National soccer goalkeeper Almuth Schult from VfL Wolfsburg is thinking about ending her career after this season. “What happens next year – that’s what I’m thinking about for Christmas”said the 30-year-old.
Your contract with VfL expires after this season. “Will I continue to play in Wolfsburg, will I continue to play elsewhere, may I not continue to play at all? I can’t comment on that yet. I have received an offer to extend my contract in Wolfsburg. We now have to be clear about what for the family is best “said Schult. The men would have professional footballers “enough financial reserves to handle your family situation. With us, that is not possible.”
At least for the public, 2021 is Schult’s year. As an ARD expert at the men’s EM, she was highly praised in the summer. As a co-founder of the “Football can do more” initiative, she calls for more gender equality in German football and, specifically, a quota for women at the management levels of associations and professional clubs. In April, the former world goalkeeper also made her comeback in the Bundesliga – just one year after the birth of her twins.
But Schult’s realization, even at the end of such an important year, is not that we have already initiated a lot. Rather: “Its a lot to do.” This applies to the compatibility of family and career as well as to the influence of women in top football. She should actually run for president at the German Football Association (DFB), said Schult. “As the association president in an honorary position, I would earn more in Germany than any active player.”
A career as an official can wait
At least in the election in March 2022, that is not yet an issue. On the one hand, because, as a still active player, you don’t have the time for it. And on the other hand, because Schult is convinced that this choice was made long ago in the old and traditional way.
In May, Fritz Keller resigned as DFB President. In the same month, Schult, the former HSV board member Katja Kraus, the referee Bibiana Steinhaus-Webb and other women founded the “Football can do more” initiative. One of their first proposals was to let the DFB, which had been shattered by power struggles, be led by a dual leadership in the future.
Football has lost a lot of credit
“That was already categorically excluded“, said Schult, which is why their network was looking for its own team for the presidential election on March 11th. “We have the will. But this will was very clouded by the news that the regional associations had already agreed on Bernd Neuendorf. So the election was practically over.”said Schult. “We hoped that the DFB Bundestag would stand for a new departure. But apparently they want to continue on the path that has been taken in the last few decades.”
There is exactly that “a momentum in society”said Schult. “And that is: We want to change something. We want more participation. It’s about respect and justice.” For their sport this has the consequence: “Football has lost a lot of credit.”
VfL Wolfsburg would like to keep them
That numerous members of FC Bayern Munich wanted to discuss human rights, but the club’s leadership stifled the Qatar debate. Or that many fans had to work short-time during the Corona crisis, but some top salaries continued to rise: All of these are signals “that shouldn’t be overlooked”as Schult says. And more women, more diversity, more perspectives at the crucial points of football would, in their opinion, ensure “that you can definitely recognize such signals”.
She created a lot of options for herself this year: a television career. A leadership position in football. Schult has also acquired a trainer license. VfL Wolfsburg would also like to continue working with her, because there are still enough sporting goals: to win back the championship title from FC Bayern or to play the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Strong performance in the club
VfL Wolfsburg hopes that the opinionated goalkeeper will continue her career. “We made Almuth an offer to extend his contract because we are 100 percent convinced of her qualities as one of the world’s best goalkeepers and as a leader.”said sports director Ralf Kellermann.
Most recently, Schult had again shown strong performances and played a key role in ensuring that VfL Wolfsburg, for example, reached the quarter-finals of Women’s Champions League reached. In the women’s Bundesliga, the VfL team is in third place despite a change during the winter break.