Nadine Kessler becomes UEFA ambassador

Nadine Kessler is joining Camille Abily, Verónica Boquete, Laura Georges, Stephanie Houghton and Lotta Schelin as a UEFA women's football development ambassador. The 28-year-old, who retired in April, is ready to contribute as a role model and inspire forthcoming generations of European girls who play football.

"It's a great honour to have been invited to become a UEFA women's football development ambassador," Kessler said at the European Women's Under-19 Championship in Slovakia.

"I look forward to meeting girls and women who share the same passion for football, and to travelling across Europe to promote and help develop the women's game.

"As a former football player, I can contribute by sharing my story, my experiences and the lessons that I've learned along the way."

During her career, the attacking midfielder with an impressive track record helped Germany in the WU19 tournament in 2006 and 2007. She went on to win UEFA Women's Champions League three time, with Turbine Potsdam (2009/10) and Wolfsburg (2012/13 and 2013/14), four Bundesliga titles and UEFA Women's EURO in 2013.

Kessler's individual achievements are equally outstanding. She won the 2014 UEFA Best Women's Player in Europe Award and, a year later, received the 2015 FIFA Player of the Year Award.

She will be remembered as one of the leading players in women's football in recent years. It is therefore an honour to welcome her to the UEFA family, and we look forward to working with her in her role of women's football development ambassador, helping to promote women's football across UEFA's 55 member associations.