Former women’s national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg spoke about her illness for the first time in an interview.
Frankfurt – The German women’s national soccer team experienced an embarrassment at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, as national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s team completely unexpectedly failed in the preliminary round. There was then confusion about the long-time coach of the DFB women. Voss-Tecklenburg fell ill and was put on sick leave.
| Born: | December 22, 1967 (age 55), Duisburg |
| Last association: | DFB |
| Function: | National coach |
Former national coach Voss-Tecklenburg comments on her illness
In an interview with the TV station ZDF, she spoke 55-year-old, now laid off now for the first time about her illness: “I wasn’t feeling well. I wasn’t feeling well before the World Cup. I was sick and I didn’t know how long this process would take. The head is empty. I’m just crying. I am unable to think constructively and have realized that now I only have to be there for myself. And that’s what I tried to do.”
After being eliminated from the World Cup, she first had to come to terms with herself. “At that moment it is initially a state of bewilderment, a speechlessness. For me as a trainer, who is then responsible, things start to rattle.”
After a conversation with her husband, she felt that she was “really struggling” mentally – also because of the criticism of herself. “I basically collapsed completely.” The result was a feeling of pressure on the chest, panic attacks and insomnia, as Voss-Tecklenburg said in the ZDF interview.
Former national coach Voss-Tecklenburg admits mistakes
Severe criticism of Voss-Tecklenburg This was because she had given two lectures even though she had not yet been officially reported as healthy again by the DFB at that time. “Then I did the public appearances. In retrospect you can say: How stupid – mistake,” said the former national coach, self-critically.
Voss-Tecklenburg can do that too Criticism and disappointment from the national players understand. “Whether you’re let down or not 100 percent informed, but that’s also part of the reciprocity, I have the expectation that you won’t judge too quickly until you know all the perspectives. Nevertheless, the responsibility lies with me, of course,” said the 55-year-old in an interview with ZDF. According to Voss-Tecklenburg, there will soon be a private conversation with DFB boss Bernd Neuendorf to explain a few things. (smr)