Aue Legend Martin Männel Now a Member of the 600 Club

Martin Männel has added yet another record to his long career. The goalkeeper for the Regionalliga soccer club FC Erzgebirge Aue played his 600th competitive match for the club during the “Veilchen’s” 2-1 victory over FSV Luckenwalde. This move placed him in an elite club of players who have reached this milestone while playing for the same club. Among them are Bayern Munich players Thomas Müller and Sepp Maier, as well as Karl-Heinz “Charly” Körbel of Eintracht Frankfurt.

Männel, now 38, joined Aue from FC Energie Cottbus in 2008. There, he quickly developed into one of the best goalkeepers in the Northeast German Soccer Association (NOFV) region. To date, he has played 332 matches in the 2nd Bundesliga and 232 matches in the 3rd League, among others.

After FC Erzgebirge’s relegation to the Regionalliga, Männel extended his contract once more, this time on the condition that he would serve as the backup to 19-year-old Max Uhlig. However, he was given a chance to play in the DFB-Pokal against TSG Hoffenheim and justified his selection with a strong performance. Since Uhlig suffered a shoulder injury, Männel remained in goal and has now celebrated his 600th appearance as Aue’s goalkeeper.