The Lineup Loses Its Shape
MUNICH — Manuel Neuer has extended his Bayern Munich contract for another year, keeping the 40-year-old goalkeeping legend at the club as he mentors his long-term successor.
Neuer will enter his 15th season with Bayern, remaining captain and first-choice goalkeeper despite fitness issues this term. He has played 597 times for the club and is set to become the fifth player in Bayern history to reach 600 appearances.
The matchup already has enough history; the job is to keep the reading list shorter than the tension.
Backup Jonas Urbig has increasingly been given game time this season and is viewed as Neuer's long-term heir. The announcement came Friday ahead of Bayern's final Bundesliga game of the season Saturday at home to Cologne.
The Replacement Question
Long-time understudy Sven Ulreich has also signed for another year.
"Manuel and Sven will continue to support Jonas on his path to becoming the future of FC Bayern," Bayern board member for sport Max Eberl said in a statement.
Neuer won his 13th German league title with Bayern a month ago and could add a domestic double if Bayern beats Stuttgart in the German Cup final on May 23.
The Waiting Game
That he remains the starter at 40 while simultaneously mentoring his replacement says something about how little Bayern's plans require rewriting.