From the translated Kicker+ article. Original article is in German in the pinned comment:

It is currently only possible to imagine what is destined to take shape on the 30,000-square-meter site on Heßlingsweg in the Dortmund district of Brackel. For now, the area is still occupied by several massive piles of earth and gravel. Yet Ralf Kellermann can already picture it all in his mind’s eye: two hybrid training pitches with undersoil heating, a weight room, a wellness area, offices, and meeting rooms, he lists off. "It’s going to be really good," says the new sporting director of the Borussia Dortmund women's football team with enthusiasm. "This will be our new home." It is a home that BVB is investing heavily in: the projected construction cost runs into the tens of millions.

It will be a few more months before the female footballers can move in. In the meantime, the Regionalliga team is training a few kilometers away at Hoeschpark, near Borsigplatz. The team—last season’s runners-up in the Regionalliga West—plays its home matches at the historic Rote Erde stadium, right next to Signal Iduna Park. The club has already sold 1,700 season tickets for the 2026/27 home matches.

A number that is utopian for the majority of German first division clubs. But BVB doesn't send a normal regional league team onto the pitch. The team of former Bundesliga coach Markus Högner (SGS Essen) has been strengthened so much that anything other than promotion to the 2nd league next year would be a sensation. Kellermann knows this, of course. “We have respect for every opponent,” says the 57-year-old. "But the squad is so well positioned at the top and width that we have to become champions and win the promotion games. Otherwise something would have gone wrong."

Borussia Dortmund has bolstered its squad this year with six Bundesliga players boasting a combined total of over 1,000 top-flight appearances. Jacqueline Meißner, Ramona Maier, and Lena Ostermeier moved to Dortmund from relegated SGS Essen, while Ricarda Walkling and Lara Schmidt arrived from Werder Bremen. Naturally, the standout among the new signings in black and yellow is Alexandra Popp; she moved to the Ruhr region from VfL Wolfsburg alongside Kellermann to begin a new—and potentially final—chapter of her career two divisions down.

Cruciate ligament tear still sidelines Zinsberger

Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger is also joining Dortmund. The Austrian, who—like Popp—has signed a three-year contract, will have to wait a while before making her debut in the BVB jersey. She remains sidelined due to a cruciate ligament tear sustained during training in October 2025. "I can vouch for the new signings. They have no airs and graces and possess impeccable character," emphasizes Kellermann.

"The club's prestige and its infrastructure are real assets we can leverage," the sporting director explains regarding the high-profile new signings, making no secret of the fact that these factors played a significant role in his own surprising move. The former goalkeeper wants to shape the team and put ideas into practice. He says: "Everyone is behind us. That gives us a huge boost. I’m really excited about this challenge."

Pushing boundaries in Dortmund

In Wolfsburg, Kellermann had recently hit a ceiling. In Dortmund, however, boundaries are being pushed—take the training facilities, for instance. "We see these two signings as a great mark of appreciation for the work we’ve done over the past few years. It shows us that we’ve done a lot of things right," says BVB Managing Director Svenja Schlenker, delighted with the high-profile arrivals from Wolfsburg, who have quickly settled into the Ruhr region.

Everything is set, then, for Borussia’s push toward the top flight. On Thursday, the Regionalliga side kicks off the new season with a home match against Arminia Bielefeld. BVB had actually hoped to be a step further along by now, but last season they had to yield the top spot to 1. FC Köln II. It was a bitter disappointment for the club, which only committed to women's football in 2020. They aim to reach the top division by 2029 at the latest, but promotion is a must for the coming year.

Germany would win, 2-1, over Sweden during the Rio Games.

A full replay of the Final match is linked, HERE.

"Every 💚 goal translates into real change. ❤️‍🔥

The 54 goals scored by the Werder Frauen last season represent 54 areas destined to be transformed into green habitats—right on your doorstep!

Do you have a paved or asphalted area that should be home to a tree instead of concrete? Then apply with a photo and help make Bremen a little greener. 🌱

You can find all the details about the campaign and how to participate here: sparkasse-bremen.de/tore-schiessen "

Most positions have been filled ahead of the VfB women's Bundesliga debut. Some key players from last season will face a tough challenge given the new internal competition.

