With Manuel Neuer still recovering from a metatarsal fracture, Christian Fruchtl out with an ankle injury and Sven Ulreich injured in the warm-up ahead of today’s match against Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayern Munich were forced to turn to 36-year-old Tom Starke in goal today.
Starke had previously announced his retirement from professional football back in May before going behind the scenes at Bayern as the club’s academy goalkeeper coordinator.
But three injuries thrust the long-time Bayern backup into the limelight away to Frankfurt. With RB Leipzig dropping points to Mainz, Starke’s clean sheet in a 1-0 victory could prove vital in Bayern’s Bundesliga quest.
Jupp Heynckes on #SGEFCB: "It was an uncomfortable game against an uncomfortable opponent. Tom Starke had a fantastic performance." #SGEFCB pic.twitter.com/BRfgREhavH
— Home Bayern (@HomeBayern___) December 9, 2017
Remarkably enough, Starke retired last summer thinking he’d never capture an elusive 100th appearance in the Bundesliga. On Saturday, he achieved that feat as well.
The milestone he never thought he'd reach...
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) December 9, 2017
Frankfurt attempted 12 shots and put three on target but they could not find a way past Starke. Arturo Vidal scored the game’s lone goal for Bayern.
Arturo Vidal scores in his 4th straight Bundesliga game to give Bayern the lead at Frankfurt. https://t.co/3tgMJ3WIpG
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2017
The club return to action on December 13 when hosting Cologne.