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Sports

The bitter rivalries for Germany's No. 1 jersey

Being Germany's first-choice goalkeeper is one of the most prestigious positions in sports. It's no surprise then, that it has often been the focus of a bitter rivalry — and sometimes controversy.

  • Hans Tilkowski (picture-alliance/United Archives/TopFoto)

    Hans Tilkowski & Wolfgang Fahrian

    Prior to the 1962 World Cup, Hans Tilkowski (photo) was all but certain that he would be West Germany’s No. 1 in Chile. However, one day before the Nationalmannschaft's first match, coach Sepp Herberger surprised everybody by opting for Wolfgang Fahrian of then-second-divison side Ulm. Tilkowski blew up and smashed up a chair in his hotel room.

  • Fußball: Die Nationalmannschaft in Athen 1974 Sepp Maier und Norbert Nigbur (picture-alliance/dpa/R. Witschel)

    Sepp Maier & Norbert Nigbur

    Bayern Munich goalkeeper Sepp Maier (left) was West Germany’s undisputed No. 1 in the 1970s. However, this didn’t stop Schalke's Norbert Nigbor saying in a 1975 interview, "He won't blame me for for wanting to become the national team goalkeeper, particularly because I am much younger than him." Maier’s answer: "Nobody can touch me. There's only one Sepp Maier."

  • Wolfgang Kleff (picture-alliance/dpa/R. Scheidemann)

    Sepp Maier & Wolfgang Kleff

    However, Maier wasn't as cool when it came to Borussia Mönchengladbach keeper Wolfgang Kleff (pictured). After conceding five goals to Schalke in the Bundesliga, Maier tried to blame it on the media, saying the press had been so full of praise for Kleff that it was playing on his mind. Kleff would play a total of four matches for West Germany.

  • Fußball Teamchef Franz Beckenbauer und Torhüter Schumacher und Uli Stein (Imago Images/teutopress)

    Harald Schumacher & Uli Stein

    In 1986 coach Franz Beckenbauer (right) said that Hamburg's Uli Stein (left), was the best goalkeeper in the world but wouldn't play at the World Cup. Stein pointed the finger at Adidas, a national team sponsor that also had both the No.1, Harald Schumacher (second from right), and Beckenbauer under contract. Stein would go on to be sent home early from Mexico for breaking a team curfew.

  • Fußball-EM 1988: Das deutsche EM-Aufgebot (picture-alliance/dpa/A. Scheidemann)

    Eike Immel & Bodo Illgner

    After Schumacher fell out of favor over statements made in his 1987 book Anpfiff (Kickoff) in 1987, Eike Immel (second from left) became the new No. 1. However, at Euro 88 West Germany lost to eventual title winners the Netherlands in the semifinals. When Beckenbauer gave the young Bodo Illgner (second from right) his first cap Immel quit in anger. Illgner went on to win the 1990 World Cup.

  • Training Nationalmannschaft Köpke Kahn (picture-alliance/dpa/O. Berg)

    Oliver Kahn & Andreas Köpke

    "Berti Vogts knows very well that I am not fit to be the No. 2 forever. I want to play at the 1998 World Cup," then 29-year-old Oliver Kahn (left) said ahead of the tournament. However, Vogts stayed with Andreas Köpke (right) in France. It wasn't until after that World Cup that Kahn finally took over the No. 1 job, a position he would hold for the next eight years — even becoming captain in 2002.

  • Oliver Kahn und Jens Lehmann (picture-alliance/dpa/WDR)

    Oliver Kahn & Jens Lehmann

    Oliver Kahn (left) remained the No. 1 heading into the 2006 World Cup in Germany, but coach Jürgen Klinsmann went with Jens Lehman (right) instead. While angry, Kahn displayed sportsmanship by wishing his rival success in the penalty shootout in Germany's quarterfinal against Argentina. Germany finished third in the tournament. "With me we would have won the World Cup," Kahn would later claim.

  • Deutschland - Saudi Arabien Manuel Neuer und Marc-Andre ter Stegen (picture-alliance/N. Schmidt)

    Manuel Neuer & Marc-Andre ter Stegen

    The latest controversy over the job features current No. 1 Manuel Neuer (left) and his understudy, Marc-Andre ter Stegen (right). Ter Stegen publicly complained about his backup role after the international break in September. Sitting on the bench in the two matches against the Netherlands and Northern Ireland was "a hard blow," he said. The statement stirred up a fair bit of controversy.

  • Uli Hoeneß, Präsident FC Bayern München (picture-alliance/dpa/P. Kneffel)

    Manuel Neuer & Marc-Andre ter Stegen

    Bayern Munich President Uli Hoeness leapt to his goalkeeeper’s defense, calling on the German FA to rein in ter Stengen and warning that there would "be consequences" if national team coach Joachim Löw made a change in goal. "If this happens, we won’t release any more of our players to the national team," he said. Hoeness later played down that last statement.

  • Joachim Löw und Manuel Neuer (picture-alliance/dpa/J. Stratenschulte)

    Manuel Neuer & Marc-Andre ter Stegen

    Joachim Löw’s only reaction to Hoeness’ statement was to say that he wouldn’t let it influence him. While ter Stegen is to play against Argentina, Löw stressed that "Manuel Neuer is our captain and therefore our No. 1 with a view to the European Championship – if nothing out of the ordinary happens." For his part, ter Stegen pledged that: "We will support each other."


