"Call it a day, Manu!" – Bayern legend urges Neuer to call time on his career
| Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images |
Germany goalkeeping icon Sepp Maier believes it's time for Manuel Neuer to hang up his gloves at the end of the season.
Asked by Sport1 what he would tell Neuer if the Bayern goalkeeper called him to ask whether he should continue playing beyond the summer of 2027, Maier responded:
“I would tell him, ‘Call it a day, Manu!’ You have given football an incredible amount, you have won everything and you no longer have anything to prove to anyone.
“Manuel has had an incredible career and revolutionised goalkeeping. But at some point, the body no longer holds up the way you would like it to. And even Manuel Neuer can't stop that moment from coming,” Maier also said in the interview, while stressing that the 40-year-old has to make the decision for himself.
Having already missed several games this season, Neuer suffered another setback in Saturday's 2-1 win over Mainz, with a tendon tear expected to keep him out for several weeks.
With Neuer having spent so much time on the sidelines, 23-year-old Jonas Urbig – widely regarded as his successor at Bayern – has already made eight appearances this season.
Following Neuer's latest injury setback, some have suggested that Bayern should make Urbig their first-choice goalkeeper already, and Maier also weighed in on the debate:
“At some point, you have to take that step. Manuel is 40 years old and Jonas Urbig is the future of Bayern Munich. But you cannot simply write Manuel off either. If he is fit and performing well, he should be allowed to play. However, Bayern need to make a clear decision sooner rather than later. This constant back-and-forth does neither goalkeeper any favours,” he said.
“When Manuel is fully fit, I still consider him one of the best goalkeepers. His experience, presence and understanding of the game are truly exceptional. But the crucial question is: how often is he still fully fit? Being world-class is no use if your body can no longer keep up. And Jonas Urbig is doing a good job. You shouldn't underestimate him either.”
