Bavarian Football Works
Since making his national team debut in October of 2024, TSG Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann has always seemed like a temporary solution for the position of Germany goalkeeper.
For years, the spot had been locked down by Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer. Even when Neuer finally retired from international duty after EURO 2024, he had an understudy in FC Barcelona’s Marc-André ter Stegen — who for years had been waiting patiently in the wings.
But succession plans have a way of going awry.
Ter Stegen promptly suffered a patellar tendon rupture that September, leaving national team coach Julian Nagelsmann scrambling for reserves. Baumann was among them; Bayern loanee and VfB Stuttgart’s…
