Oliver Baumann: Who is the Hoffenheim goalkeeper and kate-blooming Germany international?
Having been a dependable Bundseliga shotstopper for over a decade, Oliver Baumann capped his brilliant form for Hoffenheim by becoming Germany's third-oldest debutant.
bundesliga.com has the lowdown on the Germany goalkeeping option...
Stats correct as of 15 October 2024
Age: 34 (born 2 June 1990)
Club: Hoffenheim
Position: Goalkeeper
Country: Germany (1 cap)
Key stats
After being born a goal kick or two away from the French border in Breisach, Baden-Württemberg - just days before the 1990 World Cup started - Baumann progressed through the youth ranks of local side Freiburg. He made his Bundesliga debut in May 2010 in a 3-1 win against Borussia Dortmund, and became the first-choice goalkeeper at the Black Forest club from the following season.
Watch: The best of Oliver Baumann
As a capable shot-stopper with a commanding presence, Baumann gave Christian Streich's Freiburg a dependable foundation as they secured fifth place in 2012/13 and qualified for the next season's UEFA Europa League. Baumann showed resilience after making three embarrassing mistakes in a single game in October 2013 as Freiburg were beaten by Hamburg. With the faith of Streich behind him, the goalkeeper kept a clean sheet in his next appearance against Nuremberg.
His consistently strong performances earned him a move to Hoffenheim in May 2014, and Baumann has been dutifully serving between the sticks in Sinsheim ever since. His decade at Hoffenheim has seen him play all six matches of the club's maiden UEFA Champions League campaign in 2018/19, while he took four clean sheets in six Europa League group stage matches in 2020/21.
Baumann took on the captain's armband in 2022 and recorded more saves than any other Bundesliga goalkeeper in 2023/24. Having earned a call-up to the Germany squad for two Nations League matches in September 2020, he gained a place in Germany's Euro 2024 squad on home soil and kept that spot for the following 2024/25 Nations League campaign. A Germany debut finally came in October 2024, with Baumann keeping a clean sheet as he became his country's third-oldest debutant - a whole four years after he was first called up by the national team.
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Plays a bit like: Gregor Kobel
Baumann adds an element of security to the Hoffenheim backline with consistently solid shot-stopping that is reminiscent of Dortmund's Kobel - who began his Bundesliga career with Hoffenheim as Baumann's understudy.
Did you know?
Baumann has embraced innovative training methods to keep his shot-stopping sharp. Back in 2017, Hoffenheim's club website reported on his use of Strobe Glasses, sunglasses that flicker the vision of the wearer on and off. The idea was that by disrupting his version, Baumann would have to focus even harder on his powers of perception in making saves.
What they're saying
“I'm very happy, proud and thankful. Happy to make my debut for the national team, to play for my country, I'm very thankful... The whole game is what will stay with me.” - Baumann after making his Germany debut
"Oli had an outstanding start with many good games in the Bundesliga and the Europa League. He deserves to get an international cap." - " Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann, who also coached Baumann at Hoffenheim
"Oliver Baumann is not only an icon and record player for our club, he is an absolute role model. Oli has been through all kinds of highs and lows with us, but has always been a key player and loyal servant, even if he has continually reinvented himself as a goalkeeper." - Hoffenheim managing director Alexander Rosen on Baumann extending his contract to 2026 in November 2023
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