MANUEL NEUER (GERMANY/FC BAYERN MÜNCHEN) 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Picture : Manuel Neuer received his IFFHS Award 2016 in München.
IFFHS AWARDS – THE WORLD’S BEST GOALKEEPER 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 : MANUEL NEUER (GERMANY/FC BAYERN MÜNCHEN)
PRESENTATION
Manuel Neuer, born 27 March 1986 in Gelsenkirchen, is currently the Captain and the Goalkeeper of Germany’s National team, winner of the FIFA World’s Cup 2014 and of FC Bayern München, UEFA Champions League winner 2013. He won the IFFHS Award THE WORLD’S BEST GOALKEEPER four consecutive years between 2013 and 2016 and is regarded as one of the best and most complete goalkeepers of All-Time !
IFFHS Award 2013
IFFHS Award 2014
IFFHS Award 2015
Born in Gelsenkirchen (Schalke 04), Neuer made all his youth career in Schalke (1991-2005) and signed his first professional contract there in 2005. Already nominated in the U18 to U20 of the German National Teams, he made his Bundesliga debut in August 2006. He played then 202 matches for Schalke 04 until 2011, winning the DFB Cup 2005 and the DFB Ligacup 2010/11. He won the UEFA European U21 Championship 2009 with Germany and joined then German A National Team in 2009. He was crowned in 2011 as the Footballer of the Year in Germany and the UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year !
In July 2011, he signed with FC Bayern München, where he won in 8 seasons 18 titles : 7 Bundesliga titles (2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19), 4 DFB Cups (2012/13, 2013/14, 2015/16, 2018/19), 4 DFL Supercups (2012, 2016, 2017, 2018) and one UEFA Champions League (2012/13), one UEFA SuperCup (2013) and one FIFA Club World Cup (2013) ! In the same time, he leaded Germany’s National Team to the 2014 FIFA World Cup title, playing 92 international matches with 3 participations at FIFA World Cups (one title and one third place) and 3 UEFA Euros (two third places) until today.
Manuel Neuer did never forget 2013 and 2014, the best years in his career. He won not only the greatest titles with his club (Champions League 2013) and with his country (World Cup 2014) but he was more and more considered in the Goalkeeper History. He was so crowned by IFFHS as THE WORLD’S BEST GOALKEEPER (2013 to 2016), by UEFA as THE GOALKEEPER of the Year (2013 to 2015), by FIFPRO XI as The Goalkeeper of the Year (2013 to 2016) and finished third at The BALLON d’OR 2014 behind the two megastars Messi and Ronaldo. It was the Best Result of a Goalkeeper in this ranking since Lev Yashin. Many experts considered him as his successor due to his unique playing style and ability, to his capacity to anticipate and to distribute like a libero.
He has also received the FIFA Golden Glove 2014 and was part of all Dream teams in Germany, Europe and in the World between 2013 and 2016. He had important injuries in 2017 and 2018, but came back to his highest level in 2019. He played until now 360 matches with FC Bayern München and signed a prolongation of his contract for 2021. Neuer finished at the fourth place in the IFFHS World’s ranking in 2019 after two difficult years due to his injuries. Neuer is only 33, his come back is in action !