When four goalkeepers were needed: Bayern's exceptional years

The goal is normally a place of continuity at FC Bayern. There’s a clear number one and behind him a fixed hierarchy. Currently, however, Manuel Neuer (muscle fibre tear), Jonas Urbig (concussion) and Sven Ulreich (muscle tear) are all nursing injuries, and suddenly the German record champions face a scenario that has only occured twice before in the club’s Bundesliga history: they could need another goalkeeper.

To date, only in the 1991/92 and 2024/25 Bundesliga seasons have the Bavarians used four different keepers. And there are two very different stories behind them: one a difficult year of transition, the other a victorious campaign in which the depth in goal became a strength. A look at these two exceptional years shows how rare the four-keeper situation is – and that, should it become reality again, it would again be a story of its own.

1991/92: Turmoil in goal and in the club

Having had a clear number one for years, the faces changed in goal in the autumn of 1991. That season remains one of the most turbulent overall in the club’s history.

The signs were already there before the start. Long-time captain Klaus Augenthaler had retired, while two World Cup winners had moved to Italy in Jürgen Kohler and Stefan Reuter. Uli Hoeneß spoke of a transition year, and the fans at the Olympiastadion, normally a scene of title races, experienced unusual images: a 2-1 defeat against promoted side Hansa Rostock, a 4-1 loss to Stuttgarter Kickers, as well as a cup elimination at the hands of Bundesliga 2 outfit Homburg. The record champions slipped into mid-table in the league, finishing tenth – only five points from the relegation zone.

Injury crisis and a prominent new signing

Midway through this challenging season, a situation arose in goal that has rarely been seen in Munich. Gerald Hillringhaus, who stepped up from the role of back-up, played the most games with 17 appearances. Raimond Aumann, the established number one, missed much of the season through injury, managing just 13 appearances. To plug the gap, Bayern signed former Germany goalkeeper Harald “Toni” Schumacher, who featured in eight Bundesliga games in that season. The quartet was completed by Uwe Gospodarek, who registered one league appearance.

Coach and goalkeeper change at once

At the same time, there was also intense activity in the dugout. In October, Jupp Heynckes was relieved of his duties – a decision that Hoeneß later described as the biggest mistake of his management. He was replaced by Sören Lerby, a former Bayern player without coaching experience, but he failed to provide the desired bounce.

In March, the club’s management hit the button again. Lerby made way for Erich Ribbeck, and Franz Beckenbauer and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge returned to key roles as vice presidents. Ribbeck steadied the ship and prevented something much worse, but nothing better than 10th place was possible. The 1991/92 season went down as an exceptional year, and at the same time it marked the beginning of a rebuild, from which the club emerged stronger in the years that followed.

2024/25: Depth instead of disruption

The goalkeeping story of the 2024/25 campaign is very different to 1991/92. Again several shot-stoppers featured – but this time in a team that was very much on track and ended as German champions. The changes between the posts didn’t signal disruption, but rather reliability across the board. 

Neuer was still number one. The captain made 22 appearances in the Bundesliga and once again played a big role with his presence, his ability with his feet and his experience. However, his season was also disrupted by injuries, with a muscle fibre tear ruling him out of the whole of March and April. During this period, a January signing was thrust into the spotlight: Jonas Urbig.

Jonas Urbig: Impact signing

The young goalkeeper, who’d joined from 1. FC Köln in January, stepped up at a crucial stage in the season and made eight league appearances. Urbig took the opportunity, exuded composure and slotted into the team remarkably quickly. “I didn’t have much time to think, but I felt very comfortable here from the start because the team took me in very well,” he said looking back. “That meant I was able to concentrate on training and performance from the start.” For a keeper of his age, new to the club and thrown into competitive action straight away, Urbig’s displays were a strong sign of Bayern’s depth in this position.

Before that in December, a different goalkeeper had stepped in. When Neuer was sidelined by a fractured rib and Ulreich was also unavailable, Daniel Peretz pulled on the jersey. The Israel international made three Bundesliga appearances during this period – against Heidenheim, Mainz and RB Leipzig – and helped the record champions to get through the busy pre-Christmas period without their regular number one.

Sven Ulreich and his quiet afternoon in Bremen

Ulreich made his only Bundesliga appearance of the season early on – and it was a quiet one from a goalkeeper’s point of view. He deputised for Neuer, who missed out because of a thigh problem, in the 5-0 victory at Werder Bremen in September, but was virtually a spectator as the defence prevented Werder from firing a single shot at the Bayern goal. Ulreich told fcbayern.com afterwards: “When you’re required, you have to be there and deliver a top performance. That's my job.”

So, four goalkeepers featured again in the 2024/25 season in Neuer, Ulbrig, Peretz and Ulreich – but unlike 1991/92, it wasn’t a story of instability. It showed how Bayern had greater strength in depth in goal than ever before, with a dominant number one, solid deputies and talents who were ready to step up when needed.

Current season: Strength in depth

That situation has continued seamlessly in the current season, and appears to be the next step in Bayern's goalkeeping development. First choice remains Neuer, who’s made 19 Bundesliga appearances and kept five clean sheets, emphasising that he is still a rock between the posts – particularly in phases where Bayern are defending high and the goalkeeper often has to be in the right place at crucial moments.

Behind him, Urbig has fulfilled his role as number two in impressive fashion. In eight league outings – six from the start – he’s registered an impressive three clean sheets, a clear sign of how solid the team still is with him in goal. His stats prove that he’s not just ‘filling in’ when Neuer is absent, but making his own mark.

Ulreich has also been ready when he’s been called upon. In his only appearance of the season so far, the 37-year-old demonstrated how focused and willing he is, even though his game time is rare. All in all, the picture is clear: from the captain through his young challenger to the experienced back-up, Bayern are very well covered in goal this season.

In the event of the three senior goalkeepers and the fourth choice, Leon Klanac (thigh injury), being unavailable, Bayern have two young goalkeepers at their disposal who have already gained some experience in the professional ranks. Sixteen-year-old Leonard Prescott, who normally plays for the German record champions’ U19 team, was already in the squad on Saturday in Leverkusen and last Tuesday in Bergamo. Janis Bärtl, 19, usually guards the net for the FCB reserves and was previously in the first-team squad in the matches at Augsburg and Dortmund.  

Whether one of them will make it another rare four-goalkeeper season in Bayern’s Bundesliga history remains to be seen – the record champions are ready in any case.

How Bayern are gearing up for the Champions League second leg against Atalanta: