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Sven Ulreich Bayern Training — © FC Bayern

‘A huge southern fixture again’

Sven Ulreich set for homecoming as Bayern go to VfB Stuttgart

Born in Schorndorf, not far outside Stuttgart, Sven Ulreich boasts 103 competitive appearances for Bayern. “Not everyone manages to play over 100 games for Bayern,” the goalkeeper told regional broadcaster SWR ahead of Friday’s fixture against VfB Stuttgart, his former youth club. The 36-year-old won’t be in goal for this one, with number one Manuel Neuer nailed on in goal, but Ulreich has “long come to terms” with that role, as he told fcbayern.com last summer. “I have a lot of fun with it all. It’s not like I wake up every morning now and think I need to go somewhere to play as a number one. No, I’m happy with how things are.”

Many years in Munich

Affectionately known as Ulle, he’s been at Bayern for almost 10 years since first joining in 2015 and lives with his family in Munich. His only time away from the club was a one-year stint at Hamburg in 2020/21. He’s now settled in Bavaria and wants to stay in his adopted home after retiring. He explains how his children have picked up the Bavarian lingo and refer to things differently than he might once have done.

They’ve got a huge catch with Sebastian Hoeneß as coach. I’m delighted they’re back up at the top after some hard years. This is once again a huge southern clash. It’ll definitely take a lot from us on Friday, but I think the crowd can look forward to a good game.

Sven Ulreich on VfB Stuttgart

However, this encounter with last season’s runners-up remains a highlight for Ulreich. “It’s always special to go home, back to where you played for so long, where you grew up, where you became a man. And I’m excited to see people I’ve not seen for a long time.” The goalkeeper will be supporting his current teammates from the bench as Bayern look to get past a tricky Stuttgart side and lay down a marker in the title race against Bayer Leverkusen, who go to Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. The Reds currently have an eight-point lead at the top, while they’re 22 points clear of VfB, who knocked Bayern down to third place on the final day of last season.

220 games for Stuttgart, 103 for Bayern

Ulreich has obviously closely followed Stuttgart’s progress under former Bayern reserves coach Sebastian Hoeneß. “It’s great that they’re back in Europe and doing their bit in the Bundesliga again,” said the goalkeeper who spent 15 years on the books at VfB, making a total of 220 senior appearances. “They’ve got a huge catch with Sebastian Hoeneß as coach. I’m delighted they’re back up at the top after some hard years. This is once again a huge southern clash. It’ll definitely take a lot from us on Friday, but I think the crowd can look forward to a good game.”

100 goals & solid at the back

Facts ahead of VfB Stuttgart vs. FC Bayern

Ulreich is aiming to win his ninth Bundesliga title with Bayern at the end of this season, and perhaps even more glory in the Champions League as well. “Obviously people could say I could’ve played more matches, but what counts for me is the moments I got to experience. I enjoyed great wins and got to play in Europe,” he told the southwestern broadcaster.

Ulreich’s last outing for Bayern was in the 5-0 win at Werder Bremen when he had to step in for his friend Neuer at the last minute. Keeping a clean sheet, he proved once again that the team can always rely on him. He’s been supporting the squad from the sidelines since. When he takes his watching brief once again in Stuttgart for this trip into his past, he’ll be cheering his current team on to take all three points back to his adopted home in Munich.