News (engl.)

Almuth Schmidt announced today that she will end her career in professional football. The goalkeeper is not only retiring from the Germany national team but also at club level. Schult was most recently under contract with NWSL side Kansas City Current. The 34-year-old racked up a total of 66 caps between the sticks for Germany.

Almuth Schult explained: “It was always clear in my mind that I would continue to make myself available to the Germany national side as long as I was still playing at club level. It always made me so proud to represent my country and to hear the anthem, even if I spent more games on the bench than on the pitch. Football is a team sport and that’s just part of what you have to do. I am grateful for being able to meet all the people I did, both in terms of opponents and friends. The incredible clubs that I was able to play for made for an exceptional experience. I also received such a special send-off after playing for VfL Wolfsburg for such a long time. One’s career is shaped by highs and lows and I am pleased that every single one of mine happened. They made me who I am and I learned from them. Thank you to everyone who accompanied me on this journey.”

Gold in Rio at the 2016 Olympics

Schult initially represented Germany at youth level, pulling on the goalkeeper jersey for the first time in 2006 during a 7-1 win over Wales with the U15s. Numerous caps followed, including at the 2008 U17 World Cup in New Zealand, where Germany finished third, as well as at the 2010 European U19 Championship in North Macedonia, reaching the semi-final stage. Schult’s greatest success at Germany youth level was as part of the team which hosted and won the 2010 U20 World Cup, beating Nigeria 2-0 in the final inside a sold-out stadium in Bielefeld to clinch glory in front of their own fans.

Her senior international debut then followed in 2012 as part of the team to defeat Türkiye 5-0 in EUROs qualifying. Alongside being nominated for the World Cup squads of 2011 and 2015, in Germany and Canada respectively, Schult was also called up for the European Championship in Sweden in 2013, which the Germany national team went on to win.

In September 2015, national team head coach Silvia Neid selected the then 24-year-old Almuth Schult as successor to regular goalkeeper Nadine Angerer. Only a year later, Schult celebrated triumph as Germany number one at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, winning the gold medal. Germany then reached the quarter-finals of the following EUROs in the Netherlands in 2017, knocked out by Denmark as they narrowly lost 2-1. The quarter-final stage was again the end point for the Germans at the 2019 World Cup in France two years later as they were defeated 2-1 by Sweden.

“Personality and charisma”

Schult was nominated for the European Championship squad in 2022, although did not feature in England. Germany finished the tournament as runners-up. Schult received her final cap for the Germany national team in November 2022 against the USA. Almuth Schult made history as the first goalkeeper to return to national team selection after giving birth and is now expecting her fourth child in October.

DFB vice president Sabine Mammitzsch: “Almuth was and is one of the defining characters for women’s football in recent years. She is ambitious and will not be deterred from achieving her aims and has proven that mothers can return to perform at the highest level of sports with multiple children. She has therefore become a role model for so many young women. For many years, she was one of the best goalkeepers in the world and was a staple for both Germany and her club sides. I wish Almuth and her family all the best for the future as she expects her fourth child.”

DFB sporting director Nia Künzer: “I have seen Almuth as such a strong-minded personality for many years, who always operated for the benefit of the team on and off the pitch. She made waves both as a goalkeeper and a person, always with the development of women’s football at the forefront of her thinking. Almuth perceived her role as greater than just a sporting one, rather one that encompassed social development aspects as well. She was not afraid of discussing difficult topics but constantly retained a constructive focus. She possesses and always has possessed such personality and charisma and acts as a voice for many other women. Thank you, Almuth. I wish you all the best, especially for whatever comes next.”

“Role model for young goalkeepers”

Michael Fuchs, goalkeeping coach for the Germany Women’s national team: “I am very lucky to have known and worked alongside Almuth throughout her career, from start to end. I always appreciated her direct, open and critical approach. Her ambition, drive and personality were apparent both on and off the pitch. She has therefore become a role model for young goalkeepers, who have hopefully been inspired to hold similar ambitions. I wish Almuth all the best and want to congratulate her not only on an outstanding career but also for events in her personal life.”

Almuth Schult will receive her national team send-off ahead of Germany’s UEFA Women's Nations League fixture against Scotland at the Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg on 8th April. Schult played in Wolfsburg for nine years at club level and achieved great success during this period, winning the Champions League in 2014. She is also a six-time German league title holder and eight-time DFB-Pokal champion.