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Lee Mair tells of moment he gave away Toni Kroos’ shirt after Dons’ 2008 UEFA Cup defeat

by Sean Douglass
15/06/2016, 11:42 am
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Germany star Toni Kroos is one of the biggest stars in world football.

Most players would be flattered to trade shirts with the Real Madrid midfielder.

But not Stranraer’s Lee Mair, that is – who gave the World Cup winner’s shirt away.

The defender revealed the tale on Twitter after Germany’s 2-0 victory over Ukraine.

Mair was an unused substitute for Aberdeen’s 5-1 UEFA Cup defeat to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in 2008.

Bayern Munich duo Marcell Jansen (left) and Toni Kroos (right) close in on Sone Aluko
Bayern Munich duo Marcell Jansen (left) and Toni Kroos (right) close in on Sone Aluko

After watching the game from the sidelines, the Dons man was called in for a drugs test along with Kroos.

The German was only 18 at the time and just breaking through into the Bayern team, providing an assist on the night.

After a brief chat, Mair swapped shirts with the now Real Madrid maestro.

But the fledging teenager wasn’t a notable name for the Aberdonian and he gave the shirt away.

Since then, their careers have taken quite different routes.

Centre-back Mair left the Dons for St Mirren in 2009, making 119 league appearances and winning the League Cup.

Since 2014, the 35-year-old has also had spells at Partick Thistle, Dumbarton and now Stranraer.

In contrast, Kroos has played 66 times for Germany and won the World Cup.

After developing into a mainstay at Bayern, the 26-year-old moved to Madrid for around £30 million in 2014 and has been a key part of their midfield.

Kroos controlled his country’s first game of Euro 2016 with his metronomic passing.

SOCCER Germany 201834

And now every time the German appears on TV, Mair has to live with knowing he passed on the star’s shirt.

But the experience wasn’t all bad for the Scot – at least he got to enjoy the heated seats on the bench.