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Oliver Baumann Reaches 500 Bundesliga Appearances, Eyes Longevity and First Trophy

The Hoffenheim goalkeeper frames the feat as validation to stay first-choice through 2028, with playing to 40 still on the table.

Overview

  • He hit the 500-match mark in a 1–1 draw at Mainz, becoming the fifth goalkeeper and 14th player since 1963 to reach the milestone.
  • At 35 years and roughly five months, he is the fourth-youngest to reach 500, with Karl-Heinz Körbel’s record of 602 matches cited as a distant target.
  • He is under contract with Hoffenheim until 2028 and says he can imagine extending his career to about age 40.
  • Baumann has 10 Germany caps after a 2024 debut, and any World Cup role would depend on Marc-André ter Stegen’s recovery and club playing time, which he acknowledges within the team hierarchy.
  • He says he turned down No. 2 offers from big clubs, prioritizing starting roles and expressing a desire to win a first major trophy with Hoffenheim, such as the DFB-Pokal.