Former Premier League star, 63, once worth millions now has £2 in bank account and lives on benefits

FORMER Manchester City star Eike Immel is living off benefits in a council flat with just £2 left in his bank account.

The German keeper was a millionaire during his successful career with Borussia Dortmund and Stuttgart.

He won 19 caps for West Germany and was part of their squad at five major finals.

Immel, 63, spent two years in the Premier League and old First Division with City, making 50 appearances before hanging up his gloves in 1997.

But he was declared bankrupt in 2008 and his wife and kids left him amid a series of financial concerns.

Immel now lives off state benefits in a small flat in his home town of Stadtallendorf.

He told : “Money wasn’t a concern for me in the past.  I used to live the life of Riley.

“Sometimes my mobile phone bill came to 10,000 euros [£9,000] a month.

“One Christmas I spent £25,000 on clothes for my new girlfriend.

“I paid £1m for my home, but at one point the bailiffs were at my door.

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“The tax office said I owed them £800,000, and I was unable to pay it.

“I did things that any normal person would say can’t be true.

“I hadn’t given enough thought to the future.  Dealing with money is not one of my strengths.

“I now live on £972 a month in benefits.  £491 of that goes on rent, leaving me with just £481 for other expenses.

“It is a real battle to make ends meet.  Sometimes I just have £2 left.

Immel regrets his excess splurges, which have left him relying on the help of loved ones to get by.

He said: “The furnishings in the flat have all been given to me, and a friend who runs a local restaurant lets me eat for free.

“I am thankful for the help.  But I wish it didn’t have to be this way.”