Manuel Neuer’s second international retirement following Germany’s disappointing 2026 World Cup begged the question: who will Germany’s new number one be? Oliver Baumann — Julian Nagelsmann’s first-choice keeper before recalling Neuer for the World Cup — would have been a prime candidate.
But after the 39-year-old manager’s dismissal in favour of Jurgen Klopp, it was clear Germany’s goalkeeping hierarchy would be overhauled.
Baumann did not even make Klopp’s 44-man squad selection. Instead, the former
Liverpool manager opted for Marc-André ter Stegen, Alexander Nübel, Jonas Urbig, Finn Dahmen, and Noah Atubolu; Ter Stegen was chosen as Germany’s number one. So what does the rest of Germany’s goalkeeping pecking order look like?
According to Sport Bild’s Christian Falk and Julian Agardi (via @iMiaSanMia), Bayern Munich’s Jonas Urbig is next in line behind ter Stegen.
The current internal ranking for goalkeepers in the national team is:
#1 Marc-André ter Stegen
#2 Jonas Urbig
#3 Alexander Nübel
BFW Analysis
The hierarchy makes sense. Ter Stegen offers the most stability and experience between the sticks but his age is his disadvantage. At 34-years-old, the Ajax shot-stopper certainly isn’t a long-term solution for the national team.
That makes Urbig the perfect understudy. While ter Stegen helps steady an unstable Germany ship, Urbig can learn without carrying the expectation of a nation on his shoulders. It’s a shame Nübel has fallen down the ladder once again, but there is no room for sympathy in Germany’s current state.
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