary striker Giovane Élber.
He played his final professional season in Major League Soccer for the New York Red Bulls in 2011-2012.
After retiring, he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the German youth national teams.
He began his professional career at Werder Bremen, joining their youth academy at age 16.
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