It is hard to imagine a more cinematic scene than the one that unfolded in mid-July among the South Tyrolean hills. Bayern captain Manuel Neuer and Regensburg handball left-winger Anika Bissel decided to reaffirm their “I do” out loud—two years after a modest civil ceremony the couple gathered friends and relatives in the 13th-century Freudenstein Castle, turning the weekend into a true sports-meets-society marathon.
Medieval Setting: Why Freudenstein
Freudenstein sits on Appiano’s “Wine Road”—a fortress that once protected merchants and now serves as a romantic backdrop for the World-Cup-winning goalkeeper. The castle walls were decorated with snow-white arches and lavish peony arrangements, while fans were handed out to guests to underline the ambience and help them cope with the heat of the Alpine foothills. Security cordoned off the grounds: not a single journalist, only the 150 invitees and the smartphones of their loved ones, thanks to which snapshots of the celebration still made it online.
Three-Day Celebration Program
The festivities began as early as Friday with a warm welcome dinner at a neighbouring estate: informal toasts, an easy dress code and, of course, Bavarian beer. On Saturday afternoon the guests moved to the castle courtyard, where a string quartet greeted them with cover versions of German pop classics. The wedding service started at around five p.m.; the newly-weds exchanged vows beneath an ancient chestnut, then performed their first dance right on the terrace—to cheers, whistles, applause and… dancing on chairs. The evening ended with fireworks over the vineyards and a traditional midnight snack—Bavarian-style schnitzel in a bun.
Guests from Football's Elite
Among the current or recent stars of German football were Michael Ballack and the wives of several Bundesliga players. Neuer’s friend Bastian Schweinsteiger, however, had to decline—the same weekend he was hosting a charity golf tournament in aid of the Franz Beckenbauer Foundation. “Unfortunately, the dates coincided,” the former midfielder told reporters.
Love Story: A Brief Relationship Timeline
Anika was born in 2000, at a time when the future world champion was only breaking into Schalke’s first team. Their romance ignited in 2020, and three years later the pair secretly married in Germany. The world learned about it only because the handballer changed her surname on social media. In the spring of 2024 she gave Manuel their first child.
The Family's Sporting Life
Despite maternity leave, Regensburg’s left-winger managed to play a full season in the second Bundesliga and, according to coach Bernhard Goldbach, returned “stronger than ever”. Yet after her son’s birth Anika took a break, explaining: “I want to spend more time with the baby—handball isn’t going anywhere.” Neuer, having recovered from old injuries, extended his contract with Bayern until 2026 in the spring and is due to report to coach Vincent Kompany for pre-season in just a week.
Honeymoon and New Goals
After a noisy weekend the couple will allow themselves only a few days of rest around Merano—then the calendar gets relentless. On 28 July Bayern undergo their traditional fitness tests, and Anika plans to be in the stands for a friendly to support her husband and introduce their son to the team.
A wedding in the finest style of a sporting dynasty—rooted in tradition, free of unnecessary pomp and in the sights of hundreds of friends’ cameras. It seems that the perfect goalkeeper save from everyday fuss should look exactly like this: a touch of medieval magic, a dash of handball speed and a confidence in the future as solid as castle walls.
