22-year-old Bayern Munich goalkeeper Ena Mahmutovic started for Germany in a 4-2 friendly win over Australia, capitalizing on Ann-Katrin Berger's absence.

Ena Mahmutovic, the 22-year-old goalkeeper for Bayern Munich, started for Germany in a 4-2 friendly victory against Australia. She took the opportunity to prove herself as the potential successor to current number one Ann-Katrin Berger, who missed the match due to her club commitments with Gotham FC in the NWSL. Head coach Christian Wück praised the team's performance and Mahmutovic's contributions during the game.

Berger's Absence Opens Door

Ann-Katrin Berger, the current first-choice goalkeeper, is staying with the national team for at least one more tournament cycle but missed these friendlies because she has three matches remaining in the NWSL season. This absence allowed Mahmutovic to step in, a situation Wück compared to the men's team during Jürgen Klopp's first international break, where the search for a new number one was also a topic.

Mahmutovic's Background and Praise

Mahmutovic has made two appearances for Germany, including a clean sheet in a recent World Cup qualifier against Slovenia. Bayern director Bianca Rech has described her as "the future of the national team," while Bayern coach Jose Barcala called her one of the most talented goalkeepers in the world. Wück acknowledged that Berger is currently slightly better but stated that Mahmutovic's performances have been very good and that she will get her playing time.

Early Career Anecdotes

Mahmutovic made her Women's Bundesliga debut in May 2020 as an outfield player for Duisburg due to absences, a one-off occurrence. Her father, who is from Montenegro, believes she would have been better suited as an outfield player because of her ability with both feet. Despite a 2-1 defeat against Italy in December 2024 where she lost control of a back pass, she was included in Germany's squad for the 2025 Euros.