Almuth Schult ends her career: Revolutionary from Wendland

The former national goalkeeper Almuth Schult has announced the end of her professional career. The 34-year-old was recently without a club and awaits her fourth child in October. Schult played 66 times for Germany and became Olympic champion in 2016. In addition to the square, she became a mouthpiece like no other, fought for better conditions in women’s football and led sustainable changes.

Most recently, Almuth Schult had played for Kansas City Current (KCC) in the US NWSL for Kansas City Current (KCC) and reached the play-offs with the club. She convinced again on the big stage, met again in the game against Orlando Pride on Marta – and parried the shots of the six -time world footballer from Brazil Brillant.

Schult switched to KCC in August and became the new number one within weeks. “It’s nice that I was able to pay back the club’s trust. I am glad that I was able to prove that I can play at the highest level. And of course there was also a little satisfaction”In retrospect, she said in the NDR interview.

Successful conclusion at Kansas City Current

Schult became a mother of twins in April 2020, in August 2023 her third child was born. After both pregnancies, she fought her way back into the goal. It was not easy, clubs from the Bundesliga and other European countries had concerns to sign the goalkeeper – the path then led to the USA. “The comeback at KCC after the birth of my third child was very emotional. After my first pregnancy with the twins, there were so many outside doubts, people who did not trust me to return. I had hoped that it would be easier and that faith in me was greater. But there were many reservations”says Schult.

In Kansas City she experienced a successful time and a lot of confirmation. An extension of the commitment in the United States beyond the past season was out of the question for family reasons. The months in the NWSL mean a lot. “My older children have now seen me deliberately playing football, they got an idea of ​​what competitive sport means. These memories take them with them.”

Title and triumph – especially with Wolfsburg

Schult grew up in Wendland in Lower Saxony and started playing football at FC Samtgemeinde Gartow. In 2006 she ran for a DFB youth team for the first time, the U15 national team, in 2010 she won the World Cup title with the U20-together with Alexandra Popp, Dzsenifer Maroszan and Marina Hegering. After two years with the Bundesliga club Bad Neuenahr, she moved to VfL Wolfsburg in 2013, where she shaped an era in which she won the Champions League, six championship titles and eight times the DFB Cup.

Farewell on April 8th in Wolfsburg

In Wolfsburg, the circle will close for you if Schult is officially adopted in the run-up to the international team of the German national team against Scotland in the VfL Arena on April 8 (from 5.45 p.m., live in the first and at Sportschau.de). “I appreciate that I was allowed to play in extraordinary clubs, and of course it is an honor after the long time at VfL Wolfsburg to be able to say goodbye to the stadium”said Schult.

Almuth Schult’s career

Success: Olympic champion (2016), European champion (2013), Champions League winner (2014), German champion (2014, 2017, 2019, 2019, 2020, 2022), DFB Cup winner (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
National team: 66 games
Clubs: SC 07 Bad Neuenahr (43 games), VfL Wolfsburg (137), Angel City FC (1), Hamburger SV (4), Kansas City Current (11)

Schult convinced with exceptional reaction and robustness, her anticipation and her fearlessness, with her charisma alone, she brought many strikers to despair and also secured her club important success with penalty parades. She did not allow herself to be stopped, so the keeper threw herself in balls and opponents at the 2019 World Cup despite a serious shoulder lesion.

Olympic and Spectator world record As highlights

Schult debuted in the German goal in 2012, three years later the then national coach Silvia Neid appointed her to German number one. 2016 the greatest success with the national team: Olympic gold in Rio, for the goalkeeper one of the highlights of her career. “It always fulfilled me with proud to represent my country and hear the anthem. Even if it was probably more games on the bench than on the square. Football is a team sport, and that is so much so much”said the 34-year-old

Another names the Champions League semi-final in 2022 when VfL Wolfsburg met FC Barcelona in front of almost 92,000 fans in the sold-out Camp Nou. “Although we have lost high, I combine very positive memories. I had previously not thought that over 90,000 fans not only come to a women’s football game, but that the whole stadium also sings and celebrates as electrified. That was phenomenal!”

Prefer the women’s football overall – that was and is their mission. Schult negotiated funds for courses with the DFB, she denounced bad conditions in the Bundesliga, criticized clubs and associations, always said her opinion without fear. “As a goalkeeper and as a person, she set standards. Almuth has interpreted her role holistically, it is not only about the sporting, but also about social development, “said DFB sports director Nia Künzer.” She was and is one of our strong personalities with radiance, which is also a brushing maker for many other women. “

Revolution in the FIFA regulations

“I wanted to trigger changes. But I wouldn’t have thought that I could be involved in something like that in such a big one”Said Schult with a view to the changed FIFA regulations for returning maternity leave players. She had worked on the recommendations of the FIFPro football union to the World Association. After the birth of her third child, she was the first player worldwide to benefit from it. Also at VfL Wolfsburg and the national team, their commitment to more openness to mothers, Schult has a pioneering role. “It makes me proud when others see me as a role model. Idole is needed to prove that show what is possible.”

Comeback as a mother in the national team

After the birth of her twins, Schult Schult played two other international matches and wrote history – as the first goalkeeper to return to the DFB selection after her pregnancy. In November 2022 she played for the 66th and last time for Germany. “Without the DFB goalkeeper Michael Fuchs, my career would not have been possible. He accompanied me my entire national team career, shaped me as a player and character. And of course I am also infinitely grateful to my family that it made it possible for me.”

Schult and her husband expect the fourth child

At the beginning of the year, Schult, who has been part of the ARD team of experts in men’s and women’s football since 2022, initially hoped to be contracted by a club in Europe: “After my successful time at Kansas City, I was hoping that it would be easier. It was disappointing that it didn’t work during the winter break.” Now Schult and her husband expect the fourth child – she cannot imagine a new return to professional sports. “The way back is crazy and I won’t go it after this pregnancy. I’m ready to stop” now “says Schult and adds with a smile: “I’m no longer the youngest either.”

End of the professional career – it should go on in football

A comeback on the square, however, is very targeting you – at the bottom: The men’s team of her home club FC Samtgemeinde Gartow plays in the district class, for some time now women can also be used in the amateur leaves. Schult is looking forward to it: “I see myself as a field player and, for example, could play a few balls in the run out of the defense on my brother, who is striker.”