Manuel Neuer has revolutionized the role of goalkeeper, but he never chose it. In an interview with French newspaper L’Equipe, the FC Bayern captain gave a fascinating insight into his beginnings and explained how a street footballer became one of the most influential keepers of his generation
„I didn’t choose the position of goalkeeper. The coach put me in goal,“ the 39-year-old tells us candidly. When he joined the FC Schalke 04 youth team, there was simply a lack of a goalkeeper. „Back then, nobody wanted to take on this position. We played on hard pitches, artificial turf, even on what looked like parking lots. Pitching hurt and nobody wanted to do it.“
An anecdote that reveals a lot about the character of the future world champion. While others hesitated, Neuer put himself between the posts. His heart originally beat for playing in the field. „When I wasn’t at the club, I liked to play in the field with my friends,“ he reported. However, his coach deliberately kept him in goal – also because he recognized his potential early on
The goalkeeper with the street soccer gene
Even back then, what later became Neuer’s trademark stood out: his exceptional quality on the ball. „My coach held me back because I loved having the ball at my feet and being involved in the game due to my street-footballing side. Even back then, I didn’t just use my hands.“
This mixture of classic goalkeeping and modern playmaking made Neuer the blueprint for the playmaking keeper. His excursions far outside the penalty area, his precise diagonal balls and his courage in the build-up changed the perception of the position forever
And yet: the passion for the actual goalkeeping game remains unbroken. „I really love being a goalkeeper. I love making saves in the penalty area and on my line.“ At the same time, he emphasised how much he enjoys the active role in the build-up play: „I also always enjoy having the ball at my feet, being involved in the build-up play, initiating attacks, seeing a pass that can overcome four or five opponents and create a goalscoring opportunity. I really enjoy both.“
These words impressively show why Manuel Neuer is still performing at the highest level today. He is not just a goalkeeper – he is a playmaker, organizer and mentality anchor at the same time. And perhaps it all started because nobody wanted to play in goal.
