In Switzerland she plays her first European Championship as number one. Large spotlight for one that often overcame in the shadow of others and two cancer.
It was almost a year ago that the then national coach Horst Hrubesch Ann-Katrin Berger made the new number one in the German goal: Shortly before the Olympic football tournament, the Swabian Merle Frohms, born, replaced. “Nobody expected that. Especially I don’t. Something like that happens very rarely in football in general, so I’m incredibly happy that the situation occurred and that I could take my chance“, says Berger in an interview with the sports show.
In France, the keeper became a crucial woman in the fight for the medals: against Canada in the quarter -finals she parried two penalty and converted the crucial self, in the game for third place, she fended off Spain’s penalty and thus secured the victory – the teammates stormed towards Berger and on it. “The emotions are simply burned with everyone. I have to honestly say I’m not the big hug type. But at that moment I didn’t really care. I just liked a load from my shoulders.. “
Footballer of the year 2024
A few weeks later, the goalkeeper was awarded Germany’s footballer of the year. Late recognition for Berger, who was only a replacement in the national team for a long time and was not noticed at home because she has been playing for clubs abroad since 2014 – currently for NY/NJ Gotham FC in the US NWSL.
Berger has been playing for NY/NJ Gotham FC since 2024
“I never liked the attention. I always thought it was nice to just do my job. It was definitely a change for me to be recognized in Germany”so Berger. “The award as a footballer of the year means my family more than me. I play a team sport. Such awards are beautiful, but not as important as bronze medal.”
Hashing pole in the German team
Berger’s strengths lie in the building game, the goalkeeper initiated several goals with precise passports and discounts, but again and again she also succeeds in remarkable parades, plus the nerve strength in the penalty shootout. “Anne is our resting pole, it radiates so much security“, says DFB captain Giulia Gwinn.
In fact, it works on the pitch and also so that Berger lets you shake nothing. This also results from the fact that she had to experience much bigger setbacks in life than goals or defeats in football.
DFB captain Giulia Gwinn and keeper Berger want to play a successful European Championship.
Comebacks after two Cancer
Thyroid cancer was diagnosed twice at Berger, and it remembers the message for the finding in 2017. “Back then I asked my doctor if I could continue to play football. He was surprised at the quick question. But I had no doubt that I could be on the pitch again and that my story as a footballer can continue to count.. ” A surgery followed a therapy with radioactive iodine, the footballer was on an insulating station without contact with other people.The best for me was also in this phase to do sports. That was also the crucial point for me why I just went through in quotation marks. “
During the European Championship in England in 2022, at which Berger was there as a replacement goalkeeper, she received the news that cancer had returned. At first she said nothing of her to her teammates, wanted to prevent every distraction, but after the tournament she went open again with the disease. “I have often noticed that people are ashamed when they are sick. I never understood that. If I can just encourage people who may need it a little bit of courage, that’s enough for me. I lived through it, I have a platform and I have to use it well. “Captain Gwinn describes Berger’s story as”Incredibly inspiring – for everyone out there and every one that is on board with us.. “
Celebrated in the USA also
In 2024, Berger from Chelsea, where she was sorted out by trainer Emma Hayes, moved to the USA. In the regular season, she conceded only 16 goals in 22 games and reached the semi -finals of the playoffs with Gotham FC. In the end she was elected the best goalkeeper of the NWSL.
She doesn’t believe in fairy tales that her career is not a imagination, but actually happens that way, says Ann-Katrin Berger. And with regard to the overcome cancer: “Football has not changed. For me it is still the same love, the same passion, the same pure joy to stand on the square. Maybe I’m even more relaxed than before because I noticed: football is not everything. But I still hate it when I lose. “
Defeats are of course not intended for the euro. The goal of the tournament in Switzerland? “I always find the question funny. I go to a tournament to win. Otherwise I would not have to compete here. We have the potential and a good team. Would be chic to finally get home with a trophy.“