Mark Lovell
Michael Rensing, Bayern Munich’s young goalkeeper, is struggling to fill the giant boots of German goalkeeping legend Oliver Kahn. Two defeats out of three upon resumption after the winter break, and Bayern and Rensing find themselves under increasing pressure.
Kahn himself was once undoubtedly the best keeper in the world – an intimidating monster of muscular authority who dominated opposition strikers as they bore down on his goal. One of his most remarkable performances was in the 2001 Champions League final, when he saved three penalties in the shoot-out to earn Bayern Munich victory over Valencia.
Still high on the back of his club’s Champions League victory, his fierce aggression and spectacular agility inspired a distinctly average national side all the way to the 2002 World Cup final, where, despite losing, he was the first ever goalkeeper to win the Golden Ball award for the tournament’s best player.
The 24-year-old Rensing made his debut for Bayern way back in 2004, ably deputising for Kahn whenever called upon. Rensing was groomed for the role as Kahn’s successor by another German goalkeeping legend, Sepp Maier.
As understudy, Rensing produced many exemplary performances, remaining proudly unbeaten in 27 games. Kahn’s long drawn out retirement in 2008 was bound to leave a huge gap in the Bavarian champions’ goal. Kahn remains a goalkeeping institution and has left a massive legacy. However, confidence abounded that the inexperienced, but quietly efficient keeper, could replace ‘the Titan’ as Bayern’s ‘Number 1’ with ease. His early performances displayed a calm assurance, whilst pulling off numerous smart reflex saves.
However, as the season has unfolded, Rensing has struggled to follow in such legendary footsteps. With Bayern conceding on average two goals per game at home before the winter break it was the goalkeeper feeling most of the heat. Rensing’s performances were savaged by ‘Kaiser’ Franz Beckenbauer, who described one howler versus Stuttgart as ‘amateurish’. The Bayern president further laid into the novice goalkeeper, accusing him of making ‘mad forays’ out of his own goal.
Rensing himself deflected the criticism from Beckenbauer saying he would only accept critique ‘from those who have played in goal themselves’ saying his president was talking ‘complete nonsense’.
Worse for the young keeper however, is that his weaknesses are blatantly being exploited by opponents, such as his tendency to flap at crosses. His defence, used to the manic vocal organisation of Kahn, seem to be suffering from a distinct lack of communication.
This was particularly evident recently as Rensing stayed glued to his line versus new Bundesliga leaders Hertha Berlin, allowing Berlin’s Andrei Voronin (on loan from Liverpool) to nod home unopposed. It’s hard to imagine his predecessor Kahn allowing the Ukrainian the freedom of Berlin to head in without a whimper. Rensing was also arguably at fault for Hamburg’s winner in Bayern’s first defeat of 2009.
With the Bavarians struggling to stay in touch at the top of the Bundesliga, and with a tricky Champions League tie versus unfancied Sporting Lisbon on the horizon, Rensing will find his every move or faux pas coming under increased scrutiny.
Rumours continue to link Bayern with Celtic’s Polish keeper Artur Boruc or Cameroon’s exciting young keeper, Carlos Kameni, currently plying his trade in La Liga with Espanyol.
Kahn has recently come out in support of his protégé, but has urged his successor to become ‘more brutal’. Only time will tell if Rensing can come through this season with credit and go on to establish himself as Kahn himself once did.
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