Coach Kim Kulig makes Basel dream of the title: That’s why the FCB women do better than the men

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In the football city of Basel, people are dreaming of titles again. However, it is not the team of Fabio Celestini (48) that is responsible for this, but the FCB women’s team. That means they are in third place in the Women’s Super League before the start of the second half of the season. In terms of points lost, the Basel women are even the leader.

One reason for this is coach Kim Kulig (33), who has formed a top team from last year’s sixth place. When Deutsche took over in Basel last summer, it encountered a huge construction site. A total of eleven players left the club and a total of fourteen joined. In contrast to the men’s team, which did not achieve sporting success for a long time after the revolution, it worked immediately for the women.

Kulig relies on communication

“We were able to quickly make connections within this colorful group,” Kulig explains. “We spent a lot of time in personal conversations about this. It was not just about sporting matters, but also about values ​​that we want to convey to the outside world.”

Something that is perhaps neglected in modern men’s football? “It’s difficult for me to judge that because I’ve never worked in a men’s team,” says Kulig. “But I know what drives women. Things need to be clarified and expressed. It is important that different perspectives are taken into account.”

Various top transfers

But good communication is not the only reason for the rise of Basel. Thanks to the many transfers, the team will be greatly strengthened in terms of quality in the summer. Several players are coming to Basel from the German Bundesliga – including top scorer Milena Nikolic (Leverkusen), defense chief Jana Vojtekova (Freiburg) and goalkeeper Anna Klink (Leverkusen). FCB also achieved a minor transfer coup within Switzerland by signing Coumba Sow (Servette).

“Theo did a great job,” says Kulig, praising her team leader Theo Karapetsas (33). In the summer he was responsible for the integration of the women’s department in FC Basel 1893 AG. “This means that, for example, we can count on more people on staff or make better use of the infrastructure of the professional team. These are exactly the things we need to create a professional environment,” said the trainer.

Kulig is excited about her new club in other ways, too. “The distances are very short, everything is very familiar,” said the former international. “I have never experienced such direct contact with management in Germany.”

Crnogorcevic’s roommate

There she made her debut for HSV in the Bundesliga in 2008, and Kulig later moved to FFC Frankfurt, where she temporarily shared an apartment with Nati striker Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic. The midfielder played 33 international matches for Germany and became European champion in 2009.

But at the age of 25, she had to end her active career due to persistent knee problems and started her coaching career. In 2017, Kulig became assistant to the second team of 1. FFC Frankfurt, and later head coach. Kulig arrived in Basel via Wolfsburg last summer, where she celebrated a championship title and two cup victories in two years as an assistant coach.

The next title could now follow with FCB. “You can always dream,” says the trainer. “But we are still in the development process.” This continues on Saturday with the catch-up match against FC St. Gallen. With a win, the Basel women would no longer be at the top of the table solely on the basis of lost points.

Source : Blick