Manuel Peter Neuer is a German soccer player. He’s good at being a goalkeeper! He leads the team Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and also captains the German national team. In 2014, he played a big part in helping Germany win the World Cup. He was so good that he won the Golden Glove award for being the tournament’s best goalkeeper!
Manuel Neuer is considered one of the greatest goalkeepers ever! He’s famous for his special way of playing called “sweeper-keeper.” That means he’s really good at leaving his goal and stopping the other team from scoring, even outside the penalty box! He was named the best goalkeeper of the decade from 2011 to 2020 by IFFHS.
| Full Name | Manuel Peter Neuer |
| Nick Name | Manu, Snapper |
| Profession | Footballer |
| Well-Known for | Voice Captain of German National Football Team, Goal Keeper |
Discover fascinating details about his age, height, background, earnings, love life, and more! Delve into his family, ethnicity, nationality, and intriguing tidbits. Dive in for an immersive glimpse into his captivating life story!
Early Life of Manuel
Manuel Neuer entered the world on March 27, 1986, in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Nowadays, he calls Munich, the capital of Bavaria, his hometown. Marita Neuer and Peter Neuer proudly stand as his mother and father. Manuel pursued his education at Gesamtschule Berger Feld.
Raised in a household passionate about football, Neuer was immersed in the sport from a young age, thanks to his father’s role as a director at a local club. This early involvement sparked a deep love for the game, setting the stage for his future career. Meanwhile, his brother Marcel now officiates football matches in the Verbandsliga.
| Date of Birth | 27 March, 1987 |
| Place of Birth | Gelsenkirchen, West Germany |
| Nationality | German |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Ethnicity | White German |
Career of Manuel
Debut and Club Career
Manuel Neuer kicked off his pro career with FC Schalke 04 back in 2004, catching everyone’s eye with his stellar play. He didn’t just save shots; he redefined goalkeeping, known for his lightning-fast reflexes and his unique style of playing as a “sweeper-keeper,” rushing out to clear balls.
Manuel showcased his talent for Germany at the Under-18, U19, U20, and U21 levels before earning his debut for the senior team in a friendly against UAE in 2009. He rose to the challenge during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, stepping up as the first-choice goalkeeper for Germany under difficult circumstances. With the unexpected tragedy of Robert Enke’s passing, Manuel seized the opportunity to fill the vacant goalkeeper slot, leaving a lasting impression on the team.
WC 2010
In the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Manuel Neuer played as Germany’s top goalkeeper. During the group matches, he only let in one goal, which was a close-range shot by Milan Jovanović in the game against Serbia. Neuer also helped set up Miroslav Klose’s opening goal in the 4-1 win against England. In that game, there was some disagreement when a shot by England’s Frank Lampard hit the crossbar and bounced over the goal line, but Neuer later admitted that he knew it was a valid goal, even though he acted in a way that might have confused the referee. Neuer played in all of Germany’s World Cup matches except for the third-place game against Uruguay, where another goalkeeper started.
Bayern Munich’s Stellar Season (2012-2013)
The 2012-2013 season marked an incredible milestone for Neuer and Bayern Munich. Led by Jupp Heynckes, the squad achieved an outstanding triple victory, clinching the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and the UEFA Champions League titles. Neuer played a pivotal role with his stellar performances, earning him praise from all quarters.
WC 2014
Neuer’s unique “sweeper-keeper” approach set him apart from other goalkeepers during the 2014 World Cup. It enabled his teammates to push forward aggressively into their opponents’ territory while also disrupting opposing attackers’ shooting opportunities with his proactive style. Neuer’s skill to play like an extra player on the field, often called the team’s “11th man,” is connected to the advice he got from his coach at Bayern Munich, Pep Guardiola.
During the World Cup, Neuer displayed his amazing skills in goalkeeping. He began by not allowing any goals in two matches against Portugal and US. One of Manuel Neuer’s best moments was during the World Cup in a game against Algeria. He played as a sweeper-keeper, meaning he went out of his goal area to stop the other team’s attacks. This helped his team win 2–1 in extra time. He also kept his cool and didn’t let any goals in during a tense game against France, helping his team win 1–0. This was his 22nd time not letting any goals in during his 50th game playing for Germany. In the semis, even though Neuer tried hard, he couldn’t stop a late goal when his team beat Brazil 7-1.
In the final match of the FIFA World Cup against Argentina on July 13th, Manuel showcased his exceptional goalkeeping skills, confidently dominating his penalty area. He successfully stopped Gonzalo Higuaín and Rodrigo Palacio’s attempts, denying them goals. Even though Argentina tried hard, they couldn’t score a goal, so Germany won 1-0 in extra time with Mario Götze scoring the winning goal. Neuer’s outstanding performance won him the special Golden Glove prize for being the best goalkeeper in the tournament. Remarkably, he completed 244 passes throughout the tournament, outperforming notable positional players like Lionel Messi, Wesley Sneijder, and Thomas Müller.
