Germany's Next Goalkeepers: Matthäus' Blueprint

Lothar Matthäus has drawn up the first rough blueprint for Germany’s next goalkeeping era – and it is anything but straightforward.

In his Sky column, the record international named four front-runners for Jürgen Klopp’s first Germany squad, with one name towering over the debate: Marc-André ter Stegen. Now at Ajax on loan, the 34-year-old could, in Matthäus’ eyes, finally step into the space that Manuel Neuer’s latest retirement has left behind.

Matthäus wrote that he assumes ter Stegen “will definitely be involved” and called him a genuine contender for the number one shirt – provided he keeps delivering in Amsterdam. The message is clear: if the performances hold, the door to the Germany goal is wide open again.

Urbig as the long-term project

Short term, ter Stegen. Long term, Jonas Urbig.

For Matthäus, Bayern Munich’s understudy is the man the DFB must “build up” to become the clear first choice at future tournaments. Neuer is expected to be in his final year; behind him, Urbig is learning in the most demanding environment German football can offer.

“In terms of age, he is the one who can play in the most tournaments,” Matthäus argued. It is a simple calculation: groom him now, reap the benefits for a decade.

He also highlighted Schalke 04’s Loris Karius and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Noah Atubolu as serious options in the coming cycle.

Around that core, Matthäus sees a wider pack of contenders. He estimated that seven or eight keepers are realistically in the frame for a call-up. Alexander Nübel at Besiktas, Finn Dahmen at Augsburg, Freiburg’s Mio Backhaus and Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann are all part of the discussion that has gathered pace since Neuer’s second exit from the national team.

Karius: from Kyiv trauma to Germany chance?

The most striking name in Matthäus’ list is Karius. Not because of his ability – that was never in doubt – but because of the story attached to him.

“Karius, above all, has a good chance” of a call-up if selection is based strictly on performance, Matthäus wrote. Last season, the Schalke keeper was “outstanding in goal” and played a major part in the club’s promotion. He then backed it up in the Bundesliga, including a commanding display in a 0-0 draw against Bayern Munich.

The pressure finally told in a positive way. Karius, once defined by his mistakes, is now being talked about for his saves again.

Matthäus was clear on one thing: “The past he experienced with Klopp in Liverpool should stay in the drawer.” That “past” needs no long retelling. Karius was Liverpool’s regular goalkeeper under Klopp until 2018, when two serious errors in the Champions League final against Real Madrid effectively ended his Anfield career and cost his team the trophy.

Loans to Besiktas and Union Berlin followed. His relationship with Klopp cooled during his time in Istanbul, according to a report by kicker, and he never played for the Liverpool manager again. In 2022, he left the club on a free transfer.

In January 2025, he signed for Schalke. That move has turned into a stroke of luck for all sides: the club gained a reliable, experienced goalkeeper; Karius gained a stage to rebuild his reputation. Now his name sits back in the national-team conversation, and under Klopp of all people.

Ter Stegen’s unfinished Germany story

While Karius fights to re-enter the elite, ter Stegen is battling a different kind of frustration. His Germany career has been defined by waiting – and then watching.

For years he lived in Neuer’s shadow, the permanent number two at major tournaments. Injuries then disrupted his rhythm just when the starting spot seemed within reach. He never began a major tournament as Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper.

He had been earmarked as the number one for the 2026 World Cup, only for Neuer to reverse his DFB retirement and reclaim the shirt. Ter Stegen’s body then intervened again. Fitness problems cost him his place at Barcelona, dropping him down the pecking order.

A long-running saga ended in a back operation and a winter loan to Girona, where a thigh injury struck and stalled his progress again. In the summer, he moved on loan to Ajax until the end of the season, seeking continuity and a platform.

The numbers so far are mixed. Ter Stegen has conceded 11 goals in seven matches and made a notable mistake in the Conference League play-offs. His contract at Barcelona runs until 2028, but his future there is effectively over.

One thing seems certain: if he is to return to the Germany squad under Klopp, it will almost certainly have to be as a guaranteed starter. After years as a deputy, another tournament as a back-up is unlikely to tempt him.

Klopp’s first Germany squad: XXL and under the microscope

All of this plays out against the backdrop of Klopp’s debut as national coach. Germany open their Nations League campaign with a high-profile away trip to the Netherlands, and reports suggest Klopp is considering an XXL squad for the start of his tenure.

Four matches will frame his first international window: the trip to the Netherlands, two games against Greece, and a home fixture against Serbia. That schedule gives him room to experiment, to look at several goalkeepers, and to send early signals about hierarchy.

Neuer has stepped away again. Ter Stegen is searching for one last shot. Urbig is being positioned as the future. Karius is writing an unlikely second act.

Somewhere in that crowded goalkeeping landscape, Klopp must decide who will stand in Germany’s goal when his new era truly begins.