  • Hans Tilkowski (picture-alliance/United Archives/TopFoto)

    Hans Tilkowski & Wolfgang Fahrian

    Prior to the 1962 World Cup, Hans Tilkowski (photo) was all but certain that he would be West Germany’s No. 1 in Chile. However, one day before the Nationalmannschaft's first match, coach Sepp Herberger surprised everybody by opting for Wolfgang Fahrian of then-second-divison side Ulm. Tilkowski blew up and smashed up a chair in his hotel room.

  • Fußball: Die Nationalmannschaft in Athen 1974 Sepp Maier und Norbert Nigbur (picture-alliance/dpa/R. Witschel)

    Sepp Maier & Norbert Nigbur

    Bayern Munich goalkeeper Sepp Maier (left) was West Germany’s undisputed No. 1 in the 1970s. However, this didn’t stop Schalke's Norbert Nigbor saying in a 1975 interview, "He won't blame me for for wanting to become the national team goalkeeper, particularly because I am much younger than him." Maier’s answer: "Nobody can touch me. There's only one Sepp Maier."

  • Wolfgang Kleff (picture-alliance/dpa/R. Scheidemann)

    Sepp Maier & Wolfgang Kleff

    However, Maier wasn't as cool when it came to Borussia Mönchengladbach keeper Wolfgang Kleff (pictured). After conceding five goals to Schalke in the Bundesliga, Maier tried to blame it on the media, saying the press had been so full of praise for Kleff that it was playing on his mind. Kleff would play a total of four matches for West Germany.

  • Fußball Teamchef Franz Beckenbauer und Torhüter Schumacher und Uli Stein (Imago Images/teutopress)

    Harald Schumacher & Uli Stein

    In 1986 coach Franz Beckenbauer (right) said that Hamburg's Uli Stein (left), was the best goalkeeper in the world but wouldn't play at the World Cup. Stein pointed the finger at Adidas, a national team sponsor that also had both the No.1, Harald Schumacher (second from right), and Beckenbauer under contract. Stein would go on to be sent home early from Mexico for breaking a team curfew.

  • Fußball-EM 1988: Das deutsche EM-Aufgebot (picture-alliance/dpa/A. Scheidemann)

    Eike Immel & Bodo Illgner

    After Schumacher fell out of favor over statements made in his 1987 book Anpfiff (Kickoff) in 1987, Eike Immel (second from left) became the new No. 1. However, at Euro 88 West Germany lost to eventual title winners the Netherlands in the semifinals. When Beckenbauer gave the young Bodo Illgner (second from right) his first cap Immel quit in anger. Illgner went on to win the 1990 World Cup.

  • Training Nationalmannschaft Köpke Kahn (picture-alliance/dpa/O. Berg)

    Oliver Kahn & Andreas Köpke

    "Berti Vogts knows very well that I am not fit to be the No. 2 forever. I want to play at the 1998 World Cup," then 29-year-old Oliver Kahn (left) said ahead of the tournament. However, Vogts stayed with Andreas Köpke (right) in France. It wasn't until after that World Cup that Kahn finally took over the No. 1 job, a position he would hold for the next eight years — even becoming captain in 2002.

  • Oliver Kahn und Jens Lehmann (picture-alliance/dpa/WDR)

    Oliver Kahn & Jens Lehmann

    Oliver Kahn (left) remained the No. 1 heading into the 2006 World Cup in Germany, but coach Jürgen Klinsmann went with Jens Lehman (right) instead. While angry, Kahn displayed sportsmanship by wishing his rival success in the penalty shootout in Germany's quarterfinal against Argentina. Germany finished third in the tournament. "With me we would have won the World Cup," Kahn would later claim.

  • Deutschland - Saudi Arabien Manuel Neuer und Marc-Andre ter Stegen (picture-alliance/N. Schmidt)

    Manuel Neuer & Marc-Andre ter Stegen

    The latest controversy over the job features current No. 1 Manuel Neuer (left) and his understudy, Marc-Andre ter Stegen (right). Ter Stegen publicly complained about his backup role after the international break in September. Sitting on the bench in the two matches against the Netherlands and Northern Ireland was "a hard blow," he said. The statement stirred up a fair bit of controversy.

  • Uli Hoeneß, Präsident FC Bayern München (picture-alliance/dpa/P. Kneffel)

    Manuel Neuer & Marc-Andre ter Stegen

    Bayern Munich President Uli Hoeness leapt to his goalkeeeper’s defense, calling on the German FA to rein in ter Stengen and warning that there would "be consequences" if national team coach Joachim Löw made a change in goal. "If this happens, we won’t release any more of our players to the national team," he said. Hoeness later played down that last statement.

  • Joachim Löw und Manuel Neuer (picture-alliance/dpa/J. Stratenschulte)

    Manuel Neuer & Marc-Andre ter Stegen

    Joachim Löw’s only reaction to Hoeness’ statement was to say that he wouldn’t let it influence him. While ter Stegen is to play against Argentina, Löw stressed that "Manuel Neuer is our captain and therefore our No. 1 with a view to the European Championship – if nothing out of the ordinary happens." For his part, ter Stegen pledged that: "We will support each other."


             

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