On Monday, June 7, 2021, Manuel Neuer earned his 100th international cap.
In 2014, he helped Germany win the World Cup
The 35-year-old national team captain isn't about to hang up his gloves just yet.
At the Al-Maktoum Stadium in Dubai on June 2, 2009, Germany faced the United Arab Emirates. Manuel Neuer, one of Germany's brightest young talents, stood between the posts. The world-class goalkeeper is now the captain of his country, almost exactly 12 years after earning his 100th international cap. Neuer, the winner of the Adidas Golden Glove at the 2014 FIFA 21 Munten Kopen World CupTM and, perhaps most importantly, a world champion that year, was named The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper 2020.
Joachim Low, Germany's coach, vividly recalls Neuer's debut 12 years ago: "I had the feeling he would go on to be one of the world's great goalkeepers from the first moment he was with us."
A generation is being inspired by a sweeper-keeper
Aside from the numerous victories he has enjoyed with Germany, he is also responsible for the development of a distinct playing style. Manuel Neuer personifies the sweeper-keeper like no other player; in fact, you could argue that he has defined the position for the modern era.
Neuer's performance in Germany's Round of 16 matches against Algeria at Brazil 2014 could be used as an instructional film by any goalkeeping coach looking to give their young charges an insight into this forward-thinking style of play. Throughout the game, the razor-sharp showstopper took chances, intercepting passes and running all the way to the halfway line to clear the ball. Germany eventually won 2-1 in extra time to advance to the quarter-finals, and what happened next is etched in both football's history books and the hearts of all German fans.
A leader and conductor
Manuel Neuer's success, however, is due to more than just his goalkeeping abilities; he is also a fantastic team leader. He has been Germany's captain since 2016, and he also wears the armband for Bayern Munich, the current FIFA Munten Kopen Club World Cup champions.
“If you don't talk enough or interact enough with your teammates, the coaching staff, and officials, then you don't have the character required to be a leader,” Neuer explained to the German Football Association (DFB) Academy during a talk on leadership. He leads his team from the back and believes that his teammates can read his body language.