In FC Bayern’s game at VfB Stuttgart, the focus is on the goalkeepers. Jonas Urbig shines, Alexander Nübel fails. Sports director Max Eberl gives insight into the Munich team’s personnel planning. It’s about the successor to Manuel Neuer. This brings us to a very explosive topic.
It was a very special weekend for FC Bayern for several reasons. Star striker Harry Kane came into the game at VfB Stuttgart as a “joker” and scored three goals in a 5-0 (1-0) win. Defender Konrad Laimer is now known internally as “Alpen-Zidane” and “Laimer Yamal” with a wink, in reference to the two world-famous ball artists, because he scored with a backheel. And for Manuel Neuer’s potential successors, this special day in Stuttgart turned out very differently.
Jonas Urbig left the stadium with a smile, Alexander Nübel, for once, without a word. “I always come to you,” he said to the Stuttgart reporters. Urbig clearly won their duel. For the first time since the beginning of November, Bayern kept a clean sheet. And after 13 games in the Bundesliga they now have 37 points – a league record.
“Bayern finished us off today,” said VfB striker Deniz Undav. And his coach Sebastian Hoeneß stated: “Bayern are the ultimate not only in the Bundesliga, with Arsenal they are currently the best team in Europe.”
Urbig impressed with a strong opening to the game and exuded confidence. Nübel (two international matches), however, had a weak day in Stuttgart’s first home defeat of the season – against, of all things, his parent club. “Nübel drama against his Bayern,” writes “Bild”. The question of how the German record champions will position themselves between the posts in the new season is becoming increasingly exciting.
Max Eberl is calm in FC Bayern’s goalkeeper poker
“We’ll look at it calmly,” said Bayern’s sports director Max Eberl after the game. You have a “good starting position”. Neuer’s contract with Bayern ends in the summer of 2026. It is unclear whether the long-time national goalkeeper will extend his contract again. He always emphasizes that he needs to feel healthy and fit. At the moment he is. In March Neuer will be 40 years old.
“In Manu we have an outstanding goalkeeper, in Jonas we have someone who always delivers when he plays. Alex Nübel is also part of FC Bayern – a keeper with very, very good quality,” said Eberl. A decision will “not be made in the next few weeks and months” but will “take a little time.”
With Urbig there is a possible successor for Neuer. And Nübel? The 29-year-old is on loan at VfB until the end of June – his contract with Bayern runs until 2030. He has been under contract with the Munich team since 2020 and has since been loaned out to AS Monaco for two years. Regardless of his messed up performance against Bayern, Nübel is an “outstanding goalkeeper,” emphasized Eberl.
There is always an exchange. These were “completely normal conversations”. Against Bayern, Nübel had shown several insecurities, was tunneled at 0-1 – and he finally made a big mistake when Josip Stanisic conceded the third goal in the 78th minute of the game. “From his point of view, it’s bitter for him,” said VfB coach Hoeneß. “It’s also bitter for us. He would have imagined it differently. Mistakes are part of it. We and he have to accept that. And best of all, come out of the game stronger.”
Jonas Urbig’s long balls cause danger
Urbig’s feeling, however, was “very good”. It was a small victory for him regarding the future in the Bayern goal. At eleven o’clock on Saturday morning, while on a walk with the team near the team hotel, he found out from the coaching team that he would be in the starting line-up instead of Neuer. Neuer should get a break, the multiple world goalkeeper had given the “green light” for it, as Eberl reported. The 22-year-old Urbig caused danger in his fourth competitive game this season with several long balls to the top, one of which led to Laimer making it 1-0 (11th).
“I was happy to play. I’m always prepared, we always prepare together as a goalkeeping team. We showed a very good, solid performance,” said Urbig after the final whistle. “It was a close game until the 60th minute because Stuttgart is a good opponent. Then we were able to add a lot of freshness, Stuttgart had to open up a bit. We made great use of the space.”
When asked about the duel with Nübel, he replied: “I don’t want to judge my fellow goalkeepers. Alex is a very good goalkeeper.” He didn’t want to comment further. He doesn’t think too much about the future anyway. Urbig moved from 1. FC Cologne to Munich around a year ago.
If Neuer extends his contract again, Nübel would probably not return to Munich in 2026. However, if Neuer ends his (Bayern) career, the club bosses could create a duel between Urbig and Nübel for the number one spot in Bayern’s goal. Or go straight to Urbig. Neuer, world champion in 2014, has already publicly spoken out in favor of Urbig as his successor.
“He has already shown in the games that he can do it, and he will continue to do so,” said the 39-year-old on “Sky” last week. “It is no problem for him that he can and will succeed me.” Urbig said at the time: “That of course honors me – but of course it also honors him that he sees it that way. I still think it doesn’t guarantee anything.”
This game in Stuttgart was a pointer when it came to Bayern’s goalkeeping question. VfB will most likely not be able to afford to sign Nübel next summer. The package of transfer fee and salary – Nübel is estimated to earn up to eleven million euros per year – is too steep for the club. Bayern are reportedly hoping for a double-digit million fee if Nübel is sold.
VfB sports director Christian Gentner said about Nübel in the football talk “Doppelpass” on “Sport1” on Sunday morning: “He has huge added value for us, is a crowd favorite and an identification figure.” Gentner said nothing concrete about Nübel’s future. He simply emphasized how happy they were that they currently have him. Sport1 expert Stefan Effenberg, who played for FC Bayern for a long time, among others, said: “I would like Urbig to become number one at FC Bayern. And Nübel remain number one at VfB Stuttgart.”
The Munich team continues on Tuesday. Probably with Neuer in goal – they are aiming for their next victory in the Champions League against Sporting Lisbon (6.45 p.m., DAZN). They are third in the premier class and it is their last game in the competition this year.
“We have three games in six days and want to use the squad,” said Bayern coach Kompany last Saturday. “Jonas has never disappointed and has always helped us. We always look for the right moment so that he gets his minutes and can continue his development. We also discussed this with Manu and decided to do it today instead of next week. After that, everything goes back to normal.”
At FC Bayern, there are many signs that point to another season with Manuel Neuer as number one – and Jonas Urbig behind him.
Julien Wolff is a sports editor. He reports for WORLD for many years from Munich about FC Bayern and the national team as well as about fitness and sports nutrition topics. In the game against Lisbon he will sit in the press box in the Munich stadium.
