Gelsenkirchen, a city in western Germany, is known not only for its expansive zoo with polar bears but also as the hometown of one of Germany’s greatest goalkeepers, Manuel Neuer. Manuel, the son of Marita and Peter Neuer, comes from a German family deeply rooted in football. From an early age, the sports culture was strong in his household. While Neuer aspired to be a goalkeeper, his brother Marcel pursued a career as a football referee in the Verbandsliga.
Neuer’s path to success wasn’t easy; he had to undergo three surgeries on his face to treat skin cancer. Today, he is widely regarded as one of most influential and greatest goalkeepers in the history of the sport. Let’s delve deeper into the story of this “sweeper-keeper,” nicknamed “Snapper.”
Behind His Goalkeeping Greatness: The Story of Manuel Neuer
Explore the complete story of the German shot stopper famously known as ‘Snapper’. Our Manuel Neuer Childhood Story plus Untold Biography Facts provides a comprehensive account of significant events from his early years to the present day.
This analysis covers his life before fame, family background, and numerous lesser-known facts both on and off the pitch.
Yes, everyone knows that Neuer is a modern goalkeeper, often regarded by the media as the best goalkeeper in the world today and one of the greatest of all time. However, few have delved into Manuel Neuer’s biography, which is quite fascinating. Now, without further ado, let’s begin.
Manuel Neuer Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:
For Biography starters, The Legendary Goalkeeper, Manuel Peter Neuer, was born on the 27th day of March, the year 1986, in Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Ilkay Gundogan and Mesut Özil were also born in Gelsenkirchen.
The German Goalkeeper was born to his mother, Marita Neuer, and his father, Peter Neuer. Little Manuel, as pictured below, was raised in a Catholic home. Also, Manuel Neuer’s family are proud members of the Gelsenkirchen-based Catholic Church.
This is Manuel Neuer as a Child, looking so adorable.
Did you know?… Manuel attended Gesamtschule Berger Feld, like many other notable footballers, such as Mesut Özil and Malick Thiaw.
Neuer got his first football when he was two and had his first game on the 3rd day of March 1991, 24 days before his fifth birthday.
He grew up learning from his hero and idol, fellow German and former Schalke goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.
Neuer was raised to be a goalkeeper by Schalke.
In their hometown streets, Manuel and his brother spent hours daily playing, often at the expense of their studies.
As he grew older, Manuel’s passion for the game only grew stronger, leading him to join the Gesamtschule Berger Feld youth football system.
He grew up in their goalkeeping ranks in less than a year before being called upon by Schalke 04 still in the year 1991.
This game gave Manuel the opportunity to meet his idol and former Arsenal goalkeeper, Jens Lehmann.
As he played in the youth system of Schalke, Manuel performed well beyond everybody’s expectations.
The club’s coach began to focus on Manuel’s game and helped him hone his skills, leading to steady improvement. By the time he was in school, Manuel had already reached a professional level as a goalkeeper.
On June 1, 2011, Schalke and Bayern Munich confirmed Neuer’s transfer to Bayern, valued at approximately €22 million. Initially, some Bayern fans expressed discontent over signing a former Schalke player.
A round-table discussion between Bayern and representatives of the supporters took place on July 2, 2011. It was agreed that Manuel Neuer would be fully integrated into the FC Bayern Munich team and treated with respect, ending any hostility toward him. Soon after, Neuer began to set new records for Bayern Munich.
He won the most competitive clean sheets in a row, having gone over 1,000 minutes without conceding. He improved on the record formerly held by Oliver Kahn. Without a doubt, Manuel stands alongside Gianluigi Donnarumma and Mike Maignan as one of the most likable goalkeepers of their generation.
The rest, as they say, is now history.
Who is Kathrin Gilch? Manuel Neuer’s Wife:
Once upon a time, it seemed as if Manuel Neuer was going to grow old with Kathrin Gilch (a model and hairdresser), but their relationship ended in 2014. Below is a photo of the two once-in-a-time love birds.
Kathrin Gilch and her husband, Manuel.
In 2015, the goalie for the German national team presented his new girlfriend, Nina Weiss, after his split. His frequent outings with her in public places confirmed their relationship.
Manuel started going out with Nina that the moment he was still legally married to Kathrin Gilch, with whom he had been together for five years.
After he met pretty Nina, Kathrin still accompanied the goalkeeper to Brazil for the World Championship.
Even though Kathrin got severely into a cheerful mood, Manuel felt unloved. His feeling for her wasn’t there as he oftentimes struggled to get along with her.
After a few months, his their love was really over, and both parties broke up. Kathrin announced in a rather formal way that she had ‘divorced Mister Neuer’, and everything was now publicly confirmed.
