The discussions surrounding Manuel Neuer show no signs of letting up at FC Bayern. Following his mistakes in the 2-2 draw against FC Augsburg, the 40-year-old is once again facing criticism. Now, of all people, Mirko Slomka—the very coach who once helped Neuer make his Bundesliga debut at FC Schalke 04—has spoken out. The 59-year-old is posing an uncomfortable question to the leadership of Germany’s record-holding champions.
While sporting director Max Eberl recently reiterated that Neuer remains the undisputed number one for Munich, Slomka takes a slightly more nuanced view of the situation.
In his Instagram column “Der zweite Blick” (The Second Look), the former Bundesliga coach addressed the question of when great athletes recognize the right time to end their careers.
In doing so, he described Neuer as a “cannibal”—not as a criticism, but as a tribute to his extraordinary ambition and will to win.
“A great career shouldn’t be a free pass.”
Slomka has known Neuer since his early days in professional soccer. In August 2006, he gave the then-20-year-old his Bundesliga debut at Schalke and subsequently made him the new number one.
Twenty years later, the former coach is closely following the discussions surrounding his former protégé. “The difficult thing is: the very trait that makes such athletes great can make it so hard for them to retire,” Slomka explained.
In his view, exceptional athletes find it particularly difficult to accept the end of their careers. “Champions like that have learned to overcome doubts, to refute critics, and to push boundaries. Why should they believe, of all times, that a limit is final? Where others see a warning sign, they see the next challenge.”
However, the Bayern captain’s recent mistakes, taken on their own, are not yet a reason to consider an immediate retirement.
“We see his mistakes in Augsburg, and immediately the question arises: Has Manuel Neuer missed his final whistle? Two mistakes don’t end a career. But a great career shouldn’t be a free pass either,” Slomka clarified.
Bayern executives must make a difficult decision
It’s particularly noteworthy that Slomka doesn’t place the blame solely on Neuer.
Rather, he said, coach Vincent Kompany and the sporting leadership must also evaluate the goalkeeper’s performances independently of his past achievements.
“The crucial question, therefore, is: Who is strong enough to tell such a great winner in time that it’s over?” asked the 59-year-old.
For Slomka, this is above all about an honest athletic assessment.
“They have to assess honestly: How is Manuel performing today? What does the team need? And they have to be prepared to give him their answer.”
With this, the former Schalke coach addresses an issue that is likely to preoccupy the Munich club, at the very latest, as they look ahead to the upcoming season.
Neuer’s contract expires in the summer of 2027. Whether the 2014 World Cup champion will continue his career after that remains to be seen.
Urbig is ready to step in as a potential successor
Bayern has already signed a potential successor in Jonas Urbig. The 23-year-old is expected to follow in Neuer’s footsteps in the long term and is repeatedly given opportunities to prove himself at the highest level.
Urbig will replace the injured veteran in the Champions League match against Viking Stavanger.
However, this does not change the current pecking order. Eberl recently stated unequivocally: “Manuel Neuer is our number one and will remain so.”
Neuer himself had already hinted after the Super Cup victory over Borussia Dortmund that he was considering the possible end of his career.
When asked whether this might have been his last Super Cup interview, the Bayern captain replied on SAT.1: “Maybe, maybe.”
A decision about his future is still pending.
Slomka is therefore not calling for an immediate change in goalkeepers. Rather, his message is that, while fully appreciating Neuer’s extraordinary career, FC Bayern’s leadership must not miss the right moment for a generational change.