The goalkeeper situation at FC Bayern is sparking new discussions. Sky expert Didi Hamann is calling for Jonas Urbig to be given significantly more responsibility going forward. Even a return by the injured Manuel Neuer is not expected to change that for the time being.
A pivotal decision regarding the goalkeeper position is looming at FC Bayern. While Manuel Neuer has recently been struggling with injuries, Jonas Urbig is increasingly being given the opportunity to prove himself between the posts. For Didi Hamann, the time has come to fundamentally rethink the current division of roles.
The former Bayern pro spoke out on the Sky90 talk show in favor of making Urbig the number one goalkeeper for the time being, regardless of Neuer’s health status. The underlying question is whether the young goalkeeper has what it takes to be the starting goalkeeper for the German record champions in the long term.
Hamann sees the 40-year-old Neuer’s recurring absences as a particular problem. “He’s the number one. But he keeps missing a game here, then a game there—and by now, it reminds me of a game of musical chairs,” the Sky expert criticized.
Hamann calls for a guarantee that Urbig will play until Christmas
In the 53-year-old’s view, Bayern must now seize the opportunity to test Urbig over an extended period. Isolated appearances would not be enough to assess his qualities under sustained pressure.
“Playing 10 or 15 games versus being the permanent No. 1—that’s a big difference,” Hamann explained. No one can say for sure at this point whether Urbig is already up to this challenge.
That’s why the former national team player is calling for a clear decision: “That’s why, in my opinion, it would make sense to say right now: Listen, whether the new guy is fit or not, he’ll play until Christmas.”
Neuer’s special status shouldn’t play a decisive role in this either. When the question arose in the discussion as to whether the club could make such a decision without the long-time captain’s consent, Hamann made it clear: “No, they can’t.”
Sammer disagrees: Neuer remains the number 1
Hamann then doubled down on his point. He said the Munich club needs to start thinking about the upcoming season now and shouldn’t base its goalkeeper planning solely on Neuer’s merits.
“I believe we’ve now reached the point where, as a club, you can no longer—and must not—show any leniency,” emphasized the Sky expert. At the same time, he pointed to the club’s future: “But the club will carry on and survive even without Neuer.”
Matthias Sammer offered a different perspective. The former Bayern sporting director first praised the respectful relationship between Neuer and Urbig. While he described Hamann’s thoughts as understandable from a purely professional standpoint, he also acknowledged the unique situation at the record-holding champions.
Sammer expects that, once fully recovered, Neuer will still have the edge. When asked whether the veteran still ranks above Urbig in the goalkeeper hierarchy, the 59-year-old replied unequivocally: “Absolutely.”