Ralf Fährmann yesterday extended his contract with FC Schalke 04 by a further year until 2020.

The 27-year-old has been at the Veltins Arena for over 12 years now, with a two year sabbatical with Eintracht Frankfurt, and has been the number one since Manuel Neuer's departure to Bayern Munich in 2011, but has been restricted to only 89 first team appearances due to injury setbacks. But over the last two seasons Fährmann has put in some top performances and has grown to have a reputation as one the best 'keepers in the country.

Despite featuring for the German U-21's Fährmann is yet to feature for the National team. However this slight is more down to the brilliance of others such as Manuel Neuer and Bernd Leno more than the Schalke goalkeepers inefficiencies. 

Optimistic about the future

When asked on his extension Fährmann said, "The positive development we've taken in recent months on all levels, team, coaching team and management, makes me optimistic about this."

He added, "My biggest wish is to play as high up as possible with Schalke over the coming years."

Horst Heldt, director of sport at the Gelsenkirchen club commented through the official press release, "I'm really pleased that a figure of identity of our team has committed himself to the sporting path we are on." Adding, "the new contract honors his excellent performances on a permanently high level."

Upheaval at the Veltins Arena

The extension of Fährmann is just another example of the rapid change currently undergoing at the Veltins Arena, under the new stewardship of André Breitenreiter. The former SC Paderborn man has cleaned up the mess left after Roberto Di Matteo's disastrous tenure in the Ruhr Valley whilst implementing his own style in what has saw a promising start to the season for all connected at die Königsblauen.

FC Schalke 04, despite defeats to 1. FC Köln and VfL Wolfsburg sit in third place and Breitenreiter's spell so far at the Veltins Arena has been synonymous for the increased development of players such as Leroy Sané, Leon Goretzka and Max Meyer. 

Players who were much maligned under Di Matteo and Jens Keller before him have also improved leaps and bounds, such as Joel Matip who has become a stalwart at the back for die Königsblauen. The signs are that Breitenreiter's reign at FC Schalke 04 could be fruitful.