Manuel Neuer

The sweeper-keeper who redefined goalkeeping.

Manuel Peter Neuer (born 27 March 1986) is a German professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for and captains club Bayern Munich. Widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, Neuer has been described as a "sweeper-keeper" because of his playing style and speed when rushing off his line to anticipate opponents, often going out of the penalty area. He was named the best goalkeeper of the decade from 2011 to 2020 by IFFHS.

Quick Facts

Full name: Manuel Peter Neuer
Born: 27 March 1986
Birthplace: Gelsenkirchen, West Germany
Height: 1.93 m / 6 ft 4 in
Position: Goalkeeper
Current club: Bayern Munich

Lore & Background

Neuer started his career at Schalke 04 where he won the DFB-Pokal and DFL-Ligapokal, and was appointed club captain in 2010. In 2011, he signed for Bayern Munich and has since won 32 trophies, including a record thirteen Bundesliga titles, multiple domestic titles and two UEFA Champions League titles in 2013 and 2020, both as part of trebles, being the only goalkeeper in history to achieve the European treble twice, additionally winning the second as club captain. In 2014, Neuer finished third in the voting for the FIFA Ballon d'Or award behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. He was awarded the Best European Goalkeeper a record five times, and the IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper a joint-record five times, alongside Gianluigi Buffon and Iker Casillas. He was also named the Best FIFA Goalkeeper in 2020.

Reader's Guide

Neuer has set numerous records, especially in the Bundesliga, the major league in German football. He has the most clean sheets recorded in the competition, with 224. He also holds the most clean sheets in a single season, with 21 in the 2015–16 campaign. Furthermore, he was the fastest player to reach 100 Bundesliga clean sheets, doing so after only 183 appearances. Neuer is the only goalkeeper in Bundesliga history with more than 100 appearances to have conceded fewer goals than matches played.

Did You Know?

Neuer won the 2005 DFL-Ligapokal as an unused substitute with Schalke 04.
In the 2012 Champions League Final, Neuer took and scored the third penalty for Bayern.