Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is back to Bayern Munich after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Manuel Neuer, 37, picked up a foot injury while skiing in December 2022 and was sidelined for 10 months. He was back to Bayern Munich training in September 2023 but was not ready for action for the Bavarians as he continued his rehabilitation.
Now, Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel, has confirmed the World Cup winner is set to return to action for the club when they host Darmstadt in the Bundesliga on Saturday, October 28, 2023.
“If everything goes well in training, then he will play tomorrow. He’s looking forward to it and so are we,” manager Thomas Tuchel said on Friday.
“I’m certain many other people are also excited.”
Having last featured for Bayern against his old club Schalke on 12 November last year, Neuer’s return to partial training was delayed because of complications with his recovery from the lower-leg fracture.
A World Cup winner with Germany in 2014, Neuer’s injury occurred soon after the national team’s disappointing Qatar 2022 campaign.
Neuer said he “was trying to get [his] head clear” on the skiing trip after Germany failed to reach the knockout stages.
“It’s a special situation. I can feel his excitement and his quality is clear to see. He’s got a lot of experience,” former Chelsea boss Tuchel said of Neuer.
“He’s enjoying it right now and can be proud of himself. I want him to enjoy this moment, as it will be a good source of strength for him.
“On top of that, you’ve got the nerves and excitement to deal with.
“We’re hoping now that he will be able to get back into the swing of things quickly and that everything will go well.”
Manuel Neuer
Manuel Neuer is a German professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper and captains Bundesliga club Bayern Munich. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of the sport.
Neuer was born in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on 27 March 1986. He began his career at Schalke 04, where he won the DFB-Pokal and DFL-Ligapokal. In 2011, he signed for Bayern Munich and has since won 28 trophies, including eleven Bundesliga titles and two UEFA Champions League titles in 2013 and 2020, both as part of trebles.
Neuer is known for his athleticism, his ability to come off his line to collect crosses, and his distribution. He is also a very good shot-stopper. Neuer is a key player for both Bayern Munich and the German national team. He has won 103 caps for Germany and was part of the team that won the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
In 2014, Neuer was named the FIFA World Cup Golden Glove winner, and he was also named the UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year. He has won the IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper award five times, most recently in 2020.
