Dortmund [Germany], August 23 (ANI): Germany and Bayern Munich legend Manuel Neuer hinted at retiring from professional football at the end of the new 2026-27 season following his side's DFL Supercup title win over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
Bayern Munich started off the season with a bang, with Michael Olise starring in their 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in the DFL Supercup on Saturday. Olise scored one and assisted in the other, continuing his great run across club and international football as he guided Bayern to their first title of the season.
"Could be, could be," he told SAT.1 according to Goal.com, when asked after the win if it was his last Super Cup interview.
Asked again if it would mark the end of his professional football career at the end of this season, the 40-year-old said that while the focus is on enjoying the sport, he "does believe that this can be the last one".
"Now is the time to enjoy everything once again. Then I will see how the season goes. But basically, I do believe that this can be the last one," said Neuer.
This hardly comes as a surprise from Neuer, who came out of international retirement to wear German colours once again in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but retired once again after their shock round of 32 exit. In the pre-season training at Tegernsee, the goalie had indicated that he would not be extending his deal with the German giants, which runs till 2027.
"I do not play the matches to say: This is my last match now - regardless of whether I may have been in one stadium or another for the last time. But it does look very much like I am retiring!," he had said.
Bayern arrived at the competition as the title defenders and had beaten RB Leipzig 3-1 in their final pre-season game. They had won five of their six pre-season games. Dortmund, on the other hand, had earned a 2-2 draw with Roma in their last pre-season match with Roma. They had won three, lost two and drawn one of their pre-season fixtures.
New signings made debuts for both teams, with Nathaniel Brown making his first competitive start for Bayern and Konstantinos Karetsas and Joane Gadou starting off for Dortmund.
Bayern set the tempo right from the first minute, controlling possession well and continuing to press Dortmund players well, with Olise being a consistent source of trouble for the opposition in the right flank, winning four corners.
Aleksandar Pavlovic tested Gregor Kobel with a shot from the edge of the box in the 14th minute, while Harry Kane and Joshua Kimmich both had efforts blocked shortly after. In the 28th minute, the breakthrough goal arrived for Bayern. Olise got the ball inside Dortmund's area, and after he was tackled, the ball fell to Brown at the edge of the box, and the summer signing drove the shot into the near corner past Kobel.
Just before half-time, Jude Bellingham lost possession in the midfield, and Olise seized it, driving it past Kobel from close range to make it 2-0 before the second half.
Bayern enjoyed 64 per cent possession in the first half and registered eight shots.
In the second half, Giannis Konstantelias was introduced as a substitute and made an immediate impact by winning a free kick and troubling the Bayern defence with a volley which was blocked by Jonathan Tah.
His effort in the 52nd minute was saved well by Manuel Neuer. But Bayern was still a dangerous team while countering, with Harry Kane attempting an audacious, but unsuccessful, long-range effort.
Fabio Silva, introduced as one of the substitutes, gave Dortmund some hope with a strike in the 75th minute. Olise and Harry got their efforts denied later on, but Bayern managed to keep the scoreline intact and walked away with the trophy. (ANI)
"This can be the last one": Manuel Neuer indicates retirement from Bayern Munich
