Manuel Neuer may not be the force of nature that he once was, but that hasn’t stopped Bayern Munich from extending his contract until 2023. The Bavarian giants announced that Neuer had signed a new deal that will keep him at the Allianz Arena for at least three more years.Â
Bayern Munich has already signed highly-rated German keeper Alexander Nubel, who will be joining Die Roten from Schalke at the end of the season.
Nubel will walk down the same path which Neuer did earlier in his career when he joined Bayern Munich from Schalke in 2011. Since then, the 34-year-old has won numerous trophies with the Bundesliga giants while playing alongside some of the best players in the world.
So, as a tribute to Manuel Neuer’s longevity, we decided to compile the best Bayern Munich XI since the German custodian joined the club. Without further ado, let’s straight get into it.
Manuel Neuer (Goalkeeper)
Manuel Neuer rose through the ranks of Schalke’s famed youth academy and continued to play for them until 2011.
Later, he joined Bayern Munich and has since made 374 appearances, till date, winning 19 major trophies with the club, including seven Bundesliga titles.
Philipp Lahm (Right-back)
Philipp Lahm was a Bavarian through and through. He graduated from Bayern Munich’s academy, spent two years at Stuttgart on loan, but came back to the Allianz Arena in 2005, and cemented his place in the team.
The 36-year-old would go on to captain his boyhood club for many years, winning numerous trophies for both club and country alongside Manuel Neuer. Lahm announced his retirement in 2017.
Jerome Boateng (Centre-back)
Bayern Munich signed Boateng from Manchester City in 2011, the same season when Manuel Neuer joined, and together they would form the spine of one of the greatest German teams in world football.
The 31-year-old defender has made 311 appearances for Die Roten so far, but he is likely to leave at the end of the season.
Dante (Centre-back)
The Brazilian centre-back played alongside Neuer for three seasons, from 2012 to 2015. He turned out in the colours of Bayern Munich for 133 times in total, playing a key role in their treble-winning season of 2013-14.
Currently, Dante is plying his trade for Ligue 1 outfit OGC Nice, having joined them since 2016.
David Alaba (Left-back)
David Alaba joined Bayern as a prodigious talent in 2019, starred for their ‘B’ team and was subsequently loaned out to Hoffenheim. Upon his return, the Austrian made the left-back berth his own, becoming a mainstay in the Bavarians’ success over the years.
The 27-year-old is the youngest player on this list, which highlights how brilliant he must have been as a teenager.
Arjen Robben (Right-wing)
After an unsuccessful spell with Real Madrid, Arjen Robben was rescued by Bayern, in 2009. In the following 10 years, the Dutchman would wreak havoc at opposition defences in the Bundesliga.
Robben’s left foot was one of the best in business at one point in time, and he was given a hero’s sending off when the 36-year-old hung up his boots last year.
Toni Kroos (Central midfielder)
Renowned for his accurate passing and vision, Toni Kroos was another homegrown talent. After spending seven years at the Allianz Arena, he decided to take on a new challenge at Real Madrid.
Since 2014, Kroos has been everpresent for Los Blancos and is heralded by many for his consistency down the years.
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Central midfielder)
Bayern Munich’s midfield general rose through the youth teams and continued to serve Die Roten until 2015 when he joined Manchester United.
Before announcing his retirement in October last year, Schweinsteiger moved to the MLS, with Chicago Fire. In total, he made 500 appearances for the Bundesliga giants, in 17 seasons.
Franck Ribery (Left-wing)
Currently playing with Fiorentina in the Serie A, Franck Ribery achieved almost God-like status in Germany due to his exploits with the Allianz Arena outfit. He joined Die Roten from Marseille in 2007, and until 2019, Ribery had racked up 425 appearances.
Together with Arjen Robben, the duo was called ‘Robbery’, they literally robbed other teams in the Bundesliga, winning numerous titles with Bayern.
Thomas Muller (Striker)
Thomas Muller spent nine years in Bayern’s youth academy before making his senior bow in 2009. He has since, made an incredible 522 appearances for them, playing a crucial role in the team’s triumph over the years.
This season too, the German attacker has been delivering the goods, scoring 10 goals and setting up a further 19 assists across all competitions.
Robert Lewandowski (Striker)
Widely regarded by many as the best striker in the world, Robert Lewandowski has been Bayern Munich’s most consistent player since joining them in 2014.
The 31-year-old has played 276 times for Die Roten, scoring 231 goals till date. He’s broken various Bundesliga records in the Bundesliga and has won 10 major titles during his stint at the Allianz Arena.
Here’s how the aforementioned players would line up.
All stats courtesy: Transfermarkt.co.in
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