“It won’t be number one in the long run” – Lehmann and Kahn have doubts about Urbig

Former national goalkeeper Jens Lehmann does not see Jonas Urbig as a future regular goalkeeper at FC Bayern.

"I don't think he will be number one at Bayern Munich in the long term because he is too young," said Lehmann in the Sky program "Triple - the Hagedorn football talk" and then added: "He is a great talent, but as a rule it is difficult to become number one yourself as number two in the comfortable slipstream of a world-class number one."

The 23-year-old Urbig is set to succeed Manuel Neuer at Munich and is getting more and more match practice.

"He plays every now and then, but there's still something like his father. He's still there, he puts out a fire sometimes, but otherwise he can develop here. It's something completely different when he suddenly has to play every game. Or maybe there's someone there who you also sign up, who gives him fire and also wants to play," said Lehmann.

Ex-Bayern keeper Oliver Kahn is also still skeptical.

"Being number one means there is no Manuel Neuer anymore and you have complete responsibility. That's a completely different situation. As long as the constellation is like that, I can't tell you whether Jonas Urbig really has the quality to be number one at Bayern Munich," said the 2002 World Cup runner-up, who attested to Urbig's "good games" and talent.

Urbig has been playing for Bayern since January 2025 and recently made his national team debut under Jürgen Klopp. Lehmann is also still skeptical in this regard: "I don't think he can immediately become number one in the national team. I think he will have to take another detour."

The talk also addressed the question of whether Neuer should have ended his career already.

Kahn said from his own experience: "When you turn 36, 37, 38 - I've experienced this myself - the body needs longer to regenerate. A mistake happens here and there. The mental thing, this constant running at 100 percent. At some point you can't manage it anymore, even if you want to."

Kahn's conclusion: "And then you get into the discussion. And you can save yourself this discussion, which has arisen especially in the current situation around Neuer. At some point you have to decide for yourself, what is more important to me now: pursuing my passion for as long as possible or saying: No, I want to step down at the point where people say that he can actually do another two or three years. And at some point, and I can see that coming now, it is no longer your own decision, but the decision others.”

Neuer had extended his contract until the summer of 2027 and returned to goal for the national team in the summer - with the exit in the round of 16, the comeback was not very successful.