Hrubesch's "young prodigy" blossoms into a DFB prospect.
Her nickname might be challenging for some, but Dutch footballer Sjoeke Nusken has certainly made a name for herself despite her unique moniker. Standing at 1.73 meters tall, she's been known as the "little Nüsken" by interim national coach Horst Hrubesch. However, that is changing as she continues to impress the German team and her recent performance at Chelsea.
Hrubesch admitted that he might have been fearful of pronouncing her name correctly, which is actually Sjoke. But Nüsken assured him that she's okay with it.
Nüsken's small start with the German team hasn't stopped her from becoming a key player. Previously, she was left out of the squad by coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg during the EM 2022. But her performance at Chelsea seems to have won her a spot back.
Hrubesch mentioned that she's one of the players who still have room for improvement. "Lena Oberdorf and Sjoeke Nusken are two of them," he said in an interview. "They work on themselves, and they have the potential to develop."
Nüsken's impact extends beyond the field, as she recently shared that the Women's Super League in England has a better system than the German Bundesliga, with more support given to women's teams. "The English men's department supports the women more," she shared. "Arsenal, for example, will play every home game next season at their new home stadium, the Emirates. That's a statement. The German football is far behind."
Nüsken's career has skyrocketed since transitioning to Chelsea. She even played as a striker in England. Lea Schueller, a striker for Bayern Munich, praised Nüsken's ability to influence games. "I think Sjoeke is just very present," she said. "We see that in training as well."
Nüsken herself is thrilled with her progress in England, both on and off the field. A chance to be nominated for the Olympics is a dream for her, one that Hrubesch believes she'll achieve. "She will certainly continue to grow."
Making a Statement at Chelsea
Nüsken's engineering background may have taken a back seat, but her focus on football has paid off. Her move to Chelsea has not only improved her career on the field but also impacted her personally. "I learned completely new structures at Chelsea," she said.
Chelsea's coach Emma Hayes had planned for her to play as a box-to-box player. So, Nüsken played in the offensive midfield on the eight, ten, or six. She also took it a step further and played as a striker.
The impact of Nusken's success at Chelsea is being widely noticed by her fellow players. Lea Schueller from Bayern Munich spoke highly of her performance and growth, stating that it's linked to her improved self-confidence. "I believe the switch to Chelsea, the seasons, and the many goals she scores, that obviously has something to do with the self-confidence of a player. We also notice that in training."
It's safe to say that Nüsken has come a long way from her time in the Bundesliga. "She used to make herself small at first, but now I hope she'll grow even bigger," Hrubesch shared. "She can influence games on one hand and set physical accents on the other. She's pretty much complete overall, but there's still a lot to come, I think."
