HONOURED IN FRONT OF THOUSAND FANS: FAREWELL FOR THE DFB HEROES

Honored in front of over 60,000 fans: Gündogan, Neuer and Müller (from left) say “Adieu”.

A final “Servus” for the world champions: DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, Sports Director Rudi Völler, and more than 60,000 fans bid farewell to four great German footballers before the Nations League match against the Netherlands. It was an easy bet to win that so many fans would come to say goodbye. The 2014 World Cup winners Manuel Neuer and Thomas Müller, like former captain Ilkay Gündogan, were honored in their sporting home of Munich with a massive choreography in the south curve: “Legends. Thanks for everything, lads.” Neuer and Müller then got the team fired up for the game.

A tribute to Toni Kroos was also planned before the two national anthems, but he canceled. He was on the pitch with children in his youth academy and was also mentioned and featured in a short film. The association is considering a farewell during another international match.

Former members of the functional team also bid farewell

Between them, Neuer, Müller, Kroos, and Gündogan have played 451 international matches. They all ended their international careers after the home European Championships in the summer, with Kroos even hanging up his boots completely.

Former members of the functional team were also bid farewell in the run-up to the game: Team psychologist Hans-Dieter Hermann, physiotherapist Wolfgang Bunz, team manager Thomas Beheshti, press coordinator Uli Voigt and adidas employee Christian Staatz.

The match is followed by a party in the Allianz Arena with 300 guests, including Joachim Löw. “Party, I don’t know exactly whether it will be a party or a get-together of old grandees,” said Müller. “We all have to go to work on Tuesday.” Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann expected it to be “emotional once again.”

ON WHO YOU SHOULD KEEP AN EYE

Goalkeeper Oliver Baumann’s appearance against the Netherlands has shaken up the ranking of the oldest DFB debutants. At 34 years and 134 days old, he immediately lands on the “podium” – third place. He deserved it long ago, because in another ranking the Hoffenheim man is the uncrowned king: he sat on the bench 26 times in international matches before making his debut. No DFB international has ever had to wait so long (in terms of appearances).

Karl Sesta from Vienna has held the lead in the debutant rankings since June 15, 1941. He was already 35 years and 89 days old when he scored in the 5-1 win over Croatia in the middle of the war. However, he had already played 44 times for Austria, which was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938. The runner-up also dates back to the time before the Bundesliga was founded. Düsseldorf’s Matthias “Mattes” Mauritz, then with Fortuna in the Oberliga West, played his only international match against Poland on May 20, 1959, at the age of 34 years and 188 days. Baumann is now in third place and number one in his specialty of goalkeeping. Roman Weidenfeller (33/105) has held this position since November 19, 2013.

The “top ten” oldest debutants:

1. Karl Sesta (Austria Vienna) 35 years/89 days; debut on June 15, 1941 against Croatia

2. Matthias Mauritz (Fortuna Düsseldorf) 34/189; debut on May 20, 1959 against Poland

3. Oliver Baumann (TSG Hoffenheim) 34/134; debut on October 14, 2024 against the    

   Netherlands

4. Karl Tewes (Viktoria Berlin) 34/39; debut on September 26, 1920 against Austria

5. Martin Max (1860 Munich) 33/253; debut on April 17, 2002 against Argentina

6. Paul Steiner (1. FC Köln) 33/127; debut on May 30, 1990 against Denmark

7. Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund) 33/105; debut on November 19, 2013 against  

   England

8. Rudolf Leip (Guts Muths Dresden) 33/65; debut on August 12, 1923 against Finland

9. Kurt Borkenhagen (Fortuna Düsseldorf) 32/280; debut on October 5, 1952 against France

10. Kevin Behrens (Union Berlin) 32/257; debut on October 18, 2023 against Mexico

Naturally, none of them went on to have great, let alone long, careers. Tewes made the most appearances (six), while Mauritz, Borkenhagen, and Steiner made their debuts and retirements simultaneously.

For the DFB women, debutants over 30 were an absolute rarity – only four. Two of them would probably have worn the eagle much earlier if they had been born later. When the national team made its first appearance in November 1982, coach Gero Bisanz did not want to do without two experienced players who still top the rankings today: Anne Trabant-Haarbach, the first female DFB captain, and Gaby Dlugi-Winterberg, achieved international honors shortly before their 34th birthdays. The other two over-30 players played in the German goal, Ann-Kathrin Berger still does.

The oldest debutants:

1. Gaby Dlugi-Winterberg (SSG Bergisch-Gladbach) 33 years/346 days; debut on November  

   10, 1982, against Switzerland

2. Anne Trabant-Haarbach (SSG Bergisch-Gladbach) 33 years/314 days; debut on  

   November 10, 1982, against Switzerland

3. Petra Melka (FSV Frankfurt) 32/150; debut on May 2, 1984 against Italy

4. Ann-Kathrin Berger (Chelsea FC) 30/53; debut on December 1, 2020, against Ireland