He says: “My favourite team was Real Madrid, and my favourite player was Iker Casillas because he was a rare exception to the rule who proved that you didn’t have to be a tall, physical keeper - he was maybe 1.85metres high and because I’m not so tall as well – and certainly wasn’t when I was starting out - it made me realise that you could still make it if you were a similar height.

“He showed the world that you can be a great keeper by using other attributes at a time when most keepers were very tall and physical and could kick it from one end of the pitch to the other – and that was the perception of being a keeper was all about back then.

“With Casillas, he was just as good at collecting crosses as anyone in the world, but with him, it was all about timing and if you can time your jump, correctly, that is all you need.

“Take Nathan Ake, he is not our tallest defender, but he is one of our best in an aerial duel and so strong, and all because he has perfect timing.

“If you are not that tall, you have to be strong other ways. My strengths are being flexible, strong in the one v one situations, and I keep my body shape good and also have good timing – very tall keepers can’t get down as well as somebody of my size because they have trouble doing it – ultimately, it all depends on what the manager wants.

“Oliver Khan was another goalkeeper I admired because he might not have been the very best in the world technically, but he had this mentality and attitude and created an aura, so he was another inspiration for me, but Iker showed you can be a smaller goalkeeper and still reach the top.”

So, when did Manchester City first come on to his radar?

Like many kids of his era, he learned a lot about clubs and players by playing FIFA! And having a love of the colour blue was also a bonus…

“Yeah, I used to play a lot of FIFA with my friends and because blue is my favourite colour, I would find teams to play as from around the world who played in blue, and City were often one of them.

“I probably started really taking notice of City around 2010 after the World Cup when Sky Germany started showing Premier League games. I knew that the club had had a number of German players over the years and, of course, everybody in Germany knows the story of Bert Trautmann – particularly German goalkeepers who know their history – it’s a nice story. People should know about him and what he achieved.”

And you can’t talk about Trautmann and not the 1956 FA Cup final.

In fact, Stefan is surprised to discover he is the first German keeper for City since Trautmann to win the FA Cup, with last year’s 2-1 win over Manchester United still fresh in the memory.

“Since I arrived, I knew how big the FA Cup was for English people,” he said.

“That the ties are most played on Saturday shows how important it is because in Germany, our main domestic cup competition is played in midweek because they won’t change the Bundesliga schedule.

“My first game at Wembley was the Sheffield United semi-final, but the final itself was something really special. For us to score after 12 or 13 second was incredible. I just hit the ball up field and I could see it coming down near Ilkay, so when it went to him I was pretty sure he would hit the target, but maybe not the way he volleyed it - to see it go in was fantastic.

“The energy we had that day was incredible. You could feel it among our fans, in the changing room, on the bench and on the pitch – everyone was connected, and it was an amazing feeling. Even before the game, you could feel it – we hadn’t spoken about it much beforehand, but everybody was aware that we could possibly create history if we won that game.”

Though no goalkeeper who is competing with an established No.1 is absolutely happy to have to wait for their opportunities, Stefan knows that is the way things are at present.

Who wouldn’t want to play more matches? But his relationship with the Brazilian star couldn’t be better and the pair are each other’s biggest supporter.

“Eddy is a top keeper, and I would say were on the same level – everyone has an area they are better in – but of course it’s not easy to not play each week.

“We can learn from each other and with our goalkeeping department, we are working together and always pulling in the same direction. I don’t want to miss any games, but if I get frustrated from time to time, I need to get frustrated to Xabi or Pep – not Eddy because he’s doing the same as me – going to training and showing his best version. I can’t be angry at him and when I play, he supports me, too, so we have a close relationship. As I say, he is a top keeper.

“I really like it here. The quality of life here is so good and me and my family are very happy here. There are more rainy days here than in Germany but it’s a good life here in Manchester. There is such a family-orientated atmosphere at the Club and there are no egos – I came here from a small team in 2. Bundesliga and when I arrived everyone was so friendly and it was like, ‘Hi Stefan, how are you?’ You can see the togetherness on the pitch as well – everyone is happy for each other and that’s how we operate, and it is a big part of our success.

“People in England are so relaxed and friendly – wherever you go they just try to help you and it’s very easy living here and we are very happy. It’s a good life, here.”

And of his first season’s medal haul, he admits he hasn’t found a special place to store them – yet! A Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup winner’s medals – the five biggest club honours possible and all inside one unforgettable year.

“The medals are still here in England, and I need to find a good solution for my home in Germany, but when family and friends come to visit, I show them the medals I’ve won while with City or the jerseys I played in with a little story about each,” he smiled.

“It’s good speaking about our triumphs because you realise more and more how special it is. I remember Gundo saying after the Champions League final that it had been a very good time to join City! I couldn’t agree more.”

Interview: David Clayton