Marc-André ter Stegen facts for kids
Ter Stegen with Barcelona in 2024
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Marc-André ter Stegen | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 30 April 1992 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Mönchengladbach, Germany | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Current team
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Barcelona | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–2010 | Borussia Mönchengladbach | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2011 | Borussia Mönchengladbach II | 18 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2014 | Borussia Mönchengladbach | 108 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2014– | Barcelona | 291 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | Germany U16 | 7 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | Germany U17 | 16 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2010 | Germany U18 | 8 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Germany U19 | 5 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2015 | Germany U21 | 13 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2012– | Germany | 44 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:55, 18 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:30, 8 June 2025 (UTC) |
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Marc-André ter Stegen (born on April 30, 1992) is a German professional footballer. He plays as a goalkeeper and is the captain for the Spanish club Barcelona. He also plays for the German national team. People know him for his quick reflexes, great passing, and how well he plays with the ball at his feet.
After playing four seasons in the Bundesliga (Germany's top league) with Borussia Mönchengladbach, ter Stegen joined Barcelona in 2014. He helped Barcelona win three major trophies in his first season in Spain. This amazing achievement is called a "treble." He played in the Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) and UEFA Champions League (Europe's biggest club competition) finals that year.
Ter Stegen played for Germany at different youth levels. He made his debut for the senior national team in 2012. He was part of the German teams that reached the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2016 and won the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. He also played for Germany in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, 2022 FIFA World Cup, and UEFA Euro 2024.
Contents
Club Career Highlights
Starting at Borussia Mönchengladbach
Marc-André ter Stegen started his football journey at his hometown club, Borussia Mönchengladbach. In the 2010–11 season, he became a key player for their reserve team. He was often seen on the bench with the first team.
The main team was struggling and looked like they might be relegated (moved down to a lower league). Their coach was replaced, and the new coach, Lucien Favre, decided to give ter Stegen a chance. On April 10, 2011, ter Stegen became the first-choice goalkeeper. He played very well, helping his team avoid relegation. He kept four clean sheets (meaning the other team didn't score) in the last five games. One memorable game was against Borussia Dortmund, where he made many incredible saves to help Mönchengladbach win 1–0.
Becoming a Star Goalkeeper
For the 2011–12 season, ter Stegen officially became the main goalkeeper and was given the No. 1 shirt. In a surprising match, his team beat Bayern Munich 1–0, with ter Stegen playing brilliantly. This win helped Mönchengladbach start a strong challenge for the league title.
In the 2012–13 season, even though some key players left, ter Stegen remained a star for Mönchengladbach. There were rumors that he might join Barcelona, but he denied them at the time.
By the 2013–14 season, the rumors about Barcelona grew stronger. On January 6, 2014, he turned down a new contract from Mönchengladbach. In his last home game for the club on May 5, he said an emotional goodbye to the fans.
Joining FC Barcelona
Winning the Treble in 2015
On May 19, 2014, Barcelona announced that ter Stegen would be their new goalkeeper. He signed a five-year contract. He joined the club after two other goalkeepers left. Ter Stegen said joining Barcelona was the right choice for him.
He got injured before the first league game, so he didn't play in the league that season. However, he was the main goalkeeper for the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League. He made his Champions League debut on September 17, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 win. He helped Barcelona win the Copa del Rey final 3–1. A week later, he played in the Champions League Final, where Barcelona beat Juventus 3–1. He even won an award for the "Best Save" in the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich.
Continuing Success and Challenges
His second season with Barcelona started with a win in the 2015 UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla. It was a thrilling 5–4 victory in extra time. He made his La Liga debut on September 12, 2015, in a 2–1 win against Atlético Madrid.
In March 2016, ter Stegen mentioned that playing only about 25 games a season was not enough for him. He hoped his good performances would lead to more playing time.
Becoming Barcelona's Main Goalkeeper
In the 2016–17 season, ter Stegen became Barcelona's first-choice goalkeeper after Claudio Bravo moved to another club. On September 13, 2016, he saved a penalty in a Champions League match against Celtic, helping Barcelona win 7–0. Later, he had a tough game against Celta Vigo, where Barcelona lost 4–3, but he apologized and said he wouldn't change his playing style.
He played a crucial role in Barcelona's famous 6–1 comeback win against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. He also made an amazing 12 saves in a 3–2 victory against Real Madrid in a league match, keeping Barcelona in the title race.
New Contract and Key Saves
On May 29, 2017, ter Stegen signed a new contract with Barcelona, keeping him at the club until 2022. His buyout clause (the amount another club would have to pay to buy him) was set very high.
In the 2017–18 season, ter Stegen made many important saves. For example, he stopped two strong shots from Antoine Griezmann in a 1–1 draw against Atlético Madrid. He also made a phenomenal display against Athletic Bilbao, making brilliant saves to secure a 2–0 win. By November 2017, Barcelona had conceded the fewest goals in Europe's top five leagues, thanks in large part to ter Stegen's excellent form. He saved 23 out of 24 shots on target, which is a 96% save rate! On April 17, 2018, he captained Barcelona for the first time in a match against Celta Vigo.
More Trophies and Milestones
On August 12, 2018, ter Stegen helped Barcelona win the 2018 Supercopa de España (Spanish Super Cup) by saving a late penalty. He won his fourth La Liga title with Barcelona that season.
