European football mourns Doris Fitschen

European football is mourning the death of Germany legend Doris Fitschen, who has passed away following a long battle with illness at the age of 56.

Fitschen made her debut for the German national team as a 17-year-old against Denmark on 4 October 1986 and promptly scored her first of 16 goals in a total of 144 international matches. She was quickly labelled the "female Beckenbauer", earning praise for her conspicuous presence, outstanding positioning and attacking spirit as a libero.

By the age of 20, the No5 had already evolved into a key performer for the national team, which she proved impressively at the 1989 European Competition for Women's Football as she helped her side claim victory on home soil. Three more European titles were to follow (1991, 1997 and 2001), as well as a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. In the club realm, she won multiple German championships and German Cups with Frankfurt and Siegen.

In 2001, she ended her illustrious playing career with Philadelphia Charge in the USA and then made an almost seamless transition behind the scenes. She was just as impressive as a television pundit for ARD as she was at the German Football Association (DFB), where she took charge of marketing on the organising committee for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany.

Between 2009 and 2016, she served as general manager of the Germany women's national team, who became European champions twice and clinched Olympic gold in 2016 during her tenure. Since April 2022, she had been the DFB's overall coordinator for the Women in Football strategy.

"Doris Fitschen was not only a remarkable player but also an inspiring leader and mentor," said UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin. "Her dedication to women's football and her vision for its future have left an indelible mark on all of us. Doris' legacy will continue to inspire generations to come. She will be deeply missed."

Fitschen was inducted into the German Hall of Fame in 2019, having previously been honoured with the Silver Laurel Leaf, Germany's highest sports award. Once asked about her motivation, Fitschen said in an interview with the DFB: "The joy of the game, the fun of football. I am fascinated by this sport in all its facets and it excites me to work on improving the conditions for women in football at various levels. The opportunity to make a difference excites me and I see it as a great chance to contribute my experience."