Gilch was not allowed to give any further details, as they, according to Bild, had agreed with Manuel Neuer to pay her a monthly financial contribution for her secrecy about their breakup. It appears very much so, however, that Nina Weiss played a part in the failure of their marriage.
Manuel’s new girlfriend, Nina, hails from Berlin and was studying at the School of Economics and Law when she met Neuer.
Neuer, for the first time, appeared together with pretty blonde Nina Weiss on the red carpet in a gale for the Aids Foundation, hosted by Nina’s father, who is a millionaire.
The lovebirds had been sighted together before, at the famous FC Bayern Oktoberfest, but were not yet ready to confirm their relationship back then.
Nevertheless, she is a loyal follower of his games and sparkles in the stands with her beautiful smile.
The couple had a beautiful wedding in 2017, celebrating their union in the picturesque Adriatic town of Monopoli, located in the Italian province of Bari.
An important detail about his wedding was that the German goalkeeper was on crutches due to a broken foot at the time. Nonetheless, Neuer radiated happiness as he and Weiss posed for photos afterward.
In attendance at the ceremony was his close friend and 2014 World Cup winner Mario Gotze, accompanied by his model ex-girlfriend Ann-Kathrin Brommel.
It was painful for her to attend the wedding of her ex-lover. Many fans of Manuel appreciate Kathrin’s maturity and still remember memories of their good old love days, as seen below.
Manuel Neuer Family Life:
Starting off, Manuel Neuer came from a middle-class family background before football investments paid off for him and his loved ones. He has a very close resemblance to his father, Peter Neuer.
Peter Neuer and his son, Manuel.
Manuel Neuer’s mother, Marita Neuer, pictured below, looks older than Peter, her husband.
It’s still surprising, as many of his fans still don’t know this. Manuel Neuer’s brother, Marcel, is currently a football referee in the Verbandsliga, a tier-six football league in the German football league system. Below is a photo of Manuel and his soft brother, Marcel Neuer.
This is Manuel Neuer’s brother. His name is Marcel, and he is a football referee.
Neuer needs to be cautious when playing football, especially since his brother Marcel referees in the German lower league, Verbandsliga.
Manuel Neuer Personal Life:
Neuer has the following attributes to his personality.
Manuel Neuer’s Strengths: He is courageous like Marc-André ter Stegen, determined, confident, enthusiastic, optimistic, honest and passionate.
Neuer’s Weaknesses:Â He could be impatient, moody, short-tempered, impulsive and very aggressive.
Manuel Neuer likes:Â He loves comfortable clothes, taking on leadership roles, physical challenges and individual sports.
What Manuel Neuer dislikes:Â He dislikes inactivity, delays and any work that does not use one’s talents.
In essence, Manuel is energetic and turbulent. He loves competition and to be the first in everything – from work to social gatherings.
Millionaire Game:
Manuel Neuer is a prominent celebrity in Germany and has even appeared on ‘Wer wird Millionär’, the German version of ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’. The winnings from his appearance were directly donated to the Manuel Neuer Kids Foundation, supporting underprivileged children in the Ruhr region.
Nicknames:
Neuer is often labeled a “sweeper-keeper” due to his distinctive playing style, characterized by his speed in rushing off the goal line to anticipate opponents. He is renowned for his quick reflexes, exceptional shot-stopping abilities, strength, long throwing range, commanding presence in the box, and precise control and distribution of the ball.
Manuel Neuer Untold Biography Facts – His Hobbie:
This is one of Manuel Neuer’s hobbies you might not know about.
Football isn’t the only game Neuer loves. Manuel also enjoys skiing and tennis, which he practised until he was 14 and adores his counterpart and Tennis great Boris Becker. His favourite sports brand is Adidas.
Manuel Neuer Charity:
Neuer is a Goalkeeper with a heart of pure gold, known for his generous donations to charity. He has even established his own foundation, the Manuel Neuer Kids Foundation, which supports underprivileged children in the Ruhr region. The foundation also provides sports equipment to promising young athletes who cannot afford it.
Manuel Neuer Idol:
Germany has had iconic goalkeepers like Bodo Illgner and Oliver Kahn, but Neuer’s all-time favourite is former Arsenal player Jens Lehmann. He even regards Lehmann as the greatest goalkeeper ever.
Fact Check:
Thank you for reading Manuel Neuer’s childhood story and untold biography facts.
We strive for accuracy and fairness in delivering German football stories. You might also be interested in Kevin Schade‘s life history. If you notice any inaccuracies in this article, please leave a comment or contact us!
