There are going to be quite a few changes at the DFB in the near future. Jürgen Klopp is set to become the new national team coach, which will naturally have an impact on the roster. This may also affect Jonas Urbig, the goalkeeper for FC Bayern.
He already traveled to the 2026 World Cup as a backup goalkeeper, getting to know the routines and the team, even though he wasn’t an official part of the roster.
And quite a few people see him as a suitable candidate to succeed Manuel Neuer as the number one goalkeeper. Neuer has now finally hung up his goalkeeper gloves with the DFB.
Not long ago, expert Didi Hamann called for Urbig to succeed Neuer in the DFB goal. That could indeed become a real possibility.
Matthäus discusses the situation in the DFB goal
However, that would also be a bit unusual—after all, Urbig shares playing time with Neuer at FC Bayern, so he isn’t the starting goalkeeper.
Lothar Matthäus, Germany’s all-time leader in national team appearances, has now weighed in on the goalkeeping situation. He did so on the BILD show “Lothar legt los,” which is focused on the World Cup.
The discussion focused on the unique situation surrounding Urbig. “I completely agree with you there—I don’t think we’ve ever seen anything like this in a country like Germany,” explained the record-holding national team player when asked about the fact that
However, Matthäus still believes that Urbig has a very good chance. “I do see Urbig as having better chances there. Of course, I don’t know how Jürgen Klopp is planning things right now or whether he’ll rely on Oliver Baumann’s experience at first. But there isn’t a clear number one, as was often the case in the past,” he continued.
And: “There are a few candidates, that’s for sure. I’m convinced they’ll think this through carefully and that Urbig will also get more playing time at Bayern. He’s definitely a strong candidate for the number one spot in the future.”