20 years ago today, Germany’s footballers reached the goal of their dreams and became world champions for the first time. Stefanie Gottschlich from Wolfsburg was the only North German to take part in the triumph on October 12, 2003. Two decades later she looks back.
The memory of what happened in the Arena in Carson (USA) in the 98th minute of the final against the Swedes still makes Gottschlich smile. The 45-year-old smiles in the NDR interview – also at herself, about that moment of indecision when Nia Künzer made it 2-1 with a header after a free kick from Renate Lingor – the golden goal.
“At first I was amazed that the game was suddenly over. People looked at each other a bit perplexed,” she says. “Suddenly everyone rushed towards Nia and I thought: ‘Come on, now you’re going with me.'”
“It felt like a 24-hour party.”
— Stefanie Gottschlich
A pretty good decision. Because the VfL Wolfsburg defender, who played in all six of the German team’s appearances and scored a goal, was in the middle of a bath of emotions. This was also the starting signal for celebrations that lasted a long time due to the early kick-off time of 10 a.m. local time in the city of 95,000 inhabitants in California. Very long.
“The banquet wasn’t until 6 or 7 p.m. in the evening. So we wasted the time until then and had a drink in the cabin. And then things really got going in the evening. It felt like a 24-hour party,” says the Lower Saxony.
Thousands of fans celebrate DFB women on the Römer
Which then continued after returning to Germany. There was a big reception for the world champions in Frankfurt; national coach Tina Theune-Meyer’s team was celebrated by thousands of people on the balcony of the Römer.
“Then you realized how many people were with us as fans and wanted to celebrate this success with us. It was crazy to look down there. In Wolfsburg I played in front of 200 spectators. And then there are 8,000 to 10,000 people standing there – unbelievable,” said Gottschlich.
More viewers than before
The title gave women’s football its first big boost: “After that, the stadiums were suddenly full. The best example was the game against Portugal.” In mid-November, 13,500 spectators in Reutlingen watched the European Championship qualifying game, which was won 13-0 – a large crowd for the time.
The world champion was also celebrated at her club. In contrast to today, when there are always numerous VfL players in the DFB squad, the then 25-year-old defender was the only representative from Wolfsburg and also the only North German.
Stefanie Gottschlich in the 2003 World Cup final.
From their point of view, there should have been more back then so that the attention could be better distributed. “I’m not the type of person who likes to be in the spotlight. It was all very unusual. I kind of enjoyed it, but it was also really exhausting.”
After various injuries, he ended his career at the age of 28
The World Cup triumph was the greatest success of her career, but by no means the only one. At the Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000, the all-rounder won bronze with the DFB team. In 2004 she was Lower Saxony’s footballer of the year and received the silver laurel leaf on the occasion of winning the World Cup. After suffering three cruciate ligament tears, the 45-time national player (three goals) ended her career in August 2006 at the age of just 28. Although Gottschlich passed the trainer exam with a B license in 2006, she ultimately took a different path.
Gottschlich used to sell cars and now sells currywurst
“It feels like football is no longer an option. I’m completely out of the topic and it’s not difficult for me,” she reports. “After the end of my career, I still had a little to do with football, with base training for girls. But I realized that it wasn’t for me anymore.” She continued her career in the commercial sector.
She began training as an office communications clerk at Volkswagen in 1995. First she traded in cars, and since 2006 she has been selling currywurst to car dealerships and external customers. Gottschlich: “The inquiries come by email or telephone and then they ask whether it is possible to bring the currywurst to Zurich, Shanghai or the German federal states. It’s fun and there is always something new.”
In front of the TV in the Germany jersey
She no longer follows the German men’s performances; the topic has “fallen behind since Qatar.” On the other hand, she does watch women’s games, especially at a European Championship or World Cup. “I thought it was a shame that the Germans were eliminated early from the World Cup this year,” says the 45-year-old, who has lived in Hanover since 2009.
At the DFB women’s games, “I sometimes wear a Germany jersey,” says Gottschlich. It also reminds you a little of how beautiful it was back then. Especially on October 12, 2003 in Carson at lunchtime, when she was briefly at a loss after Künzer’s golden goal and then just ran off – right into the longest party of her life.
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Sports current | Oct 12, 2023 | 1:17 p.m
