She actually wanted to continue playing: confusion about the resignation of national goalkeeper Thalmann

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Nati goalie Gaëlle Thalmann (37) is only an active professional football player for the World Cup in New Zealand. Then she ends her career and moves to Ticino, where she becomes the women’s boss at FC Lugano and goalkeeper coach for the youth.

But as surprising as the dismissal of a 37-year-old is, it comes as a surprise after talking to Blick in the first week of preparation for the World Cup. When Thalmann spoke about her future in Magglingen BE four weeks ago, everything sounded very different.

“I know the end is near. But as long as I have fun, I will continue. I have extended for a year,” said the goalkeeper when asked about her future at Betis Sevilla. After the interview, the Freiburg resident added that her contract extension in Spain was not yet official, so one has to wait for the club’s announcement.

Thalmann felt this was the last season

But, as is known, this does not happen. The next message about Thalmann’s future is the announcement of his resignation and the news about the job at Lugano.

After the long journey to New Zealand, Thalmann briefly talks about the end of her career on the day of the first national training. “The idea to resign arose a long time ago,” she suddenly says. “Last summer I played in preparation with the idea that it could be my last season. That was then confirmed during the season. I felt it in me and enjoyed the season so much afterwards.”

The next ex-national player as a woman boss

Why she actually wanted to continue playing at Betis despite the sign of her retirement remains open. Likewise, whether Lugano’s offer was so good that she absolutely wanted to accept it. Because Thalmann doesn’t talk about the new tasks in Ticino either: “Only after the World Cup!”

Betis has now responded to Thalmann’s change of plan and has taken Paula Vizoso (23) from Atletico.

And in Lugano they are happy to have hired a woman with a wealth of experience and a CAS in football management as Head of Women Soccer. After Lara Dickenmann (37) at GC and Sandra Betschart (34) at YB, Thalmann is now the next ex-national player to become the women’s boss at a major club. She reports directly to Men’s Sports Director Carlos Da Silva (39).

The big difference with GC, YB and Co.: In Ticino, after two relegations from the Super League and from the NLB, the team has to be completely rebuilt in the third division 1st division with games against small clubs such as Widnau and Wädenswil.

Source : Blick