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From Turek to Neuer: "Good goalkeepers create more good goalkeepers"

Only a few penalty saves separated World Goalkeeper of the Year Manuel Neuer and his Italian counterpart Gianluigi Buffon during the thrilling quarterfinal penalty shootout. But Neuer’s greatness is nothing new, as he continues the tradition of exceptional German goalkeepers. The World Goalkeeper of the Year award has existed since 1987, with the winner coming from Germany seven times since then: Andreas Köpke (1996), Oliver Kahn (1999, 2001, 2002), Manuel Neuer, 2013, 2014, 2015.

Germany is the land of the goalkeepers. For generations now, indeed almost since the game was invented. With Marc-André ter Stegen and Bernd Leno, the Germany squad is blessed with two more exceptional goalkeepers waiting in reserve; all three of them trained by Andreas Köpke himself. In an interview with DFB.de, the 54-year-old talks about Germany’s constant stream of top goalkeepers and the duties of a goalkeeping coach.

DFB.de: Mr Köpke, can you explain why Germany keeps producing so many fantastic goalkeepers?

Andreas Köpke: One part of the explanation is that good goalkeepers create more good goalkeepers. There have always been role models that subsequent generations have been able to look up to. Obviously the likes of Toni Turek, Bert Trautmann, Hans Tilkowski, Sepp Maier and Toni Schumacher spring to mind. Perhaps my name also belongs there and then came Oliver Kahn, Jens Lehmann and now Manuel Neuer.

DFB.de: Role models create new role models. Is that it?

Köpke: No. A significant reason is also the generally very good promotion of young players through the DFB pyramid and Bundesliga club academies. If I look at how far developed the goalkeepers in the U15s age group are – with their handling, their positional play and their footballing ability – it’s amazing.

DFB.de: When you started out as a goalkeeper there was no specific training for goalkeepers. When did that change for you?

Köpke: 1986 in Nürnberg. I benefited a lot from Manni Müller during my development. He understood my game and knew what areas I needed to work on. His training was a lot more complex, his observations a lot more useful.



Only a few penalty saves separated World Goalkeeper of the Year Manuel Neuer and his Italian counterpart Gianluigi Buffon during the thrilling quarterfinal penalty shootout. But Neuer’s greatness is nothing new, as he continues the tradition of exceptional German goalkeepers. The World Goalkeeper of the Year award has existed since 1987, with the winner coming from Germany seven times since then: Andreas Köpke (1996), Oliver Kahn (1999, 2001, 2002), Manuel Neuer, 2013, 2014, 2015.

Germany is the land of the goalkeepers. For generations now, indeed almost since the game was invented. With Marc-André ter Stegen and Bernd Leno, the Germany squad is blessed with two more exceptional goalkeepers waiting in reserve; all three of them trained by Andreas Köpke himself. In an interview with DFB.de, the 54-year-old talks about Germany’s constant stream of top goalkeepers and the duties of a goalkeeping coach.

DFB.de: Mr Köpke, can you explain why Germany keeps producing so many fantastic goalkeepers?

Andreas Köpke: One part of the explanation is that good goalkeepers create more good goalkeepers. There have always been role models that subsequent generations have been able to look up to. Obviously the likes of Toni Turek, Bert Trautmann, Hans Tilkowski, Sepp Maier and Toni Schumacher spring to mind. Perhaps my name also belongs there and then came Oliver Kahn, Jens Lehmann and now Manuel Neuer.

DFB.de: Role models create new role models. Is that it?

Köpke: No. A significant reason is also the generally very good promotion of young players through the DFB pyramid and Bundesliga club academies. If I look at how far developed the goalkeepers in the U15s age group are – with their handling, their positional play and their footballing ability – it’s amazing.

DFB.de: When you started out as a goalkeeper there was no specific training for goalkeepers. When did that change for you?

Köpke: 1986 in Nürnberg. I benefited a lot from Manni Müller during my development. He understood my game and knew what areas I needed to work on. His training was a lot more complex, his observations a lot more useful.

DFB.de: Müller himself played in the Bundesliga as a goalkeeper. How important is it that goalkeeping coaches themselves were good goalkeepers?

Köpke: Goalkeeping training, the classic leading of exercises, is something that a coach can do without having been a keeper himself. But he is less capable of assessing when a goalkeeper is standing correctly, how he should move towards the ball, how good his handling is, how he throws the ball. These things are decisive, therefore I think you have to have been a goalkeeper yourself in order to work at a high level.

DFB.de: When you compare the training you received in your time at Nürnberg with what is on offer today, how different is it?

Köpke: There is a lot more variety to training today, mainly because the goalkeeper’s role has changed so much and the footballing elements have become a lot more important. Previously, training was all about explosivity and bounce, so we spent a lot of time in the sandpit. 90 minutes of that and you were absolutely knackered. We still have these elements today, but in smaller doses and more targeted. We also have completely different training methods available to us now.

DFB.de: Which you yourself have contributed to. You designed a rebound-wall with different angles.

Köpke: That’s just one example. It’s so important that training has variety and that you can always offer something different. That’s why I am always trying out new things.

DFB.de: So, goalkeeper coaches have to have been good goalkeepers. What else must they be able to do?

Köpke: They have to develop a good connection with their goalkeepers. They must be good didactically, the need to be able to communicate things well. Another thing is that not all good goalkeepers are destined to becoming good goalkeeping coaches.

DFB.de: You taught yourself a lot. There was no training to become a goalkeeper coach.

Köpke: That has changed now. The DFB offers goalkeeping coach performance courses. Our goal for the near future is that coaches must hold a goalkeeping coaches licence if they want to work in the Bundesliga. The importance of goalkeeper coaches will only increase. I imagine it will develop to the point where a second goalkeeping coach becomes the norm.

DFB.de: Do you have any key advice for young goalkeepers?

Köpke: It’s important that the goalkeepers gain experience playing outfield in their early years. Obviously they need receive the appropriate goalkeeper coaching, but not exclusively. At youth level it is important that goalkeepers get a feel for the space on the pitch, that they develop an understanding of the game, and that they learn to control and pass with both feet, especially under pressure.