Grings and Fuss join Zürich from Duisburg
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
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After spending her whole career at FCR 2001 Duisburg, Germany forward Inka Grings has departed for FC Zürich Frauen, with ex-international defender Sonja Fuss making the same move.
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FC Zürich Frauen have pulled off a transfer coup with the signings of Germany forward Inka Grings and former international defender Sonja Fuss from FCR 2001 Duisburg.
The 32-year-old pair have both signed 12-month deals at Zürich after opting to leave the 2009 UEFA Women's Cup winners, the club with whom striker Grings had spent her entire senior career. UEFA Women's Champions League contenders FC Rossiyanka had also been thought to have made an offer but Grings and Fuss chose Zürich due to the possibility of employment after playing retirement.
Grings, the top scorer in the last two UEFA European Women's Championship final tournaments, registered 353 goals in 271 top-flight appearances for Duisburg. She was the league's top scorer six times and aided Duisburg to victory in the 1999/2000 Frauen-Bundesliga and 2008/09 UEFA Women's Cup. Also part of that latter triumph was Fuss, who only returned to Duisburg in January after a spell with 1. FC Köln; she also won the UEFA Women's Cup in 2004/05 at 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam and unlike Grings has ended her international career.
Grings said: "At first it was no easy decision, as the Russians also made us a very attractive offer, but in Switzerland we have the more productive future when it comes to a future job."
Fuss added: "At our age, you have to think twice, even though Russia would have been a real adventure. Football was not necessarily the main reason for that decision. But considering our family situation in Germany, Inka's tie to the national team and the language barrier in Russia, which must not be underestimated, this was the more sensible solution for both of us."
Zürich general manager Marion Daube, whose outfit joined with the men's club in 2008 and have since won two Swiss titles, said: "We are pleased to see Inka Grings and Sonja Fuss in our squad. Besides them strengthening the team, we also hope that these two top players will help to further interest in women's football in Switzerland."
FCZ lost their Swiss title last season to BSC Young Boys, who will enter this season's UEFA Women's Champions League, from which Duisburg are also absent.
