Schmitt, the boy who wanted to be Neuer

Empty box. And this alone is a source of pride. On the official website of Bayern Munich, on the page dedicated to the young (born in 2006) Max Schmitt, the date of birth (January 18), his nationality (German), and the day he began his adventure with the Bavarians (July 1, 2017, at 11 years old) are listed. But something is missing. The box relating to the team he comes from is empty. Because Schmitt has always played only for Bayern. Aside from a few months with Milbertshofen, a neighborhood team in Munich. And he is one of the jewels in the crown of the Bavarian youth sector. The best year, for now, was 2023, when he won the European Championship and the World Cup with the U17 national team. "I never thought I would experience such intense months and win these two titles," he said. Yet his dream is another: to become the new Manuel Neuer. Already a regular in Bayern's second team (in the fourth division), he could also find space in the Bundesliga next season.