Female football officials in DFB encounter an unexpected departure.
Football national team coach Christian Wück now has to plan without a top-notch goalkeeper. Merle Frohms declared her departure from the national squad. The 29-year-old no longer serves the new coach, having been replaced before the Olympic victory and now wishing to focus on club games.
Frohms hung up her national team boots. She was no longer at the disposal of the new coach Wück. The Olympics, in which the German team secured bronze while she only watched from the bench, marked her final appearance.
"Ever since the World Cup last year, I've felt that the Olympic tournament in Paris would be my last with the national team," Frohms stated in a release by the DFB. "I reflect on six eventful and unforgettable years characterised by numerous peaks and troughs. Representing my country as number one in two major tournaments was an honour, but also extremely challenging physically and mentally. In the future, I aim for more time with family and friends."
Frohms will continue her club career with VfL Wolfsburg: "From now on, I'll commit fully and wholeheartedly to VfL Wolfsburg on the pitch." She even lifted the DFB Cup with them this May.
Wück, now taking over from interim national coach Horst Hrubesch, lamented Frohms' departure: "I would have enjoyed coaching Merle greatly and expressed this sentiment directly to her." The team's sport director, Nia Künzer, also admired the goalkeeper: "I'm truly saddened by Merle's decision. She was always a valuable asset to our team, a reliable backup and an outstanding performer. Her performances significantly contributed to our team's achievements, like that remarkable EURO 2022, where we finished second."
Frohms made her national team debut on October 6, 2018, in a 3-1 victory against Austria. She was the third-choice goalkeeper at the 2019 World Cup and played in the 2022 EURO and the disastrous 2023 World Cup. Initially, Hrubesch favoured her, but he swapped her out just before the Olympics, opting instead for Ann-Katrin Berger. In total, Frohms appeared in 52 international matches between the posts for Germany.
Word has it that Frohms isn't the only national team player contemplating retirement. Some established players might choose to retire after the Olympic success. For instance, there are rumours about central defender Marina Hegering and even captain Alexandra Popp retiring. Popp had even considered ending her DFB career after the 2023 World Cup.
Despite her potential retirement, central defender Marina Hegering and captain Alexandra Popp have not announced their decisions yet. Meanwhile, women's football continues to thrive with other talented players filling the void left by Merle Frohms' departure from the national squad.
With Frohms focusing on club games and potential retirements looming, the pursuit of success in women's football becomes even more crucial for the German national team's new coach, Wück.
