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"My first..." with Manuel Neuer: Tears after conceding

Firsts, premieres and debuts – even Germany internationals and World Champions started small. How? Where? When Why? Their first coach, their first position, their first goal, their first title – every day over the next week or so, a DFB-Team player will name their top ten personal firsts here on DFB.de. Today it's the turn of Manuel Neuer.

My first kit: I was given it before I was with a club. I always wore it when we were playing in the garden. I couldn’t tell you much more about the kit, but it was colourful.

My first club: Schalke 04, I was four-years-old when I started going there. My father wanted to me to join either SSV Buer or SC Hassel. He thought I was crazy for wanting to go there but I managed to convince him in the end.

My first coach: Mr Bösdorfer. I don’t remember too much about him, but he had a big influence on my career: He put me in goal for the first time.

My first game: I played in an indoor tournament in Westerwald. I don’t remember how many goals I conceded, but I had to keep fighting back the tears. My father was stood behind the goal and told me to pull myself together!

My first role model: I had quite a few as a kid. In terms of tennis I liked Boris Becker. My first footballing role models were Ingo Anderbrügge and Mike Büskens. My goalkeeping heroes were Jens Lehmann and Edwin van der Sar.

My first title: I’m not too sure. But my team won the local and city championships. My first trip to a stadium: It was a Schalke game. My father was a policeman and worked at the games. Sometimes he took me with him. The police were positioned in a cabin under the roof at the Parkstadion so they could check on the fans. I saw my first Bundesliga game there. The first game that I remember was a Friday night match against Wattenscheid.

My first Bundesliga game: It was against Alemannia Aachen and we won 1-0. It goes without saying that it was a perfect debut for me.



Firsts, premieres and debuts – even Germany internationals and World Champions started small. How? Where? When Why? Their first coach, their first position, their first goal, their first title – every day over the next week or so, a DFB-Team player will name their top ten personal firsts here on DFB.de. Today it's the turn of Manuel Neuer.

My first kit: I was given it before I was with a club. I always wore it when we were playing in the garden. I couldn’t tell you much more about the kit, but it was colourful.

My first club: Schalke 04, I was four-years-old when I started going there. My father wanted to me to join either SSV Buer or SC Hassel. He thought I was crazy for wanting to go there but I managed to convince him in the end.

My first coach: Mr Bösdorfer. I don’t remember too much about him, but he had a big influence on my career: He put me in goal for the first time.

My first game: I played in an indoor tournament in Westerwald. I don’t remember how many goals I conceded, but I had to keep fighting back the tears. My father was stood behind the goal and told me to pull myself together!

My first role model: I had quite a few as a kid. In terms of tennis I liked Boris Becker. My first footballing role models were Ingo Anderbrügge and Mike Büskens. My goalkeeping heroes were Jens Lehmann and Edwin van der Sar.

My first title: I’m not too sure. But my team won the local and city championships. My first trip to a stadium: It was a Schalke game. My father was a policeman and worked at the games. Sometimes he took me with him. The police were positioned in a cabin under the roof at the Parkstadion so they could check on the fans. I saw my first Bundesliga game there. The first game that I remember was a Friday night match against Wattenscheid.

My first Bundesliga game: It was against Alemannia Aachen and we won 1-0. It goes without saying that it was a perfect debut for me.

My first professional goal: I have clear memories of it, but not necessarily happy ones: I scored a penalty in the 2012 Champions League Final shootout against Chelsea. I’ve assisted a few goals though, with my throws and long balls, I think I have seven at the moment.

My first international: It was a tour match against the United Arab Emirates and it was crazy. We won 7-2. I played well, even though I conceded twice.