Jonas Urbig is considered the designated successor to Manuel Neuer at FC Bayern. The 23-year-old has long since established himself in Munich as a reliable backup and recently even made his debut with the German national team. But two former world-class goalkeepers have doubts about whether the youngster actually has what it takes to be the permanent number one for the record-holding champions.
Oliver Kahn and Jens Lehmann expressed criticism of the Bayern goalkeeper’s prospects during a talk show on Sky. Both see the enormous responsibility associated with the role of starting goalkeeper as the primary challenge.
“I can’t say whether Urbig has what it takes to truly be the number one at Bayern Munich,” Kahn explained.
However, the former Bayern CEO by no means questioned the young goalkeeper’s fundamental abilities.
Kahn: “That’s something completely different.”
Kahn described Urbig as a “great talent” who already possesses exceptional qualities. The 23-year-old is a goalkeeper “who makes unstoppable saves here and there and is already very far along.”
Whether that’s enough to be Bayern’s starting goalkeeper on a long-term basis, however, remains to be seen.
“I want to see that the moment he takes on full responsibility as the number one. That’s something completely different,” emphasized the 57-year-old.
Currently, Urbig benefits from the fact that Neuer, an experienced world-class goalkeeper, remains ahead of him.
The Bayern captain remains the clear number one, while Urbig gets regular playing time and can develop without the constant pressure of being the starting goalkeeper.
Lehmann has doubts about Urbig as Neuer’s successor
Jens Lehmann was even more blunt. The former national team goalkeeper stated that he currently “does not” believe “that he will become Bayern’s number one in the long run, because he is too young.”
Lehmann is therefore also skeptical about Urbig’s potential role as the future starting goalkeeper for the German national team.
Neuer is currently like “a father to Urbig—someone who’s always there when something goes wrong and then puts out the fire,” Lehmann said.
Kahn agreed with his former rival. “Being the number one means there’s no longer a Manuel Neuer,” the former Bayern captain clarified.
Only when Urbig is permanently between the posts and has to take full responsibility even after making mistakes will it become clear whether he can handle the pressure.
For FC Bayern, the long-term goalkeeper question thus remains an intriguing one. Urbig has already shown glimpses of his potential on several occasions. However, according to the two goalkeeping legends, he has yet to provide definitive proof that he can permanently replace Neuer.