VfB Stuttgart’s starting lineups for the three final pre-season friendlies overlapped in eight positions. Conclusions can be drawn from this: the XI that coach Nico Schneck intends to field for the season opener against TSG Hoffenheim next Sunday (2 p.m., LIVE! on kicker) is largely set.

Dafina Redzepi has undoubtedly been one of the standouts of the pre-season. The 21-year-old midfielder scored in the 6–0 victory over Regionalliga side SpVgg Greuther Fürth as well as in the 1–2 defeat the weekend before last against TSG—the very same opponent awaiting them in the Bundesliga opener. In that final warm-up match against Hoffenheim, the slender Redzepi even found the net with a side-volley. She was unlucky only in the concluding 0–1 loss to SC Freiburg. The Heilbronn native has been a regular in the squad since the team was in the second division, and she is well-positioned to see plenty of playing time in the top flight as well.

Billa thrives on receiving good service.

The same applies to other talents—such as left-back Lenelotte Müller or, above all, Bayern loanee Luzie Zähringer, who is most comfortable in a central defensive role. General Manager Sascha Glass described the Stuttgart native—a 2025 recipient of the Fritz Walter Medal in gold—and forward Mira Arouna to *kicker* as "very exciting players," though Arouna, previously with Frankfurt, might initially start on the bench.

There is no getting around Nicole Billa up front. The Austrian netted a hat-trick within 16 minutes against Fürth and appears to be picking up where she left off after her strong season in the second division (19 goals). According to Glass, whether she succeeds—unlike her recent stint in Cologne—depends not least on the team's style of play. "I don't see her as a classic counter-attacking player," he says; "she also relies on being well-serviced in the final third."

For instance, from Redzepi, but also from other players in the midfield. Chantal Hagel, a new signing from Sevilla, is slated to be a key figure in the center—rather than on the left flank, where she has occasionally played during her career. At 28, Hagel sits somewhere between the two older of the three player generations within the VfB squad.

Glass doesn't want to block the path for local talent

On one hand, there are the young up-and-comers: U-17 national team player Muriel Dürr (17) is currently with the DFB and is expected to head to the World Cup in the autumn; Rosa Rückert (19) is still recovering from an ankle injury; plus there are players like Müller (18) and Redzepi. Then there is Julia Mickenhagen (21, formerly of Leverkusen)—whom Glass brought in as a "definite boost for the left flank"—though she is also currently rehabilitating a ligament injury.

On the other hand, there are the seasoned players: Billa (30); goalkeeper Laura Giuliani (33), who has—as expected—secured the spot between the posts; the new captain Maximiliane Rall (32), a fixture at right-back; and Fabienne Dongus (32). However, the former Hoffenheim player mostly featured in the B-team during the pre-season and faces a battle for her position—much like former captain Jana Beuschlein (30) in the attack.

"In the coming years, it will be increasingly important for us not to block the path for players from the region or our own youth setup," Glass explains. "After all, we have fantastic talent. While we needed reinforcements in our squad planning to establish ourselves in the league, we approached this deliberately with the young players in mind."

Achcinska brings the "grittiness" VfB was looking for

Then there are the professionals in their prime—a rarity last season. "Adriana Achcinska (24) brings an element we haven't really had in recent years," says Glass regarding the player, who joins from Cologne: "That grittiness, that aggression. We were looking for exactly that kind of player—someone strong in duels—for the defensive midfield role." Defensive leader Janina Hechler (27), Greta Stegemann (25, formerly Freiburg), Verena Wieder (26, formerly Bremen, though currently still in rehabilitation training), and likely Hagel (28) also belong to this group.

Ideally, the key lies in a healthy mix of the three "generations." "First of all, we want to establish ourselves, settle into the league, and stay there," says Glass regarding the objectives. "Things moved quite quickly over the past few years, and we won a lot of games. That’s why we might need to learn what it’s like to have a bit less possession and come to terms with that." As for playing without the ball, VfB first needs to get used to the league: "It was important for us to improve our pace across all positions."

"Mala guitarist and singer 🎸😮🤩"

Included are FSV Mainz, FC Bayern, SC Freiburg, and VfL Wolfsburg Frauen.

