Bayern Munich Coax Veteran ‘Keeper Tom Starke Out Of Retirement To Help Cover Manuel Neuer’s Extended Injury Lay-Off

Chris Wright

25th, September 2017

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Bayern Munich have added veteran goalkeeper Tom Starke to their Champions League squad despite the fact that the 36-year-old retired from football four months ago,

Starke managed a full 10 appearances in five years at Bayern before calling it quits at the end of last season, only to make a couple of cameos in the Bavarian club’s pre-season tour of the USA.

However, the spindly stopper has been dragged back in to help cover for Manuel Neuer, who is facing a prolonged period on the sidelines with a knackered metatarsal.

That said, Starke is unlikely to see frontline combat, as he’ll still be stationed behind current first-pick Sven Ulreich and his deputy Christian Fruchtl in the pecking order.

Regardless, with UEFA rules dictating that goalkeepers – unlike outfield players – can be chopped and changed into Champions League squads as and when, Starke is likely to be on the bench for Wednesday night’s big’un against PSG at the Parc des Princes.

Honestly, we don’t understand why he’d want to retire in the first place. Third/fourth-choice goalkeeper at a big club must surely rank as the cushiest job in all the word.