Female coach Sabrina Wittmann blazing a lonely trail in men’s soccer in Germany

As the first and only woman to be appointed head coach of a men’s professional soccer team in Germany, Sabrina Wittmann navigates a landscape where her every decision faces heightened scrutiny. Since taking the helm at her hometown club, third-division Ingolstadt, in May 2024, Wittmann has silenced critics with results—remaining undefeated in her initial four-game stint and securing the Bavarian Cup before earning the permanent position in June.

“I opened the door a little for women. And at the beginning I was honestly afraid of closing the door as quickly again,” Wittmann revealed during an online press conference Friday. The 34-year-old coach acknowledged the pressure but finds encouragement in a shifting focus. “The best answer to all this is right now I get asked a lot more questions about football than at the beginning. And that’s something I love.”

Rather than attempting to emulate male coaching styles, Wittmann emphasizes authenticity as her strength. “I wanted to be the best because of me, not because of everybody else… If a woman tries to be a man, or tries to be at the same stage, it’s probably unnatural,” she explained.

Her coaching philosophy centers on effective people management, employing empathy while maintaining high standards—a balance that has earned respect within the club. Wittmann credits Ingolstadt’s managing director Dietmar Beiersdorfer with providing crucial institutional support that has allowed her to thrive.

Despite the generally positive reception, Wittmann has encountered negativity on social media and in stadiums. She maintains perspective by focusing on the majority of supportive voices. “The loudest one is sometimes the most negative one, but there are nine people who think it’s a good thing, so I try to focus on that and not make things bigger than they are.”

Wittmann’s journey in soccer began relatively late, at age 14, when she moved to Kentucky as an exchange student. Through her host mother, a teacher, she found work as an assistant coach—igniting her passion for the tactical side of the game. The experience also transformed her as a player, exposing her to the more physical American approach to the sport.

“I’d never been in the gym before, so when I went to the U.S., we had gym every day, something we didn’t do in Germany,” she recalled. “When I came back playing soccer here, the girls told me that I play a lot more physical than I did before.”

Ingolstadt announced Friday they were extending Wittmann’s contract, a vote of confidence despite the team sitting 11th in the 20-team division. The decision reflects the club’s commitment to long-term development rather than chasing immediate promotion.

“We did a good job in the last two years even if we didn’t get up to the second division, but I think we need to build up something for years,” Wittmann said, emphasizing sustainable growth. “We need to grow healthily.”

This measured approach comes after a period of volatility for Ingolstadt, which was relegated from the Bundesliga in 2017 and from the second division in 2019. Though briefly promoted back to the second division in 2021, they were immediately relegated the following season.

Wittmann, who once cheered for Ingolstadt from the stands during their Bundesliga days, believes those earlier promotions may have come prematurely. Under Beiersdorfer’s direction, the club now focuses on player development—even at the cost of losing talent. “We lost 19 players last summer. Not in a sad way, but because we developed players who went up to the second league or even the first league.”

Her contract extension follows her recent achievement of earning the German soccer federation’s highest coaching credential, the pro license. “It was a big dream someday having the pro license because it means that you are able to train every team on this planet,” she said.

Despite incremental progress for women in German men’s soccer—such as Union Berlin’s Marie-Louise Eta becoming the Bundesliga’s first female assistant coach in 2023 and Bibiana Steinhaus breaking ground as the first female Bundesliga referee in 2017—the path remains challenging. Meanwhile, men continue to occupy prominent positions in women’s soccer, including Christian Wück’s appointment as the Germany women’s national team coach.

Wittmann acknowledges the barriers but remains optimistic about future opportunities. “I had a lot of conversations with other decision-makers from other clubs. There’s a difference between talking to me and telling me I’m doing a good job and taking the decision. I know that’s gonna be difficult.”

For now, she remains committed to her hometown club while maintaining broader ambitions. “One day it’s probably going to happen and I have to leave here, hopefully because I’m able to coach an even higher-ranked team,” she said. “I hope that things will change, and not only for me, but for every other woman who wants to be a coach.”