Erol Sabanov

Erol Sabanov — Biography

Erol Sabanov was born on 16 May 1974 in Aalen, Germany, and is of Turkish and Bulgarian descent. A goalkeeper, he spent most of his playing career in the lower German divisions, with a brief spell in the 2. Bundesliga. He began at his home-town club VfR Aalen, staying nine years in the first team; when the club won promotion in 1999 it moved from the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg up to the Regionalliga Süd.

In 2002 he signed for 1. FC Saarbrücken and helped the side reach the 2. Bundesliga in 2004. He kept goal in the first two matches of the following season at that level, but then lost his place and left in November 2004. In January 2005 he joined Jahn Regensburg, where his eighteen months ended in 2006 when the club went down from the Regionalliga Süd. He then spent a year at SSV Reutlingen as a back-up, before moving to 1. FC Heidenheim of the Oberliga in 2007.

At Heidenheim he was first choice from his first season, as the team went up to the Regionalliga Süd and then to the 3. Liga a year later. He lost the position for a time in 2011-12 and regained it eleven games into the next season. He retired after 2013-14, when Heidenheim won promotion to the 2. Bundesliga. He has since worked as assistant manager and goalkeeper coach at Stuttgarter Kickers.