After a serious illness
German European champion dies at just 55 years old
January 16, 2026 – 3:16 p.mReading time: 1 min.
She became European champion with the DFB women and also reached the World Cup final. Anouschka Bernhard has now died.
German football is in mourning: former national team player Anouschka Bernhard is dead. The German Football Association (DFB) announced this on Friday. Accordingly, the former defensive player died after a serious illness. She was only 55 years old.
“We remember Anouschka Bernhard as an extraordinary footballer, a great and successful coach, but especially as a lovely person and a great personality,” said Heike Ullrich, DFB Vice President for Women’s and Girls’ Football. “Anouschka leaves many traces – on football pitches around the world and in the hearts of many people. We will never forget her.”
Bernhard once played 47 international matches for the DFB women. In 1993 she finished fourth with the national team at the European Championships in Italy. Two years later she secured the European Championship title in her own country with the German team. She also reached the World Cup final in Sweden with the DFB team in 1995. However, there was a 0-2 defeat against Norway.
Bernhard also celebrated success in the club. With FSV Frankfurt she won the German championship in 1995 and 1998. In 1996 she won the DFB Cup with her club.
As a coach, Bernhard initially looked after FSV Frankfurt for several years (1997 to 2002), then from 2011 to 2020 the U16 and U17 juniors of the DFB. The U17 team led them to the European Championship title four times.
