Lehmann taking 'Invincible spirit' into new Baller League

Jens Lehmann (right) was voted Uefa Goalkeeper of the Year on two occasions

Players earning £400 a game, goalkeepers unable to use their hands and ex-Premier League superstars rubbing shoulders with social media influencers... welcome to Baller League.

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann is one of the ex-professionals signed up as a manager, alongside fellow 'Invincibles' Freddie Ljungberg and Robert Pires when the season kicks off on Monday.

The trio all played a big part in helping the Gunners make history in 2003-04, completing the Premier League season without losing a game.

Baller League was launched by German entrepreneur Felix Starck in his homeland in 2024.

It is a six-a-side format with 12 teams competing on indoor pitches every Monday at Copper Box Arena in London over 11 matchdays, with the top four teams in at the end of the season entering a 'Final Four' stage where they play a semi-final and a final to crown the champion.

Luis Figo, John Terry, Ian Wright and Chloe Kelly are among the other managers, while influencers Angry Ginge and Miniminter will also lead teams.

Although the Baller League title may not be as prestigious as the other trophies in Lehmann's cabinet, having won the Premier League, Serie A and Bundesliga during his 24-year career, "losing is not an option" for the former Germany international.

"Sometimes I play charity games with Luis Figo, John Terry and Robert Pires and we always want to win," Lehmann told BBC Sport.

"We won't take our teams and say, 'it doesn't matter if you lose'. They know they have to win.

"If the Baller League can transfer that attitude from the managers into the squads then it's going to be very exciting."

After retiring in 2011, Lehmann, 55, worked as a goalkeeping coach at Arsenal and was assistant manager at Augsburg - neither of those roles are likely to prepare him for Baller League, though.

With limited time to work with players who are paid £400 for each matchday and rule twists - like long-range shots count double - it might come down to a strong relationship with Pires and Ljungberg in the dugout.

"We have always stayed connected, it's always a pleasure to see them," Lehmann added.

"I played padel in Ibiza with Robert [Pires] against my son Lasse and a friend of his and they thought they were winning, but they learned about the 'Invincible' spirit."

'People could feel we wanted to win'

Jens Lehmann was 42 when he made his final appearance as a professional when Arsenal beat Blackpool 3-1 in October 2011

Lehmann made 199 appearances for Arsenal between 2003 and 2008 - during a period many consider a golden era in the Premier League - and featured in all 38 league games during their 'Invincibles' campaign.

The rivalry between the Gunners and Manchester United was at its peak with bosses Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson fighting their respective corners as intense encounters played out on the field.

"It wasn't just we played, hugged each other and then said, 'shall we go out tonight?' It was pure rivalry and people could feel that it was very honest and you could say on the pitch it was very hostile," Lehmann said.

"People liked the emotions, the real commitment, the feeling of so many players from Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal that they gave everything for the people. People could feel we wanted to win no matter how."

But Lehmann recognises the new generation of football fan is looking for an alternative product.

"We had our time. The new format is very exciting," he added.

"Felix [Starck] and all the guys working on it have seen that the new audience are getting distracted easily. You have to keep them entertained at every moment and the Baller League is addressing that.

"The new generation talk about these new football formats, they talk about the Baller League and it's something they think could be a new addition to traditional football and so far they are right.

"It's not a problem but it's a different user experience for the new generation. That's why the streamers are in, who I didn't know, but now I know how big they are."

The inaugural version of the Baller League in Germany has already completed two seasons with footballers Mats Hummels and Lukas Podolski at the heart of things alongside chief executive Starck.

"I call the Baller League the UFC of football," Starck told BBC Sport.

"The UFC was very niche and they transformed it into the market share leader in combat sports.

"We want to define small-sided football. The largest sport in the world does not have a definition yet."