There are so many people who have fought their way to stardom in the game of soccer. While there are front liners, super strikers, attackers, defenders, there’s always a man behind – the goalkeeper. There are few goalkeepers who have who have shown resilience on the pitch, thus, writing their names in the annals of history. Amongst them is Manuel Neuer; a super sweeper-keeper and one of the world’s best goaltenders. He is a great achiever and has won several competitions since the inception of his soccer career. Read on, as we take you through Manuel’s career, wife, height and other interesting facts below.
Who is Manuel Neuer?
Manuel Neuer is a German professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for the German national team as well as Bayern Munich Football Club. His excellent goal-keeping skill has kept him at the top of his game since the inception of his career. The star goalkeeper is considered one of the world’s best goalkeepers as he won the IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper from 2013 to 2016. He also won the FIFA best goalkeeper award following Germany’s victory at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In addition, he also finished third behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi at the 2014 FIFA Ballon d’Or Award. Born in Gelsenkirchen, West Germany on March 27, 1986, Manuel was raised in a Catholic family and he was introduced to the round leather game from a very tender age. Neuer got his first soccer ball when he was two years old and also got his first soccer game a few days to his fifth birthday. He has a brother named Marcel who is also a soccer referee at the Verbandsliga. He was inspired by the Jens Lehmann who was the former German goalkeeper.
Career Achievements
He began his amateur career in 1991 with the German side, Schalke 04 and he made his Bundelisga debut with Schalke during the 2006/07 season when the first choice keeper Frank Rost was injured. Following his impressive performances, Neuer later won the starting shirt for the club; thus making 27 league appearances in his first season. The following season, his power saving skills helped Schalke to advance to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League; thus emerging UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year. Given the captain band of the Schalke team in 2010, Manuel led the team to the Champions League semi-final that year and after the 2011/12 season, he ended his career with Schalke. Joining Bayern Munich in June 2011, Manuel Neuer has been the first choice goalkeeper for the club and has led the team to win several championships. As a high profile goalkeeper; Neuer has featured in high profile games and has saved several penalties from top players. Along with Bayern, he has won the UEFA Champions League twice in 2014 and 2016; he won the FIFA World Cup with the German national team in 2014 and UEFA European Under-21 championship in 2009. Additionally, he was named FIFA FIFPro World XI in 2013, 2014, and 2016.
Meet His Wife (Weiss Nina)
Manuel Neuer is happily married to his long-term sweetheart Nina Weiss. The pair met each other several years ago, seeing the love between them, they decided to set their relationship sailing. Nina was spotted during the Euro 2016 supporting Manuel in France. However, after a few years of a successful relationship, Manuel proposed to Nina early 2017 and they finally exchanged marital vows in May of the same year. They first held their civil ceremony in Tanheim, Austria; after which their wedding took place in picturesque Adriatic Town in Bari, Italy. Unfortunately, Manuel appeared in crutches on his wedding, he has been recovering from a broken metatarsal, an injury he sustained during his club’s encounter with Real Madrid in the Champions League. The event was very colourful as many of his international teammates attended their wedding. Since their wedding, the perfect couple has been living happily ever after and there is no sign of break up between them.
Is He Gay?
While there are many athletes whose sexual orientation has been misunderstood, Manuel Neuer has also being a target of several rumours and controversies about his sexuality. Following his remarks urging homosexual football players to stop hiding in the closet, a South American publication concluded that the superstar is gay and since then he has been regarded as a gay player by many of his fans. While homosexuality has not been accepted in the world of soccer, Germany is among the few countries that have acknowledged what the goalkeeper had said. Neuer’s gay rumours have continued to dominate the sports media for a long time and during the 2018 FIFA World Cup held in Russia, Mexican fans were penalized following their homophobic chants. Bottom line is that the Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has a straight sexual orientation and is not gay. He recently got hitched with his long-term girlfriend Weiss Nina and that is the ultimate proof you might need to be totally convinced about his sexuality.
How Tall is Manuel Neuer?
Wondering if the German goalkeeper is tall or not? Here’s the gig! When it comes to manning the post; height is a significant advantage and that has helped Manuel have an edge in his career. The talented star is very tall; standing at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and he has a body weight of 92 kg (203 lbs). In addition to that, he has body measurements of 44-14-33 inches. He has blonde hair and blue eyes.
