Even if the result left many associated with the club feeling frustrated, Saturday afternoon’s 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen still accorded Bayern Munich professionals a chance to celebrate timeless veteran keeper Sven Ulreich. The 37-year-old, relegated to the No. 3 role following the arrival Jonas Urbig a little over a month ago, once again came through for the club he’s represented for the bulk of his Bundesliga career.
A plethora of refereeing decisions that could have broken Bayern’s way precluded the German record champions from attaining all three points. Without Ulreich’s amazing stop on Leverkusen’s Ibrahim Maza and his work keeping a wicked deflection from former Leverkusen man Jonathan Tah out of the net, however, Bayern defensively wouldn’t have even earned a point.
Ulreich – like Neuer – sits on a contract due to expire at the end of the season. Bayern have been signing both Neuer and Ulreich to one-year contract extensions since the 2022/23 campaign; the year that Neuer incurred a controversial major injury while on a skiing holiday after the November 2022 World Cup disappointment.
Unlike the last time Neuer had to undergo major surgery (during the 2017/18 season), Bayern didn’t opt to rely on Ulreich to fill in for Neuer on a permanent basis that year. Instead, Borussia Mönchengladbach captain Yann Sommer was brought in on a short-term-basis to help lead the Bavarians to the title.
Ulreich nevertheless reprised his role as the de-facto replacement for Neuer the very next autumn until Neuer was finally ready to return. After making 11 Bundesliga and three Champions League appearances at the beginning of the 2023/24 season, Ulreich made just two appearances last year.
Injuries to both Neuer and Ulreich forced Ulreich into action for the very first time this year on Saturday. The former Stuttgart and Hamburger SV player copped to having some rust. After he was able to shake that off, his teammates and bosses had plenty of praise for him.
“Being there for us today when we needed him is just incredible,” FCB fullback Josip Stanisic noted in the mixed zone. “Huge compliments to Ulle. Anyone who knows his journey and his story as the number two at Bayern knows that he’s not just an outstanding footballer. He’ an amazing guy. I wish him nothing more than happiness in his life.”
“It’s just great for Ulle, who’s always there in training, always there for Manu, and has always given his all for Jonas,” Bayern board-member-for-sport Max Eberl added. “Today he was in the spotlight and did a very, very good job.”
“Playing in a game is very different than in training,” Ulreich himself said. “It takes a little while to settle into a groove, but in the end I was plugged into the game. Both guys [Neuer and Urbig] texted me before the game, were happy that I got to play today, and wished me good luck.”
“I can envision maybe staying on for another year,” Ulreich said of his future plans, adding of his immediate near term prospects. “[Jonas] is on track and may be able to play on Wednesday, so we’ll see.“
