So, Bayern Munich is still in the process of finding the successor to the great Manuel Neuer. The 38-year-old is slowly being replaced but the Bavarians are having a harder time than usual to find his heir. How do you even replace Neuer? That’s the thing: you can’t. Any goalkeeper that comes next will not feel the same ever, but he must be able to get the job done. For that, I pick Bayern youth player Tom Ritzy Hülsmann.
I’m sure you’ve seen me lobby this idea for some time now. What stands out about him (no pun intended) is that he is an eye-watering 2.05 meters tall or 6’ 9”. For context, Neuer is 1.93m/6’ 4”, Thibaut Courtois is 1.99m/6’ 6”, Gregor Kobel is 1.95m/6’ 5”, and Peter Crouch stands at 2.01m/6’ 7”. I think you now have an idea of how tall Ritzy is (for some reason he prefers to be called that).
Now, Bayern could easily look at established goalkeepers because they could not afford to wait for an up-and-coming goalkeeper to become the finished product. Are they forgetting that between 2008 (when Oliver Kahn retired) and 2011 (when Neuer was signed from Schalke), the club had to make do with an unproven Michael Rensing and an ancient Hans-Jörg Butt in goal? It’s a good thing that Ritzy is out on loan because he’ll need the experience once he comes back.
If you’re still on the fence about it, he’s apparently having a good season in Austria:
Tom Ritzy Hülsmann with a strong season so far with Austrian second-division side St. Pölten.
The loan ends at the end of the season, and his contract with FC Bayern runs until 2026.
His future is completely open, with talks set to follow. The 20-year-old has received offers… pic.twitter.com/O4r1Wkb168
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) December 29, 2024
Tom Ritzy Hülsmann with a strong season so far with Austrian second-division side St. Pölten.
The loan ends at the end of the season, and his contract with FC Bayern runs until 2026.
His future is completely open, with talks set to follow. The 20-year-old has received offers from higher-level clubs in Austria and Germany. One to watch in the next months.
Neuer will take a reduced role next year, ditto Sven Ulreich (who knows maybe the two of them will become goalkeeper coaches); while Alexander Nübel and Ritzy share minutes in goal.