More to come!

OL Lyonnes:

• Mala Grohs and Jule Brand both played in their pre-season friendly against Eintracht Frankfurt (lost 2-1)

Manchester City:

• Rebecca Knaak played in City's test match against FCB Femení (tied 2-2)

Liverpool FC:

• Vivien Endemann had an assist in Liverpool's test match against Leicester City (won 2-0)

Real Madrid:

• Both Merle Frohms and Elisa Senß played in Real Madrid's 2-1 win against Deportivo

Portland Thorns:

• Marie Müller played during the Thorns 2-1 win over the Orlando Pride

Denver Summit:

• Melissa Kössler played during the Summit's 1-1 draw against the San Diego Wave

Gotham FC:

• Ann Katrin Berger played during Gotham's 2-1 win over the Kansas City Current

Chicago Stars:

• Anna Gasper played during the Stars' 1-0 loss to the Seattle Reign

Key notes from the official match report:

Goals: 1:0 Jaron (9th), 1:1 Mizaliyeva (19th), 2:1 Ulbrich (55th) 3:1 Jaron (78th), 4:1 Shimada (90th) 5:1 Dhont (116.)

Viewers: 1,955

"Laura Sieger is back 😍

Unsere Torhüterin Laura Sieger feierte im gestrigen Testspiel nach über elf Monaten ihr Comeback zwischen unseren Pfosten. 🧤 Schön, dich wieder auf dem Platz zu sehen, liebe Laura! 🫶"

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"Laura Sieger is back 😍

Our goalkeeper Laura Sieger celebrated her comeback between our posts in yesterday's test match after over eleven months. 🧤 Good to see you back on the court, Laura! 🫶"

Sieger had initially injured her ACL in September of 2025 in HSV's game against SGS Essen. Welcome back, Laura!

Round one will take place on the dates of 2026-09-26 - 2026-09-28.

The live scores and more details about the timing of the matches can be found on the DFB's official website!

Translated article and original article in German in the comments:

With two exceptions, the Women's Bundesliga now consists solely of teams whose men's sides play in the top two divisions. This gap is set to close soon, as Stuttgart, Dortmund, and Schalke are significantly ramping up their involvement in women's football.

Hindsight is always 20/20. Quite a few observers were skeptical in the summer of 2024 when the DFB decided to expand the Women's Bundesliga from twelve to 14 teams. However, a year later—when major clubs with rich traditions like 1. FC Union, Hamburger SV, and 1. FC Nürnberg filled the three newly created promotion spots—it became clear that the timing had been well-chosen.

This season in the second division, only two promotion spots are up for grabs. And on the surface, fewer clubs seem to be fighting fiercely for them. Yet, as is often the case, a second look is worthwhile. Several clubs that are heavyweights in men's football are pushing to reach the Bundesliga in the near future. Most of them need another year or two—such as Hertha BSC, the champions-elect of the Regionalliga Nordost, or VfL Bochum, currently mid-table in the second division. But Ruhr region giants Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04—currently in lower leagues—are also rising and strengthening their squads year by year.

Stuttgart: Newly promoted, but no underdog

VfB Stuttgart is likely to reach the top flight the soonest. Regarding the "fortunate" nature of a second-division season without Union, HSV, Nürnberg, or—as yet—BVB, VfB Sporting Director Sascha Glass says: "It really is a huge opportunity. We have a five-point lead now, and we shouldn't squander it." He remains very optimistic but also points to the difficult schedule that lies ahead.

The Swabian club is within reach of a direct rise from the Regionalliga all the way to the Bundesliga. Yet, this is no underdog fairy tale: "We wouldn't be doing ourselves justice if we claimed we entered the second-division season as underdogs or a newly promoted team," Glass admits. "Many people were aware of the squad we have, which is why we embraced the role of favorites."

Last summer, VfB signed experienced Bundesliga players such as Nicole Billa, Janina Hechler (both from 1. FC Köln), and Fabienne Dongus (TSG Hoffenheim). While there was no pressure from club management, Glass makes his stance clear: "When I look at the team we have, our goal should be promotion. In my opinion, we have the best squad in the league."

