It’s hard to imagine that this is even possible given the Wolfsburg success story that has been going on for a decade now. The VfL women have won two Champions Leagues and now seven championship titles, the ninth win of the DFB Cup is within reach – it would be the eighth in a row. Only in the Champions League semi-finals did Lower Saxony lose to defending champions FC Barcelona, who were unleashed in front of more than 90,000 spectators at the Camp Nou.
Squad and coaching staff turned inside out
The “darn” seventh year as a champion is remarkable because the biggest upheaval to date has taken place in the women’s department of VfL after the title break in the past Bundesliga season. Not only in the squad, which top-class players like Lena Goeßling, Fridolina Rolfö, Ingrid Engen or Zsanett Jakabfi left. The trainer team was also completely turned inside out – from Stephan Lerch, Ariane Hingst & Co. to Stroot, Kim Kulig & Co.
“The German championship is a title of consistency, the most deserved, most honorable title, which welds the team even more together, especially with a view to the next few years.”
— VfL goalkeeper Almuth Schult
“More than half of the team hasn’t won this German championship title yet, so it’s something very special. Plus a completely new team of coaches, nobody really had us on their list before the season,” says Ralf Kellermann. And that is largely the work of the sporting director, who has been in charge of the fortunes of the VfL women for almost 14 years (until 2017 as a coach).
Waßmuth commitment a direct hit
Over the years, the former goalkeeper has built up an excellent network. Again and again he not only signs international top footballers, but also those who only become so in Wolfsburg. The latest example: When VfL brought Tabea Waßmuth from TSG Hoffenheim to the Mittelland Canal for the new season, it wasn’t necessarily seen as reinforcement from the top shelf. But Waßmuth’s performance literally exploded in Wolfsburg. The 25-year-old has scored eleven times in the Bundesliga and ten times in the Champions League. She promptly extended her contract until 2025.
Jill Roord (ten Bundesliga goals) is hardly inferior to her. After moving from Arsenal FC, the Dutchwoman integrated almost seamlessly into the VfL structure. In addition, Alexandra Popp and Ewa Pajor celebrated strong comebacks after protracted injuries. After the birth of her twins, Schult fought back her regular place in goal. Lena Oberdorf, who has matured into a leading player, as well as the experienced Svenja Huth and defense chief Dominique Janssen delivered reliably.
Frohms, Brand, Agrez, Hegering – Kellermann buys
With the exception of Schult, who is moving to the USA to complete her career in the summer, Wolfsburg has had to cope with less serious departures after the current season. That made it possible for Kellermann to saddle up the squad again. His shopping spree took him to the best addresses in Germany. So Merle Frohms is not just a “substitute” for regular keeper Schult. The returnee became number one in the national team at Eintracht Frankfurt. VfL top talent Jule Brand fished in from Hoffenheim. The 19-year-old striker, who made her Bundesliga debut at 17, has scored four goals in 15 internationals.
Exchange exchange VfL Wolfsburg
Additions: Merle Frohms (Eintracht Frankfurt), Jule Brand (TSG Hoffenheim), Sara Agrez (Turbine Potsdam), Marina Hegering (Bayern Munich), Anna-Lena Stolze (Twente Enschede / was on loan) – in winter: Sveindis Jonsdottir (Kristianstads DFF / was borrowed)
Departures: Almuth Schult (Angel City FC/USA), Turid Knaak (end of career), Anna Blass (unknown), Shanice van de Sanden (unknown), Lotta Cordes (1. FC Köln) – in winter: Sofie Svava (Real Madrid), Sara Doorsoun (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Another outstanding winger is 20-year-old Sveindis Jonsdottir. The lightning-fast Icelander had signed Wolfsburg in early 2021, but initially let her mature “under the radar” in Sweden for a year. With Potsdam’s captain Sara Agrez (21) and the experienced Marina Hegering from Bayern Munich, two seasoned central defenders are also coming to the German champions. The question remains: If Wolfsburg is able to dominate the national competition with a changed squad – what is possible internationally with these reinforcements?
Graduation for Schult: “Best with the double”
Almuth Schult will only follow this from afar. The 31-year-old does not want to go into detail either about her move to Los Angeles or the European Championships in England. Her focus is solely on rounding off the nine years at VfL Wolfsburg in a manner befitting her status. And in addition to the Bundesliga halali, that also includes the cup final on May 28 against Turbine Potsdam. “I want to end the season perfectly,” she says, “preferably with the double.”