Once in the limelight, now behind the scenes: Birgit Prinz looks after the DFB women as a sports psychologist.
Birgit Prinz is standing on the edge of the training ground in a black DFB outfit, carefully following what is happening at the Grasshoppers Rugby Football Club facility in west London. The record national player, who once collected titles and trophies in the limelight as a reluctant star, prefers to stay in the background among German footballers. Her role as a sports psychologist is said to be central to the EM mission in England.
“She is an integral part and a great member of our team. She is present at every meeting and is always available to give advice and support,” explained national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg. She brought her former teammate on board ahead of the 2019 World Cup.
Since then, Prinz has seen herself as “a building block in this puzzle,” as she explained in a conversation with “DFB-TV” before the start of the EM. For the first time, the 44-year-old spoke about her job in the team behind the national team in front of the camera. Observation is a core element: With all her experience, she tries to “get the mood and support where I notice something”.
Prinz played 214 international matches for Germany
And her wealth of experience is undoubtedly rich after 214 international matches: for years it was the goalscorer Prinz who led the DFB team as captain. With the three-time world footballer at the helm, Germany rose to become a women’s football superpower and conquered the World Cup throne in 2003 and 2007.
At the home World Cup in 2011, however, Prinz also experienced the painful downside of the pressure to perform and high expectations. After 17 years and 128 goals, her unique career in the national team ended in a crash. In the quarterfinals against Japan (0:1 aet) the previously kicked out Prinz sat on the bench for 120 minutes.
She had already completed her psychology studies in Frankfurt and has been working in this area at TSG Hoffenheim since 2012. For the national coach, Prinz is also a great personal support: “I can have conversations with her that I can’t have with anyone else.”
Prinz still on the training ground
The national players are also impressed by the cooperation with the icon of German women’s football. Prinz is “always approachable, she’s super helpful because she knows what she’s talking about. She’s experienced it all,” said central defender Kathrin Hendrich (VfL Wolfsburg).
On the one hand, Prinz acts as a “resting place,” explained midfielder Sydney Lohmann (Bayern Munich). The five-time European champion has not forgotten her former core competence – she still shows it on the training ground, for example in goalkeeper training.
“She still has the striker genes, she always finds the gap,” said Lohmann almost a little in awe. “The strikers can also learn something from that. She’s still really good.” In front of a small audience it can at least be a role as a supporting actress.