German football is known to produce extraordinary players at the both ends of the pitch. From Gerd Muller to Oliver Khan to Miroslav Klose and Manuel Neuer, Bundesliga fans have enjoyed the services of many legends. In this article, we will look at five goalkeepers with the most clean sheets in Bundesliga history.
#5 Uli Stein
Games : 512 ; Clean sheets: 146
Uli Stein was born in Hamburg, West Germany and represented his hometown club for 8 seasons in his career. He made his debut with Arminia Bielefeld in 1976. After 4 seasons with the club, he left to join Hamburger SV. He was the goalkeeper during Hamburger’s most illustrious period in history. From 1980 to 1987, Hamburger SV and Uli Stein won two Bundesliga titles and most famously the European Cup in 1983.
In 1987, Uli Stein left HSV after winning the DFB Pokal. Next season, he won the DFB Pokal again with Frankfurt, becoming the first keeper to win back-to-back cups with different clubs.
#4 Eike Immel
Games: 534 ; Clean sheets: 148
Immel was just 17 when he made his senior career debut for Borussia Dortmund. He was Dortmund’s first choice goal keeper for the majority 8 seasons from 1978 to 1986. In his last 7 years at Dortmund, Immel missed just one game. He moved to VFB Stuttgart in the summer of 1986.
He spent 9 seasons at Stuttgart and was part of the team that won the Bundesliga title in 1992. Immel’s shot stopping played a major role in the triumph as they won the title through goal difference. At the age of 35, he moved to Manchester City and retired in England.
#3 Oliver Reck
Games: 471 ; Clean sheets: 176
Reck plied his trade in the same era as Oliver Kahn and that is the only fathomable reason why he isn’t as appreciated. Reck holds many records but the most interesting one is that he is one of only 11 keepers to have scored a goal in Bundesliga. Reck’s first club was Kickers Offenbach but his stay at the club lasted for just two seasons.
In 1985, he moved to Werder Bremen where he spent 13 seasons and won 2 Bundesliga titles and 2 DFB-Pokal Cups. After moving to Schalke in 1998, Reck won the German Cup in 2001 and 2002 before hanging up his boots in 2003.
#2 Oliver Kahn
Games: 557 ; Clean sheets: 204
The most famous goalkeeper of them all deservingly has the second most number of clean sheets in the Bundesliga. Kahn became famous not only for his exceptional shot stopping skills but also for his no nonsense approach to football. He was ruthless and menacing between the sticks and was also the most decorated player in Bundesliga history.
Kahn started out at Karlsruher SC in 1987 and joined Bayern Munich in 1994, where he would spend the rest of his career. At Bayern Munich, Kahn won 8 Bundesliga titles and 6 DFB-Pokal cups and the Champions League in 2001.
#1 Manuel Neuer
Games: 458 ; Clean sheets: 211
To nobody’s surprise, Neuer holds the record for most clean sheets in Bundesliga history. He beat Oliver Kahn’s record during the matchday 3 of the 2021/22 season. The consistency with which he has kept a clean sheet is staggering and much better than any goal keeper in this list. It is not all about diving one handed saves when it comes to Neuer’s game.
Sweeper keepers are now in high demand across countries and the singular reason for this is Neuer. He was the first keeper to come out of his spot consistently and try things which no other goal keeper would imagine. Neuer has won the World Cup, Champions League and several domestic honors.