Although the Stuttgart side established themselves at the top of the table early in the season, they parted ways with coach Heiko Gerber in late March—despite sitting in second place. "It was a gradual decline, so we were worried things might start heading in the wrong direction," explains Glass, who appointed Nico Schneck—previously an assistant coach at Freiburg—as the new head coach.

"It would be a shame if we were to keep playing in the second division," says Glass, reflecting on the high-profile match against 1. FSV Mainz 05 in March (which ended 2–4). That game drew nearly 32,000 spectators to the massive MHP Arena, the home ground of the men's team.

If they succeed in winning promotion, VfB intends to do everything possible to firmly establish itself in the Bundesliga—much like Union, HSV, and Nürnberg are currently doing. Competition at the top is getting tougher, and not just for smaller rivals like SGS Essen or Carl Zeiss Jena; the path to the top of the table is becoming more difficult, too. "You can see just how strong the Bundesliga is. The financial resources available there are vastly different from what they were just a few years ago," says Glass. "We are currently working to ensure our infrastructure keeps pace with our sporting progress. I am very grateful that the club is doing so much for women's football." 

There is no fixed timeline for when the Swabian women's team is expected to become financially self-sustaining. However, the fact that the men's team has been performing strongly—including on the international stage—for the past three years certainly helps. "With an eye on the Bundesliga, we would need to strengthen a few positions," Glass points out, noting the 15 goals conceded during the second half of the season. The aim is to add players with exceptional pace to the squad. "In the Bundesliga, we wouldn't enjoy the same level of ball possession as we do in the second division. That means we need even greater squad depth and more players with speed." VfB is already well advanced in talks with a few potential signings but must wait for the decision regarding promotion before finalizing anything.

The primary focus this time is on the mid-career age group. The squad already boasts highly experienced players like Billa, Dongus, and Maximiliane Rall, alongside youth internationals such as Rosa Rückert and Lenelotte Müller. "Working with young, promising talent will remain a key priority," says Glass. "But if we want to establish ourselves in the Bundesliga, it is crucial to bring in a player or two with experience and quality. They don't necessarily have to be over 30 or even over 28."

There is one other potential "transfer" pending, should promotion be secured: a move to a new home ground. Currently, the VfB women play their home matches at the PSV Stuttgart sports complex. "We are quite far along in the process, have evaluated various options, and would be playing in a high-quality stadium that meets Bundesliga standards," says Glass. However, the MHP Arena is not the intended venue.

Dortmund: Top-level signings across the board

A decision to play regularly in the main stadium requires careful consideration. Even in Dortmund, the club is taking a measured approach to such possibilities. "I would love to see our women's team play in a sold-out Signal Iduna Park one day," says BVB Managing Director Svenja Schlenker. That is by no means unthinkable—especially given the developments of recent months. 

It came as a complete surprise when Borussia unveiled its future sporting director for women's football on March 12: Ralf Kellermann is moving from VfL Wolfsburg to BVB. It was a coup that arguably no one would have thought possible. As a coach, Kellermann won the treble with VfL in 2013 and the double in 2014, and he had served as sporting director—and later as director of women's football—at Wolfsburg since 2017.

Three days after Kellermann’s signing, another move from Wolfsburg to Dortmund followed: Alexandra Popp will play for her "club of the heart"—as she likes to call BVB—in the upcoming season. "We view these two signings as a great tribute to the work we’ve done over the past few years," said a delighted Schlenker, who is also responsible for women's football at the club. "It shows us that we’ve done a lot of things right."

Popp and Kellermann—these names demonstrate the high ambitions driving Dortmund’s plans for its sporting future. The goal is to win promotion to the top-flight Bundesliga as soon as possible. It remains to be seen just how much patience will be required to achieve this. Currently, BVB sits in second place in the Regionalliga West, trailing the 1. FC Köln reserve team by two points. The West champions will also have to clear one more hurdle: the promotion play-offs against the champions of the Regionalliga Nord—likely Holstein Kiel or SpVg Aurich.

