Josef Klose

Josef Klose (born 3 October 1947) is a former footballer. He is the father of current Lazio striker and German national footballer Miroslav Klose.

Josef Klose began his career at Energetyk Sławięcice. Since 1966 he was a forward for Odra Opole. In November 1978, the year his son was born, he joined French side AJ Auxerre when in Ligue 2. He helped them getting promoted in 1980 to Ligue 1 where he played 14 games, scoring twice. From 1981 to 1984, already in his mid-thirties, he played for fourth league side Châlons-sur-Saône FC.

He is married to Barbara Jeż, a former member of the Poland women's national handball team (appearing in 82 international matches as goalkeeper). His family of Silesian-German ancestry had been Imperial German citizens in the Province of Upper Silesia (until 1945) and thus could resettle in West Germany as an Aussiedler. In 1985, they rejoined in Kusel, West Germany.