From Maligned to Titan: Noah Atubolu, Germany's Rising Star Goalkeeper
Soccer | Football | Youth Team Germany
German baby phenom, Atubolu, Transforms from Adversary into Titan.
Germany's U21 squad is in the final of the EM, squaring off against England. The secret weapon? Noah Atubolu, SC Freiburg's research-proven goalkeeper. In the semi-final against France, he pulled off numerous remarkable saves to secure the win. His journey hasn't always been easy.
As France struggled to maintain momentum in the EM semi-final clash, it was goalkeeper Thierno Barry who gave them hope. Three times in quick succession, he hit the post, saw his deflected shot go wide, and nearly scored from close range, only to be thwarted by Atubolu's heroics. In the end, it was Germany who went on to score 3:0 thanks to Brajan Gruda.
In the second half, Atubolu dramatically stopped a shot from Barry who had just entered the game. Atubolu somehow kept the ball from crossing the line with his right foot, leaving Barry wanting more. His impressive save was even more spectacular in the 68th minute, when Barry was free for a flying header from close range. Atubolu just managed to keep the ball out of the net.
Aiming High: The German National Team
"We've made it, yessss" - the U21 squad was jubilant after their victory. Atubolu's finger shot into the air, a triumphant gesture that declared, "This is my house." The 23-year-old has developed into a top-caliber goalkeeper, generating high hopes at SC Freiburg, and harboring dreams of representing the senior German national team.
Coach Julian Schuster praises Atubolu for his dedication, calling him a young talent who invests a lot in his craft. The goalkeeper himself clarified: "My dream is to play for Germany."
Shattering Records: Replacing Manuel Neuer
Atubolu is following in the footsteps of Bayern Munich legend Manuel Neuer. With his 21st appearance for the U21 team, he broke Neuer's record as the most capped goalkeeper of the U21 squad. Atubolu debuted for the team in March 2022 and has already played in the EM 2023. "Noah is playing an outstanding European Championship," said DFB coach Antonio Di Salvo.
Last Season, Freiburg experienced a major change following the departure of long-time coach Christian Streich. Despite the changes, Atubolu has remained a constant factor. The club finished fifth, clinching a spot in the Europa League. It's a big stage where Atubolu aims to prove himself for even greater tasks. Rumors suggest that top English clubs are interested in him, but he continues to focus on his game, maintaining an impressive record of going 609 minutes without conceding a goal, a club record far surpassing Richard Golz's mark of 510 minutes.
Standing by Atubolu: Streich's Support
Coach Streich stood up for Atubolu when he faced criticism on social media. "There's too much noise about him. We are SC Freiburg, and we have a 21-year-old goalkeeper who has played 40 games and kept 9 clean sheets in the league," said Streich. "SC Freiburg stands by its own youth, its own city. That's our way."
Atubolu has one more game to play in the under-21 squad: the final against England on Saturday (9 PM on Sat.1 and live on ntv.de). For most of the squad, this will be their last game in this important German youth team. "Now we want the title too," said Atubolu.
Source: ntv.de, tno
- DFB
- Football
- DMFB U21
Noah Atubolu's rise from a once-maligned young talent to a promising German "baby titan" goalkeeper offers a gripping story of determination, dedication, and career growth. With increasing recognition and the seeking gaze of top football clubs, Atubolu's bold ambition to become the first black senior goalkeeper for Germany adds further intrigue to his promising career narrative. The current transition period in Germany's goalkeeping scene presents a viable opportunity for Atubolu to cement his place as the country's next top goalkeeper.
Marking his entry into the professional scene with Freiburg, Atubolu has steadily progressed, now playing in 27 Bundesliga matches and counting, and keeping 10 clean sheets in the 2024-25 season. His remarkable performance in the European Championship U21 solidified his standing as a key player for Germany's youth team, with 18 appearances and 6 clean sheets so far.
As Manuel Neuer's successor in the U21 team, Atubolu has set the record straight with his 21 appearances for the German youth squad. Seeing the potential in Atubolu, the DFB coach Di Salvo remarked, "He's a top goalkeeper, a talent. I don't know much about it, but the goalkeeper coaches said, take him. And that's why he deserves to play so many games."
With the retirement of Manuel Neuer and likely the approaching end of Marc-André ter Stegen's international career, Atubolu sees an opening to compete for the top spot in the senior German national team. As one of the few young goalkeepers playing regularly for a top-five European club, Atubolu finds himself well-positioned to emulate the footsteps of German goalkeeping legends such as Sepp Maier, Oliver Kahn, and Neuer himself.
Rumors suggest that top clubs, including those in England, are eyeing Atubolu, though concrete information about these interested parties is limited. Given his consistent performances for both club and country, it is only fitting that Atubolu is on the radar of top football clubs in search of a long-term goalkeeper solution. This next phase in his career raises exciting prospects for both Atubolu and German football enthusiasts.
Noah Atubolu's journey as a goalkeeper for the German U21 squad has seen him break records, including surpassing Manuel Neuer's record for most appearances for the U21 team. As the senior German national team looks towards finding a new goalkeeper following the possible retirement of Manuel Neuer and Marc-André ter Stegen, Atubolu stands as a promising contender, having already made a name for himself in Europe's premier youth leagues and the Champions League.