It won’t be easy for BVB to continue its successful run without encountering obstacles this year. Popp, however, is ready to play for Borussia in the Regionalliga starting this summer. Her loyalty to the club takes precedence over the league tier. "I want to help build the project in Dortmund—both on and off the pitch—bring the girls along with me, and take the pressure off them," declares the 2016 Olympic champion. Popp has signed a contract with Dortmund running until 2029. Naturally, her goal is to return to the Bundesliga as soon as possible: "That’s the plan. But the road ahead will be tough." Up to this point, the path for Dortmund’s women footballers hasn't been rocky; they started in the Kreisliga in the 2021/22 season and climbed all the way to the Regionalliga without delay.

BVB was relatively late to embrace women's football. The topic first appeared on the agenda at the 2019 general meeting. Schlenker didn't exactly find doors wide open back then. "The doors were ajar," she recounts with a smile. But the women's football department has long since become an integral part of the club. The club is doing everything possible to create optimal conditions for the women's team. Fifteen million euros are set to be invested in the new training center. "That will be our new home," Schlenker announces. The squad is also set to be strengthened—and not just with young talent. "We are also considering experienced players," says Schlenker.

Schalke: Capitalizing on the hype step by step

Just a few kilometers to the west, FC Schalke 04 is following a similar path in the footsteps of its arch-rival. After record-holding men's champions Bayern Munich and BVB, Schalke boasts the third-highest number of club members in Germany. The club from the Ruhr region possesses immense appeal, extending far beyond local borders. While the men's team is currently battling for promotion to the Bundesliga, the women's division has only existed since the summer of 2020. Starting out in the *Kreisliga* (district league), Coach Stefan Colmsee’s squad now sits atop the *Westfalenliga* and is set to compete in the *Regionalliga* next season—a rapid ascent so far. "We are very satisfied with the current situation. We have already achieved many of our set goals and remain clearly focused on others. Overall, we see very positive development; the trend is clearly pointing upwards," says Boris Liebing, who is responsible for women's football at Schalke.

Regarding goals for the coming years, he emphasized: "We want to develop at our own pace. The focus isn't on reaching the Bundesliga in the short term, but on sustainable growth—step by step and built on a broad foundation."

The team has laid that foundation over the past few years. Interest was immense when the women's division was established six years ago. And the hype hasn't waned—just look at the summer signings: players such as Laura Radke (Borussia Mönchengladbach) and Lucy Karwatzki (VfL Bochum), both from the 2. Bundesliga, were brought to Gelsenkirchen.

Until recently, the team's standout star and key performer was former Bundesliga and national team player Mandy Islacker, who contributed 30 goals in 10 matches to the team's success this season. The 37-year-old is no longer hunting for goals for the *Königsblauen* (Royal Blues), however; she announced her retirement in March due to her pregnancy. 

The Essen native will remain involved with women's football at Schalke, continuing her work in administrative and organizational roles. And one thing is certain: thanks to its reputation and history, S04 will continue to attract top-class players in the future. "The club's appeal is definitely an advantage. However, the substance of the project is ultimately what determines a move. Simply being a fan of a big club isn't enough. We have built a very solid foundation over the past few years and can now offer players a great deal," explained Liebing. It is likely only a matter of time before FC Schalke 04 reaches the top tier of the Bundesliga.

From the BvB Dortmund/AS Roma pre-season friendly on 15/08/2026.

From the official press release:

05-Frauen tragen sich in Goldenes Buch der Stadt Mainz ein

Nach dem Aufstieg in die erste Liga wurde den Mainzerinnen am Sonntag eine besondere Ehre zuteil

Die 05-Frauen haben sich als Aufsteigerinnen aus der 2. Frauen-Bundesliga in die Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga am heutigen Sonntag im Stadthaus an der Großen Bleiche in das Goldene Buch der Stadt Mainz eingetragen. Empfangen wurden die Rheinhessinnen vom Mainzer Oberbürgermeister Nino Haase sowie Sportdezernent und Bürgermeister Daniel Köbler. Der FSV war in der vergangenen Saison als Neuling aus der Regionalliga Südwest in der zweithöchsten Spielklasse Deutschlands an den Start gegangen und hatte sich durch die Vizemeisterschaft den Durchmarsch in die erste Liga gesichert. 

