Happened to her opponents: Verena Volkmer was the best player of the year in Austria.
Photo: Image/Eibnereuropa
Verena Volkmer, you have in the Bundesliga For Werder Bremen and Carl Zeiss Jena and then played for Austria Vienna in Austria. What do you expect from the new season?
I hope for an exciting season and that the distance between the teams at the top of the table and those who fight against relegation do not get quite as big as it was last. This type of two -class society is beautiful for nobody. Leverkusen has recently taken good steps in front and I could imagine that RB Leipzig, Union Berlin and Werder Bremen will soon find the connection up.
Many hope that the EM euphoria will also be transferred to the Bundesliga. What do you think?
In the end, the number of spectators will reveal. After the EM 2021, the euphoria was also very large, so there was no desired effect. But: I have the feeling that a lot more is being done in the media. It is easier to win new fans for women’s football when they know that it is taking place at all.
Viennathey The development in women’s football is generally true?
In total, a lot has happened in the past ten to twelve years: In the past, no woman could live on it, many did not know that we existed – last season the cup game from Werder was sold out at the HSV in the Volksparkstadion with 57,000 places. Nevertheless, there is still a lot of catching up to do with equality in the clubs, especially if the men also play the Bundesliga.
To what extent?
There are often differences in the equipment, training times – or squares. But there are also clubs that strive to create the same conditions for men and women – because nothing speaks against it. At Union Berlin, you are currently very successful with this concept.
What else can clubs do?
I think it makes sense to play in the big stadiums as often as possible. That the clubs do not wait until a certain number of spectators is reached, but directly say: “We play there and then see how many come.”
Why would work?
A stadium offers a completely different feeling, not only for the players, but also for the audience. I think many may come to a game because it takes place in the stadium. That’s why you have to create this option. This has been taking place more and more and has an effect. This also creates visibility again.
When playing in stadiums in front of a large audience, there is often a different mood than usual at games of women – how do you see that?
Unfortunately, you can’t just pick the positive. Of course, the ideal case would be a good, family atmosphere without hatred, racism or discrimination – in men and women. But as soon as there are more spectators, the mood automatically changes. This family matchday excursion may be lost. As long as the overall atmosphere remains good, it is still important that the stage increases.
Interview
VERENA VOLKMER Started her football career at SC Lüchow at the age of four. She landed at Austria Vienna about the Magdeburg, Werder Bremen and Jena. As a top scorer and player of the year, she resigned this summer. Now she is pursuing her legal career in Bremen, for whom she has already prepared during her professional career during her studies.
With Jule Brand and Sidney Lohmann, two German internationals changed abroad – why do the best players leave the league?
The Bundesliga loses a bit of the connection, especially to England and the USA. Of course, one wishes that the international players play in their own league because the Bundesliga was one of the best for a long time. But other leagues have overtaken the Bundesliga.
The other way around, the best players from Austria come to Germany regularly. The HSV got eight players and the trainer from St. Pölten – what do you think of it?
I am very excited because I think the league in Austria is underestimated. The conditions are very good there, the level high. Many players who took the step to Germany have also prevailed here. I am sure that the players who have now come to the HSV will show their qualities.
They themselves were appointed queen of the year in the past season and the player of the year – nevertheless they ended their career early in summer at the age of 29. Why?
Well, I started very early: I moved away from home from home at 15 and have played so far. This has been a long time in which I also missed a lot. I accepted this for a long time and achieved almost everything that I dreamed of as a child. Now the point was reached where it is no longer worth it to me.
Now you are working as a lawyer in Bremen. Do you like your new life?
I did not make the decision overnight, but thought about it for a long time and had a good idea of what it would be. Everything is different, of course, but so far it has been confirmed that it was the right choice: the job, everyday life with my girlfriend and the time with my family.
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How did you succeed In addition to the career, you can also deal with your studies?
Both were only possible because I really wanted it. It takes a lot of ambition, discipline and time management when there is training at 8 a.m., you have university afterwards and have to go back to training in the evening. But others still worked on the side, it wasn’t that professional at the time. We deserve little and could not form reserves. So it was clear that you need a plan B. But it also had positive things for me.
What?
Both were compensated for the other. Football helped me to switch off from the stress of exams and the university distracted me when it didn’t go in terms of sport.
What would have been possible for you without the double burden?
I don’t know that. But in the three years that I had after the exam at Austria, it went pretty well in terms of sport. Nevertheless, it is complex, because there are other factors: I had more experience and played in another league.