Neuer vs. Messi Showdown (2014)
Neuer’s performance at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil was a standout highlight in his journey. In a thrilling semi-final clash against Argentina, Neuer’s incredible goalkeeping skills, including his bold charges out of the penalty area, garnered admiration and led to an unforgettable showdown with Lionel Messi. In the end, Germany won the World Cup, and Neuer deservedly got the Golden Glove award as the tournament’s best goalkeeper.
Sustained Achievement and Leadership
Neuer’s brilliance shone brightly at Bayern Munich, clinching numerous Bundesliga titles and adding to his collection of DFB-Pokal trophies. His leadership qualities were recognized in 2015 when he took over the captain’s armband for the German national team from Philipp Lahm. Guiding his team, Germany showcased their prowess at UEFA Euro 2016, making it to the semi-finals with Neuer at the helm.
WC 2022
Neuer got chosen to play for Germany at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. This was a big moment because he became the first German goalie to play in four World Cups in a row. On December 1st, he played in his 19th World Cup game, setting a new record for goalies. He beat legends like Sepp Maier and Brazil’s Cláudio Taffarel, who played 18 games each. Even though Germany won 4–2 against Costa Rica in the last group match, they didn’t make it past the group stage for the second time. Their chances ended when Japan surprisingly beat Spain 2–1, leaving Germany in third place in the group because of goal difference.
Social Media Accounts
Height, Weight, Star Sign, Age, and Net Worth
At 38 years old in 2024, Manuel stands tall at 6.4 feet and weighs 93kg. Born under the sign of Aries, his estimated worth is $40 million.
| Age | 38 years (as of 2024) |
| Height | 6.4 feet |
| Weight | 93Kg (193cm) |
| Star Sign | Aries |
| Net Worth | $ 40M |
Personal Life
Neuer’s romantic journey has had its share of highs and lows. He was in a relationship with Kathrin Gilch until 2014. After that, he started dating Nina Weiss in 2015. They got married on 21 May 2017 in Tannheim, Austria, and had a church ceremony on 10 June in Italy. Sadly, they split up in early 2020. But Neuer found love again with Anika Bissel, a handball player from Erlangen born on 11 June, 2000. In October 2023, it was announced that she was expecting a baby, so she had to stop playing for the rest of the ESV 1927 Regensburg season. On 14 March 2024, they became parents to their first son, Luca.
Interesting Facts
- Manuel kicked off his football journey at the age of two.
- He made history as the initial German goalie to play in four back-to-back World Cup tournaments.
- Neuer launched a special foundation to help children, called the Manuel Neuer Kids Foundation.
- He has a huge fan following around 13.4 million on Instagram.
- His jersey number is 1.
- His favourite food is potato fritters with salmon and salad.
- He enjoys tennis, exploring new places, and skiing.
- His favourite colour is Green.
Awards
- DFL-Ligapokal: 2005
- FIFA World Cup: 2014
- Footballer of the Year in Germany: 2011,2014
- Germany national team Player of the Year: 2020
- IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper of the Decade: 2011-2020
- Best European Goalkeeper: 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2020
- UEFA Champion League Final Fan’s Man of the Match: 2013
- The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper: 2020
- AIPS Athlete of the Year: 2014
Highlights
Statistics
| Matches played | 407 |
| Clean sheets | 186 |
| Penalties saved | 8 |
| Minutes played | 36.726 |
| Substitution (on) | 1 |
| Substitution (off) | 4 |
| Yellow cards | 10 |
How many times has Manuel Neuer played for his national team each year, and how many goals has he scored?
| Year | Apps | Goal |
| 2009 | 2 | 0 |
| 2010 | 3 | 0 |
| 2011 | 10 | 0 |
| 2012 | 11 | 0 |
| 2013 | 8 | 0 |
| 2014 | 13 | 0 |
| 2015 | 6 | 0 |
| 2016 | 11 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 10 | 0 |
| 2019 | 8 | 0 |
| 2020 | 4 | 0 |
| 2021 | 12 | 0 |
| 2022 | 9 | 0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Who is Manuel Neuer?
Manuel Peter Neuer is a German soccer player. He’s really good at being a goalkeeper. In 2014, he played a big part in helping Germany win the World Cup. He was so good that he won the Golden Glove award for being the tournament’s best goalkeeper!
Q2. How old is Manuel Neuer?
He is 38 years old as of 2024.
Q3. How tall is he?
He is 6 feet, 4 inches tall.
Q4. Why is he famous?
He is famous for Voice Captain of German National Football Team, Goal Keeper.
Q5. How much is his net worth?
His net worth is $40 million.
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