"Unsere Fußballerinnen haben mit ihrem Aufstieg in die Bundesliga Historisches für Mainz 05 und unsere Stadt geschafft, sie leisten damit auch Pionierarbeit für den Frauenfußball in Mainz und der Region. Ihr Weg aus der Regionalliga direkt in die höchste deutsche Spielklasse ist eine Erfolgsgeschichte. Sie haben sich nun neben unserem Männerteam auf der deutschen Fußball-Landkarte verankert und den Eintrag ins Goldene Buch der Stadt Mainz als drittes Team nach unseren Profis und unserer U19 redlich verdient", sagt Stefan Hofmann, Vereins- und Vorstandsvorsitzender.

"Der Aufstieg in die erste Liga ist ein herausragender Erfolg, ein historischer Moment für unseren Verein sowie die gesamte Stadt und das Ergebnis von Zusammenhalt, Leidenschaft und unermüdlichem Einsatz. Der Eintrag ins Goldene Buch ist dabei eine besondere Ehre und erfüllt uns mit Stolz und Dankbarkeit", sagt Nadine Kreß, Sportliche Leiterin Frauen- und Mädchenfußball.

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05 Women’s Team Signs City of Mainz’s Golden Book

Following their promotion to the first division, the Mainz team was accorded a special honor on Sunday.

On Sunday, the Mainz 05 women's team—having won promotion from the 2nd Women's Bundesliga to the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga—signed the City of Mainz's Golden Book at the Stadthaus on Große Bleiche. The team from the Rhine-Hesse region was welcomed by Mainz Mayor Nino Haase and Deputy Mayor Daniel Köbler, who is also responsible for sports. Last season, the team competed in Germany's second-highest division as newcomers from the Regionalliga Südwest and secured a direct promotion to the top flight by finishing as runners-up.

"By winning promotion to the Bundesliga, our players have achieved something historic for Mainz 05 and our city; in doing so, they are also pioneering women's football in Mainz and the surrounding region. Their journey from the Regionalliga straight to Germany's top division is a true success story. They have now established themselves on the German football map alongside our men's team and have thoroughly earned their place in the City of Mainz's Golden Book—becoming the third team to do so, following our professional men's squad and our U19s," said Stefan Hofmann, Chairman of the Club and the Executive Board.

"Promotion to the top flight is an outstanding achievement—a historic moment for our club and the entire city—and the result of unity, passion, and tireless dedication. Signing the Golden Book is a special honor that fills us with pride and gratitude," said Nadine Kreß, Sporting Director for Women's and Girls' Football.

From the official press release:

Der FC Carl Zeiss Jena verstärkt seine Defensive mit Laura Lillholm. Die 26-jährige Dänin wechselt nach ihrer Zeit beim österreichischen Erstligisten SK Sturm Graz nach Jena und bringt internationale Erfahrung aus Österreich sowie dem dänischen Fußball mit.

Die Verteidigerin stand zuletzt seit 2023 beim SK Sturm Graz unter Vertrag und absolvierte dort insgesamt 64 Pflichtspiele, in denen sie drei Treffer erzielte. Zuvor war Laura Lillholm bei verschiedenen Vereinen in Dänemark aktiv. Auch auf internationaler Ebene sammelte sie bereits Erfahrung: Für die dänischen U17- und U19-Nationalmannschaften kam sie zu Einsätzen.

In der Saison 2024/25 belegte Lillholm mit Sturm Graz den dritten Platz in der Meistergruppe der ADMIRAL Frauen Bundesliga. Bereits ein Jahr zuvor erreichte sie mit dem Grazer Team den vierten Tabellenplatz.

Nun führt ihr Weg nach Jena. Die 26-Jährige freut sich auf ihre neue Aufgabe beim FCC: „Ich freue mich sehr, endlich in Jena zu sein und auf dieses neue Kapitel. Ich bin gespannt darauf, das Team kennenzulernen und gemeinsam zu arbeiten. Ich kann es kaum erwarten, endlich loszulegen.“

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FC Carl Zeiss Jena is strengthening its defensive line with Laura Lillholm. The 26-year-old Danish woman moves to Jena after her time with the Austrian first division SK Sturm Graz and brings international experience from Austria and Danish football.

