And how is the A-Team doing?
We benefited from the success of the team in 2022 with the European Championships in England and were able to continually increase our human resources. The number of people who support me in sports has been somewhat equalized with men. But we have the huge issue that they are only available during international match dates.
Does that mean they have to take time off from their employers for the ÖFB games?
Exactly, it has to be clarified with your employers. My two assistant coaches are Michael Brownlow, head coach at the St. Pölten Academy, and Clemens Zulehner, who is the sporting director at the Ried Academy. They also have to work on things for the women’s national team between international matches. This is always a challenge because I have limited access to them, understandably. Preliminary discussions etc. can often only take place online. It’s just not the same. I wish we could take the next steps there now too.
There is still a lack of breadth in girls’ and women’s football in Austria. How important are highlight games like the one between the SKN and Barcelona, or that the national team will play against Germany again soon? These highlights bring a lot! Especially if we counter it well. I think that was shown by the 2017 and 2022 European Championships, where we made it past the group stage as underdogs on both occasions and were able to ignite a certain amount of euphoria.
But what’s the problem?
It often fails because in certain regions there are hardly any opportunities for girls to play football. Even though the ÖFB has done a lot in recent years to create framework conditions. But we also depend on the clubs. Basically every girl would have the opportunity to play with boys. But then it’s often about infrastructural issues: Where does the girl change? Where can the girl take a shower? Etc. And everyone needs awareness and help to make it possible for every girl who wants to play football.
You’re talking about the infrastructure at the base. What about the one at the top? We are currently standing in the Generali Arena for this interview – how important is it that the team can play in good stadiums?
In terms of breadth, I think it’s important to get girls into football first. The cut comes in adolescence, when it’s about keeping these girls there. What definitely appeals are the big clubs – Austria, SK Rapid or Red Bull Salzburg. They simply have a magnetic effect, so girls also decide to play football. And of course – if we play in great stadiums, then it definitely has even more traction.