Manuel Neuer’s comeback into the FC Bayern goal is imminent. And so Sven Ulreich returns from the big stage to the bench.
In the 9th minute, Sven Ulreich once again proved that FC Bayern can rely on him. In the Champions League duel against Galatasaray Istanbul, the Munich team wanted to lay the foundation for winning the group and thus a successful season. A plan that came into jeopardy when Kerem Aktürkoğlu sent a very nasty shot at the Munich goal. A surprising shot from the turn: Volley, obscured view, with a cut the ball made its way into the far corner. But Ulreich reacted immediately, dived, got longer and longer, directed the ball around the post and received well-deserved congratulations from his defensive colleagues.
It was probably Ulreich’s last big appearance – perhaps even the last Champions League game of his career. Because Manuel Neuer’s return is imminent. And so the 35-year-old begins once again the shadowy existence that he has perfected like no one else before him. “Of course you’re always happy when you play,” said Ulreich after the 3-1 win over Galatasaray, in which he played a pretty big part. As in the 3-1 win over FSV Mainz 05. “But,” said Ulreich: “I know my role at FC Bayern.”
At 26 on the FC Bayern bench: Ulreich’s unusual one Career step
And that’s called: second goalkeeper – an unusual role in football. Almost all outfield players in a club, no matter how much they are reserves, can take comfort in the fact that they can at least occasionally be substituted on, be able to prove themselves again and again, even in an emergency, and feel like part of the team on the pitch. Doing what their real job is: playing football. For the “number two” in goal, the only thing left is appearances in training and, as soon as things get serious, the short walk from the locker room to the bench.
In 2015, Sven Ulreich moved to FC Bayern with the certainty that he would take on exactly this role. Neuer had just been voted world goalkeeper for the third time in a row – and the then 26-year-old Ulreich was prepared to sacrifice his career as a Bundesliga regular goalkeeper in order to become number two behind the best goalkeeper of his generation. A change that quite a few experts criticized at the time. Because second goalkeeper is only something for aspiring goalkeepers or those who are in early retirement.
As number two for the national team
Neither of these applied to Ulreich. And so he not only grew into this role, he reinterpreted it and became an institution at FC Bayern. For two years things remained quiet around Ulreich – definitely a sign of quality for a good number two at FC Bayern. Because a substitute goalkeeper has to be ambitious – but not too ambitious. The number one was called Neuer and, as was well known, she doesn’t like to share her minutes.
And yet a number two at FC Bayern has to be ready to deliver top performances immediately in the greatest possible way. When Neuer was seriously injured for the first time – a metatarsal fracture in April 2017, Ulreich was there. With him the team played the last few meters in the final sprint of the season. The team started the new season with him and made it to the semi-finals of the Champions League. Ulreich played his role as new representative so well that he was rewarded with a call-up to the national team – where, of course, he only sat on the bench.
Nübel, summer and de Gea rumors
When Neuer finally returned, Ulreich naturally gave up his post and disappeared back into his shadowy existence. And the problem with this shadowy existence – the achievements are all too quickly forgotten. That’s how it was back then, when Ulreich sat on the FC Bayern bench again, game after game, season after season – and suddenly, with the arrival of Alexander Nübel himself, he no longer found a place on the bench for the record champions.
That’s how it was after his return from his year-long trip to Hamburger SV, when Neuer broke his leg and FC Bayern replaced their long-standing, loyal replacement Yann Sommer. And yet at the beginning of the season – when Sommer and Nübel had long since moved on, when the names David De Gea and David Raya were being discussed, when no one seemed to really trust the eternal number two – Ulreich was right back there and playing at the same level , where he had already represented Neuer.
Ulreich stands out as number two
Ulreich is now 35 years old. He hopes that his loyalty will now pay off and that he will be rewarded with a contract extension at the end of the season. “Until then, there will still be a lot of water flowing down the Isar. In the next few months there will definitely be a conversation about what the club is planning, what it looks like for me,” says Ulreich after the game – and once again found the right tone between the club’s identity , aspiration and humility.
With the way he handled this second serious injury to Neuer, he may have cemented his status as the best number two in FC Bayern’s history. The game against Istanbul could actually have been Ulreich’s last major appearance in the FC Bayern jersey. But who knows how fit Neuer actually is and whether the eternal number one is at risk of another injury. Ulreich would certainly be there – but he wouldn’t wish that. Ulreich is too emphatic for that – and this turns a good number into an excellent number two.
Source: BR24
October 25, 2023 – 6:30 p.m