The defender was last signed with SK Sturm Graz since 2023 and played a total of 64 mandatory games there, in which she scored three goals. Previously, Laura Lillholm was active at various clubs in Denmark. She has also gained experience at international level: she has made a stake for the Danish U17 and U19 national teams.

In the 2024/25 season, Lillholm took third place in the champion group of the ADMIRAL Women's Bundesliga with Sturm Graz. A year earlier, she reached the fourth place in the standings with the Graz team.

Now their way leads to Jena. The 26-year-old is looking forward to her new role at the FCC: “I am very happy to finally be in Jena and to this new chapter. I look forward to meeting the team and working together. I can’t wait to finally get started.”

Scorers:

32' | Damnjanović

45+4 ' | Bühl

46' | Bühl

From the official Eintracht Frankfurt match report:

Successful final dress rehearsal before the start of the league season

After Larissa Mühlhaus opened the scoring, Erëleta Memeti added another goal, securing a 2–1 victory for Eintracht against OL Lyonnais.

In their final major test before the start of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga, the "Eagles" faced the record-holding champions of Europe's premier club competition. The match against Olympique Lyonnais took place behind closed doors early Sunday afternoon.

Six days before the league opener, head coach Niko Arnautis made six changes to his starting lineup. Jarne Teulings, Nina Lührßen, Amanda Ilestedt, Jamilla Rankin, Pia Wolter, and Danique Tolhoek all got the nod to start this time around.

A committed and solid Eintracht performance

Amidst summer-like temperatures at the Adi-Dassler-Sportplatz on the adidas campus in Herzogenaurach, SGE and OL engaged in an evenly matched contest during the first half, with the Eagles actually creating more notable scoring opportunities. While the Lyon attack—featuring key figures like Jule Brand and Salma Paralluelo—was largely kept in check with few shots allowed, a halftime lead for Frankfurt would not have been undeserved. Facing the eight-time Champions League winners, Danique Tolhoek came agonizingly close to putting Eintracht ahead on two occasions (24th and 45+4 minutes).

Arnautis’s squad remained true to their style of play against Lyon, pressing the French champions very high up the pitch at times and forcing a few errors. In central midfield, the newly formed duo of Hanna Bennison and Dilara Açıkgöz frequently closed down space in the first half, causing Lyon significant problems. Whenever the French side did manage to threaten the Hessian goal, goalkeeper Lina Altenburg often stood in their way, repeatedly coming off her line decisively to thwart attacks.

For the restart, SGE coach Niko Arnautis sent six fresh players onto the pitch. Janne Krumme took over in goal from Lina Altenburg, while Noemi Ivelj, Larissa Mühlhaus, Paulina Krumbiegel, Erëleta Memeti, and Sara Doorsoun also entered the game.

While the last-named player stepped up defensively on a few occasions to fend off attacks from an OL side that had become somewhat more active, the overall pattern of play remained largely unchanged for the time being. Clear-cut scoring opportunities were also scarce in Herzogenaurach during this period. Although several corners whipped into the box by Nina Lührßen briefly unsettled the Lyon defense, Frankfurt failed to capitalize on these situations.

Substitutes break the deadlock

The situation changed in the 76th minute: SGE newcomer Sofie Lundgaard initiated the move with a pass to Erëleta Memeti. Memeti dribbled past her markers into the left side of the penalty area and spotted Larissa Mühlhaus waiting in the center. The top scorer from the previous Bundesliga season took a moment to set herself up before slotting the ball home to make it 1–0 (76'). However, the joy was short-lived, as OL Lyon found a somewhat surprising equalizer just three minutes later. Following a rare lapse in the Frankfurt defense, Vicki Becho tapped the ball over the line to level the score.

Despite the equalizer, Frankfurt remained confident and a tough opponent to play against, and they were rewarded for their strong performance once again in the 86th minute. Shortly after a header by substitute Ada Hegerberg had missed the Frankfurt goal, Erëleta Memeti—who had provided the assist for the opening goal—found the net herself at the other end to make it 2–1. That was the final score of a thoroughly intense match and a successful dress rehearsal for the start of the league season next Saturday. The team will then face 1. FC Köln at their home stadium at Brentanobad (12:00 p.m.).

𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐕𝐨𝐬𝐬-𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐟𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐂𝐙 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐞𝐧

Wir freuen uns bekanntzugeben, dass die ehemalige Nationaltrainerin der Schweizer und Deutschen Frauennationalmannschaft, Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, per 1. Oktober 2026 als neue Cheftrainerin der FCZ Frauen verpflichtet werden konnte. Sie bringt eine grosse internationale Erfahrung mit und tritt per 1. Oktober 2026 die Nachfolge von Renato Gligoroski an. Voss-Tecklenburg hat beim Stadtclub einen Zweijahresvertrag bis Sommer 2028 unterschrieben.

Martina Voss-Tecklenburg beendete im Jahr 2003 ihre aktive Karriere (125 Länderspiele) und sammelte zunächst Erfahrungen in verschiedenen Funktionen im Nachwuchs- und Verbandsbereich, bevor sie 2008 Cheftrainerin beim damaligen FCR 2001 Duisburg wurde. Mit Duisburg gewann sie unter anderem 2009 den UEFA Women’s Cup, den Vorgängerwettbewerb der heutigen UEFA Women’s Champions League sowie zweimal den DFB-Pokal der Frauen. Nach einem Engagement beim FF USV Jena wurde Voss-Tecklenburg im Jahr 2012 Trainerin der Schweizer Frauennationalmannschaft. Unter ihrer Leitung qualifizierte sich die Schweiz erstmals für eine WM- und eine EM-Endrunde. Zudem prägte sie auch die Weiterentwicklung und Professionalisierung der Strukturen im Schweizer Frauenfussball. Nach sechs Jahren wechselte sie zurück nach Deutschland und übernahm das Amt als Cheftrainerin der deutschen Frauennationalmannschaft. Zu den Höhepunkten ihrer Amtszeit gehörte die EM 2022 in England, wo sie mit Deutschland das Endspiel erreichte und Vize-Europameisterin wurde. Ihre Zeit als Bundestrainerin endete im Herbst 2023.

Aufgrund noch laufender Verpflichtungen wird Martina Voss-Tekcklenburg ihre Tätigkeit beim FCZ ab 1. Oktober 2026 aufnehmen können. Bis dahin wird weiterhin Alessandro Mangiarratti ad interim das Traineramt ausüben.

Wir freuen uns auf die Zusammenarbeit mit Martina Voss-Tecklenburg und wünschen ihr schon jetzt viel Erfolg.

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Martina Voss-Tecklenburg Named New Head Coach of FCZ Women

We are pleased to announce that Martina Voss-Tecklenburg—former head coach of the Swiss and German women's national teams—has been appointed as the new head coach of FCZ Women, effective October 1, 2026. She brings extensive international experience to the role and will succeed Renato Gligoroski. Voss-Tecklenburg has signed a two-year contract with the club, running until the summer of 2028.

Martina Voss-Tecklenburg concluded her playing career in 2003 (having earned 125 international caps) and initially gained experience in various roles within youth development and football associations before becoming head coach of FCR 2001 Duisburg in 2008. With Duisburg, she won the UEFA Women’s Cup (the predecessor to the current UEFA Women’s Champions League) in 2009, as well as the German Women’s Cup (DFB-Pokal) twice. Following a stint at FF USV Jena, Voss-Tecklenburg became head coach of the Swiss women's national team in 2012. Under her leadership, Switzerland qualified for the World Cup and European Championship finals for the first time. She also played a pivotal role in the further development and professionalization of structures within Swiss women's football. After six years, she returned to Germany to take charge of the German women's national team. A highlight of her tenure was the 2022 European Championship in England, where she led Germany to the final and a runner-up finish. Her tenure as national team coach ended in the autumn of 2023.

Due to ongoing commitments, Martina Voss-Tecklenburg will be able to begin her role at FCZ on October 1, 2026. Until then, Alessandro Mangiarratti will continue to serve as interim coach.

We look forward to working with Martina Voss-Tecklenburg and wish her every success.