Who will be Germany’s new number 1?

After Manuel Neuer’s international retirement and Marc-André ter Stegen’s longterm injury, Germany are still looking for a (shortterm) successor in goal. Julian Nagelsmann now wants to make a decision between Stuttgart’s Alexander Nübel and Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann.

Manuel Neuer? – retired. Marc-André ter Stegen? – injured. Which player will now be the goalkeeper of the German national team? This question will be answered when Germany play Italy in the Nations League on March 20th and 23rd.

“At this moment in time, we plan on having 1 goalkeeper for both games – and therefore stop the rotation in the goalkeeping postion”, 

said DFB coach Julian Nagelsmann after the latest selection for the upcoming games.

It seemed like Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann was ahead of Stuttgart’s Alexander Nübel in the pecking order; however, Baumann just came back from an injury and might need more time to get back to full strength.

Nübel has the advantage of having played internationally this season with his club Stuttgart – can this factor be the deciding one? Nagelsmann did not want to comment further on this topic:

“We will talk with the players first. After that, I will let everybody else know.”

There are outside chances for Manchester City’s Stefan Ortega for the number one spot, but they are very small. He was not able to gain a regular starting spot in Pep Guardiola’s team – something Nagelsmann vaues highly when it comes to his own first team selection.

1. Baumann’s stats in 2024/25: 31 games, 7 games without conceding a goal, 51 goals conceded.
2. Nübel’s stats in 2024/25: 37 games, 7 games without conceding a goal, 56 goals conceded.
3. Ortega’s stats in 2024/25: 15 games, 4 games without conceding, 20 goals conceded.