The discussions surrounding Manuel Neuer show no signs of letting up. Following his costly blunder in the 2-2 draw against FC Augsburg, the Bayern Munich captain is once again facing criticism. Now 40 years old, the question is increasingly being raised as to how much longer the 2014 World Cup champion can continue to play at the highest level. Oliver Kahn has a clear opinion on the matter and is warning his former successor against an unpleasant end to his career.

On the Sky program “Triple – der Hagedorn Fußballtalk,” the former Bayern CEO spoke at length about the Munich goalkeeper’s situation.

“I can’t recommend anything to anyone right now—that’s something each person has to decide for themselves. Things like: When do I quit? When do I step down? You spare yourself certain situations,” Kahn explained.

The 57-year-old also referred to Neuer’s participation in the last World Cup, which had been a disappointment from a sporting perspective.

Kahn sees physical limitations in Neuer

From his own experience, Kahn knows how difficult the final years of a long goalkeeping career can be.

“When you turn 36, 37, 38—I’ve been through it myself—your body takes longer to recover. You make a mistake here and there,” explained the former national team goalkeeper.

It’s not just about physical condition, but also about the mental strain. “The mental aspect—constantly performing at 100 percent. At some point, you just can’t do it anymore, even if you want to. That’s when you become the subject of debate.”

Kahn now sees exactly this situation with Neuer. The Bayern goalkeeper is facing increasingly critical scrutiny following individual mistakes.

For Kahn, it would therefore have been entirely understandable if Neuer had ended his career earlier.

“At some point, it’s no longer his own decision.”

Kahn was particularly emphatic when discussing the possible end of Neuer’s career. “At some point, you have to decide for yourself: What’s more important to me right now? Continuing to pursue my passion for as long as possible—which I can certainly understand—or stepping down at the very moment when people say, ‘He could still play for another two or three years.’”

The former Bayern captain fears that Neuer might miss the opportunity to decide for himself when to retire.

“And at some point—and I can see this slowly coming now—it will no longer be his own decision, but the decision of others. And you don’t need that in such a great career.”

Neuer’s contract with FC Bayern expires in the summer of 2027. It remains to be seen whether the 40-year-old will add another season afterward.

Recently, there have been many indications that Neuer might end his extraordinary career after the current season. However, the goalkeeper has not yet publicly announced a final decision.

This article was translated into English by AI. You can read the original version here https://fcbinside.de/2026/10/17/das-brauchst-du-nicht-kahn-mit-eindringlicher-warnung-an-neuer/.