Kahn advises Neuer to set a retirement date

Oliver Kahn believes Manuel Neuer would be wise to set a firm date for his retirement from football.

Manuel Neuer, who turns 39 next March, announced his international retirement after last summer’s European Championship.

But while he’s not getting any younger, he’s given no indication that he’s thinking about hanging up his gloves just yet.

Former Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn has now weighed in, suggesting that Neuer’s international retirement has had a major impact and advising the 38-year-old to set a clear date for his retirement.

“I know this from my own career: He was used to having the aura of being number one in the national team for years and defending it. The moment you lose that is not easy, especially psychologically,” Kahn told Sport Bild.

“You fall into a hole and ask yourself: ‘What is the goal now, what can I still achieve? That’s why I’m not surprised that Manuel hasn’t produced the performances we’ve come to expect from him in every game this season. He is still capable of playing at world-class level. It’s a big challenge on a consistent basis. He needs to set himself a clear goal.

“When I retired from the national team in 2006, I made it clear to FC Bayern, but also to myself: two more years, then it’s over. That helped me and the club. Everyone knew exactly what was going on. And that was also an incentive for me. I was able to draw motivation from that clear goal. Until then, I wanted to win a lot and finish on a high and honorable note. Nobody wants to be whistled out at the end of their career,” said Kahn.

Neuer is reportedly keen to extend his expiring contract with Bayern for another year. But Kahn can think of a scenario that would make it the “perfect time” for Neuer to hang up his gloves a season earlier.

“If Bayern manage to win the Champions League in Munich in May 2025, that would be the perfect time!”