Status: 02.09.2025 8:39 p.m.
In Austria, Liése Brancao SKN St. Pölten led to seven championships and six cup wins in eight years. The Brazilian trainer has to get used to the new requirements for the HSV women. For the climber, it is “only” about relegation.
Liése Brancao in Denkerin-Pose-that’s how the new HSV women trainer has often been seen in the season preparation. One arm crossed in front of the upper body, the other hand on the chin. Exactly observing what happens on the pitch. Whether in training or in the game. The 43-year-old did not miss any detail. To explain to your team exactly afterwards what was good and what was bad.
“It was important to us to give time and space at the beginning,” explains Brancao in the NDR interview. “We didn’t want to give everything right away. The players should be able to show themselves. It is part of the preparation to try a few things to see where we stand and how we deal with successes and defeats. We got to know each other even better.”
In Austria with St. Pölten not to be stopped
The new ones had to get to know all in Hamburg. When the HSV presented the Brazilian as the successor to promotion coach Marwin Bolz, most of them searched for a few information on the Internet. Brancao has only been known in Germany – the woman from Novo Hamburgo near Porto Alegre on the Atlantic coast in women’s football has long made a name for herself.
“Liése sets great, new impulses and redesigned the team again.”
HSV manager Saskia Breuer
With St. Pölten in Austria, she won seven championships and six cup wins in eight years. She also led the Lower Austrians into the group phase of the Champions League three times.
“Liése has impressively showed in recent years that they can develop teams sustainably. Liése fits our way – we are very much looking forward to the cooperation,” Saskia Breuer had declared the obligation in April. And even four months later, the coordinator of women’s football at HSV is still beaming: “I am still very happy that we have ‘Li’ in our ranks. She sets great, new impulses and reels the team again.”
Good balance between hard work and fun
The trainer quickly won her new team for herself. “‘Li’ is super relaxed and always jokes. She does not fill out her head coach role from above, but meets us at eye level. I think that’s cool,” says Pauline, who has made Brancao in preparation as the new captain.
But the relaxed species does not ignore that the Neu-Hamburg native is also pursuing a precise plan. The trainer demands a lot of discipline, the players explain in unison. After initially mixed results in preparation against the better opponents, Brancao attracted the reins.
Form curve of the team clearly points upwards
The phase of getting to know each other with clear defeats against Bundesliga club Jena (0: 4) and against the ambitious second division promoted Viktoria Berlin (1: 3) followed more specifications – and promptly the wheels interlocked. In the 0: 1 defeat against Bundesliga competitor RB Leipzig, the work against the ball worked much better.
“The development may not be so fast at the beginning, but very important. Defeats are never welcome. But the way we lost was actually good for us. Now we know what we need and what we can do,” said Brancao at the end of the training camp.
During the dress rehearsal against SC Heerenveen, the gates finally scored. With 4: 1 (1: 1), the HSV women defeated the Dutch first division clubs, who ended the past season in ninth place. Sophie Hillebrand had given the North German early in. In the second half, Victoria Schulz, Sophie Profé and Mia Büchele made it clear. The Bundesliga season for the HSV women starts with the home game against VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday (4 p.m.).
Brancao still has to learn to lose
Brancao demands “very brave” football from her team. The team should always be active and not just react. Especially since you can also control the game if you are not in possession of the ball yourself. “But when we win the ball and then play ahead, we want to be cheeky.”
“As a player and trainer, I was mostly concerned with titles. But it is important for my development to take a different perspective now.”
HSV trainer Liése Brancao
How well that can work as a climber in the Bundesliga? Brancao is excited – not least how she can deal with failures herself. “As a player and trainer, I mostly dealt with titles,” she explains. “But it is important for my development to take a different perspective now.”
She knew what it takes to be successful and wants to give her new team a lot of her experience. “I also want to learn on the other side.”
Speaking of learning: Brancao, who asked in St. Pölten in the Champions League to dissolve their contract at the end of last year, also completes the course on the UEFA-Pro license. At the end of November there is a conclusion in Austria. In her absenteeism, she is represented by her co-trainers.
Brancao relies on the “heart” of the HSV fans
Like everyone at HSV, the trainer hopes that the fans will have their share on the way to staying in the Bundesliga. The previous games in the Volksparkstadion have made a big impression on her. When they then In the game against Frankfurt IIin which the Hamburg women on the square next to the stadium in front of a good 600 fans made the climb perfect, it was finally “fascinated”.
“The fans do not come because of men or women’s football or other sports: they love this club. They love the HSV. I haven’t seen it in my life yet,” explains Brancao. “I was born in Brazil, we live and breathe football. But there is also a lot of criticism in Brazil. It is more with heart here. It’s very pleasant to work.”
And so there is great hope that the thinker pose will not be seen as often in the season. But much more often Liése Brancao in jubilee pose.
