Manuel Neuer oldest FC Bayern Bundesliga player record, Digi Mart USA News: Manuel Neuer became the oldest player ever to appear in the Bundesliga for FC Bayern Munich with his appearance against FSV Mainz 05. At 40 years and 225 days, he surpassed the previous record holder, Bernd Dreher, who was 40 years and 198 days old.
Dreher played for the Munich club with an interruption from 1996 to 2008 and served as a second or third keeper at the time. In total, the now 60-year-old made only 15 competitive appearances for FC Bayern.
Across all clubs in the Bundesliga, Neuer moved up to a tie for sixth place with Mirko Votava of Werder Bremen. Ahead of him remain Edin Dzeko, Claudio Pizarro, Toni Schumacher, Uli Stein and record holder Klaus Fichtel, who played his last match in 1988 at the age of 43 years and 184 days.
Neuer’s contract with FC Bayern expires at the end of the season, and he is expected to end his career then. If he plays in the Bundesliga’s final matchday, he would become the sixth-oldest player in league history, provided Dzeko, who is just ahead of him and still active, continues to play.
In recent months Neuer has dealt with various health problems, and most recently a foot injury sidelined him. After three games out, he made his comeback on Tuesday in a 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid.
The Mainz match was Neuer’s ninth appearance this season. In the other seven competitive matches, Jonas Urbig deputized for him.
The 23-year-old is regarded as his designated successor at FC Bayern and presumably also in the German national team. Neuer had retired from the national team for a second time after the disappointing World Cup in the summer.
