Nati newcomer Nadine Angerer is a transfer coup: football titan with hat, charm and a clear edge

Yes, hat wearer of the year. Nadine Angerer was not only one of the best football goalkeepers the world has ever seen, but is also a style icon, role model, a tough guy who shows a clear edge and is not afraid to take a clear stand on social issues . Your opinions on issues of racism, inclusivity or equality are sought and noted.

Unconventional wedding attire

In 2016 she married her girlfriend Magdalena Golombek. At the wedding, Angerer casually wore a black hat, scarf and pinstripe blazer. The couple lived in the United States for the past ten years, where Angerer first worked as a goalkeeper for the Portland Thorns and then as a goalkeeping coach for eight years. Portland Thorns is not just a club where football is played, it has been one of the absolute top addresses in women’s football for years.

Now the two return to Europe. And Switzerland benefits from it. This week the football association was able to announce the arrival of Nadine Angerer. Undoubtedly a coup! The 45-year-old will become the goalkeeper coach of the Swiss national team and has signed a contract in his own country until the 2025 European Championship.

Bänz Friedli is delighted

After coach Pia Sundhage (64), Nadine Angerer is the second Nati newcomer to bring glamor and world class to Switzerland football. A strong sign with a view to the European Championships next year. Comedian Bänz Friedli (59), who has been committed to women’s football for years and is a fan of the women’s national team, says about the transfer: “I am very happy because I think Nadine Angerer is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. history next to Hope Solo And I have to smile because I think about her almost every day: as a comedian, her motto ‘Always think about the next 45 minutes’ is a guideline for me when it comes to my concentration.”

Angerer’s arrival underlines the efforts to rapidly develop women’s football in Switzerland. In recent years the discrepancy has become increasingly clear. The Swiss figureheads went to the big clubs in the top European competitions and found professional structures there. This increased their own ambitions and expectations, which could not keep up with the reality in Switzerland and the national team.

Now, driven by the upcoming European home championships, there is strong momentum. Bänz Friedli concludes: “With two world coaches on the staff, the players can no longer complain about an environment that is not professional enough. Now they have to deliver.”

You can also catch your breath for a while

But what can Angerer achieve in this short period until the European Championship? There are four goalkeepers in the national team: Elvira Herzog (24, RB Leipzig), Livia Peng (22, Werder Bremen), Noemi Benz (20, FC Zürich) and Laura Schneider (28, FC Luzern). The battle to succeed Gaëlle Thalmann, who resigned after the 2023 World Cup and 109 international matches, has begun. Angerer will have to work with them mentally, encourage them, work on their self-confidence and pass on their experiences.

And the German will certainly want to introduce a certain degree of looseness. As she has always done throughout her career. Besides being serious, she also had a party every now and then and had to think about other things. It was not unusual for her to pack her things, go on a trip and dive into the sea. “No one can function without a balance between tension and relaxation,” she told “Zeit” in 2015.

Kathrin Lehmann warns

«Nadine is a kind-hearted and strong-willed person. She has experienced so many cultures, there is probably nothing she hasn’t experienced before. This wealth of experience is of great value,” says Kathrin Lehmann. The 44-year-old from Zurich played in goal for many years, including for Bayern Munich, Turbine Potsdam and the Swiss national team.

Angerer and Lehmann’s paths have crossed again and again, for example in Germany, Sweden and the US. “I think it’s great that Nadine is now part of the Swiss national team.” But the football expert, whose analyzes are highly rated on TV and radio, raises a warning finger: “The training and departure must also take place in the clubs. They cannot hide behind the fact that the national team has sent such a strong signal with the signings of Sundhage and Angerer.”

The last word goes to former goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbühler (53), who brought Nadine Angerer into his FIFA team, which analyzes matches around the world and evaluates field players including goalkeepers and can now identify interesting developments from the collected data. Zubi: “Nadine’s commitment is a top move by the Swiss association. Everyone who comes into contact with her immediately gets a good feeling. Your social skills are excellent.”