In the 2019–20 season, ter Stegen showed his skills not just as a goalkeeper but also as a passer. On September 28, 2019, he provided an assist (a pass that leads to a goal) to Luis Suárez in a 2–0 win. This made him the first Barcelona goalkeeper in the 21st century to get an assist in La Liga. He also reached his 200th game for Barcelona with a clean sheet. He later provided another assist to Antoine Griezmann. He also achieved five clean sheets in a row for the first time in his Barcelona career.
Overcoming Injuries and Reaching Records
After the 2019–20 season, ter Stegen had knee surgery and was out for over two months. He returned and on October 20, 2020, he extended his contract with Barcelona until 2025.
On November 24, he reached his 100th clean sheet for Barcelona in a Champions League match. On January 6, 2021, he played his 250th game for Barcelona, becoming one of the goalkeepers with the most appearances in the club's history. That year, he helped the club win the 2020–21 Copa del Rey again.
The 2021–22 season was tougher for Barcelona, and they didn't win any trophies. However, ter Stegen continued to be a strong presence in goal.
Captaincy and Zamora Trophy
On December 30, 2022, ter Stegen was named Barcelona's fourth captain. He then won his fifth La Liga title with Barcelona. He had an incredible season, winning his first Ricardo Zamora Trophy (an award for the goalkeeper who concedes the fewest goals in La Liga). He only let in 18 goals in 38 games and kept 26 clean sheets, which equaled a La Liga record!
In the 2024–25 season, after Sergi Roberto left, ter Stegen became Barcelona's new captain on August 11, 2024. He suffered a knee injury in September, which kept him out for most of the season. Despite his injury, he lifted his first trophy as captain on January 12, 2025, when Barcelona won the Supercopa de España final 5–2 against Real Madrid. He returned from injury on May 3, 2025, starting in a 2–1 away win.
International Career
Youth Team Success
In 2009, ter Stegen was part of the German team that won the 2009 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.
On June 27, 2015, playing for Germany's Under-21 team, he conceded five goals in a semi-final match against Portugal in the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
Playing for the Senior German Team
Marc-André ter Stegen was called up to the German national team by coach Joachim Löw for UEFA Euro 2012, but he didn't make the final squad. He made his senior international debut on May 26, 2012, in a friendly match against Switzerland. In his second international game, he saved a penalty from Lionel Messi.
He was part of Germany's UEFA Euro 2016 squad but was a backup to Manuel Neuer. Germany reached the semi-finals of that tournament.
At the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, ter Stegen played in most of Germany's matches. Germany went on to win the tournament, and he was named the "Man of the Match" in the final against Chile.
He was also included in Germany's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In September 2019, he had a friendly rivalry with Manuel Neuer over who should be the first-choice goalkeeper for Germany.
In May 2021, he missed UEFA Euro 2020 because he needed surgery on his knee. He was an unused substitute for all matches in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Ter Stegen was named in Germany's squad for UEFA Euro 2024. After the tournament, he became Germany's first-choice goalkeeper when Manuel Neuer retired from international football.
How He Plays
Ter Stegen is known as a tall, quick, and reliable goalkeeper. He has fast reflexes, makes good decisions, and is excellent at stopping shots. He is also good in the air and strong in one-on-one situations against attackers. He communicates well with his defenders because he has a strong personality.
He is very good with the ball at his feet, known for his control and accurate passes. He often plays as a "sweeper-keeper," meaning he comes out of his goal area to help his team keep possession or stop attacks. He often uses his legs to block shots, which is a common style for German goalkeepers. He has great basic goalkeeping skills and knows where to position himself. Many experts consider him one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Personal Life
Marc-André ter Stegen was born in Mönchengladbach, Germany. His father's family is from the Netherlands. He married his longtime girlfriend, Daniela Jehle, in Sitges, Spain. Their first child, Ben, was born on December 28, 2019. On March 6, 2025, he announced that he and Daniela had separated.
Honours and Awards
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Barcelona
- La Liga (Spanish League): 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2022–23, 2024–25
- Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup): 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2020–21, 2024–25
- Supercopa de España (Spanish Super Cup): 2018, 2023
- UEFA Champions League (Europe's Top Club Competition): 2014–15
- UEFA Super Cup (European Super Cup): 2015
- FIFA Club World Cup (World Club Cup): 2015
Germany U17
- UEFA European Under-17 Championship: 2009
Germany
- FIFA Confederations Cup: 2017
Individual Awards
- UEFA European Under-17 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2009
- Fritz Walter Medal U17 Bronze: 2009 (An award for young German players)
- Fritz Walter Medal U19 Gold: 2011 (An award for young German players)
- kicker Goalkeeper of the Year: 2012
- UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2014–15, 2018–19
- UEFA Save of the Season: 2014–15
- UEFA Fans' Team of the Year: 2018
- ESM Team of the Year: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2022–23 (A team of the best players in Europe)
- La Liga Zamora Trophy: 2022–23 (Award for the best goalkeeper in La Liga)
- La Liga Team of the Season: 2022–23
- La Liga Player of the Season: 2022–23
Images for kids
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Ter Stegen with Barcelona in 2024
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Ter Stegen with Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2011
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Ter Stegen warming up for Barcelona in 2014
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Ter Stegen playing against Real Betis in March 2019
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ter Stegen during his performance in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup final against Chile
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Ter Stegen celebration after winning with Barcelona in the 2025 Copa del Rey final
See also
In Spanish: Marc-André ter Stegen para niños
