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The Klimowiczs
Diego Fernando Klimowicz
Diego Fernando Klimowicz (born 6 July 1974) is an Argentine former professional 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.
Born in Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Klimowicz started his career at Instituto Atlético Central Córdoba in the Primera B Nacional. He was sold to Rayo Vallecano of La Liga in 1996, 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. After netting just seven times across all competitions during his spell at the Estadio José Zorrilla, however, he returned to his country in 1999 and joined Club Atlético Lanús.
Klimowicz was transferred to VfL Wolfsburg in December 2001, 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 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 2–1 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; on 24 December, he decided to come back from retirement and re-joined his first team Instituto on a one-year contract.
In 2001, there were talks of Klimowicz playing either for the Poland or the Ukraine national teams, but at the end nothing became materialised.
Klimowicz's younger brother, Javier, was also a footballer, so was another brother, Nicolás. A goalkeeper, Javier won caps for Ecuador. Klimowicz's grandfather was born in Poland before World War II, in a territory that later became part of Ukraine. His son, Mateo, is a professional footballer.
Mateo Klimowicz
Mateo Klimowicz (born 6 July 2000) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for VfB Stuttgart.
Klimowicz trained with Borussia Dortmund's academy at a young age, while his father was playing in Germany. He later joined Instituto's ranks. He appeared professionally twice at the back end of the 2016–17 season in Primera B Nacional, participating in fixtures with Juventud Unida, aged sixteen, and Nueva Chicago as they secured sixth. Klimowicz's first senior goal arrived on 14 October 2017 during a 1–1 home draw with Aldosivi.
On 10 May 2019, VfB Stuttgart announced the signing of Klimowicz ahead of the 2019–20 season; with the midfielder signing a five-year contract. He made his bow as a late substitute in a 2. Bundesliga match with 1. FC Heidenheim on 4 August. They won promotion in his first season, with his Bundesliga debut subsequently arriving on 19 September 2020 against SC Freiburg. He then scored his first goal in German football on 26 September, netting in a 4–1 victory at the Opel Arena versus Mainz 05.
Klimowicz received call-ups to train with Argentina at U15, U17 and U20 level.
Mateo is the son of former professional footballer Diego Klimowicz, who played for the likes of VfL Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund. His uncles, Javier and Nicolás, also played pro football. Klimowicz is of Polish descent via his great-grandfather.
Javier Hernán Klimowicz
Javier Hernán Klimowicz Laganá (born 10 March 1977 in Quilmes, Argentina) is a retired naturalized Ecuadorian football goalkeeper.
He has been naturalised and capped for Ecuador's national team. He has started some matches as Ecuador's starting goalkeeper.
Klimowicz started his playing career in 1998 with Instituto de Córdoba. He made his official debut in the Argentine Primera División on 9 April 2000, in a draw against Ferro Carril Oeste. In 2002, he signed with Bolivian team Blooming before moving to Ecuador to join Deportivo Cuenca in 2004. For the season 2009 he transferred to popular club CS Emelec.
Originally Posted by Creoda
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