[ 11goals ] - Interview with Sophia Thiemann (SGS Essen)

Dear Sophia,

1. What 3 things fascinate you about football?

Football can be very unpredictable and unexpected, whether negative or positive. This creates characters and identities.

It is remarkable how many people around the world identify with football and through it grow beyond themselves, stick together and live for it.

You can achieve the impossible through football, as a team and individually.

2. Your best football moment so far?

There are so many wonderful moments that football has given me that I can't name a special moment. However, an example would be reaching the DFB Cup semi-finals as an underdog. (with Arminia Bielefeld)

3. What do you think is the key to being happy?

Everyone should find out for themselves. For me personally, this includes never giving up and accepting yourself. The most important thing for me, however, is the support of my family.

4. What motivates you or how do you motivate yourself?

Motivating myself is easy. Good mood! To use every training and game to get better.

To believe in myself when things aren't going well.

5. What are you most proud of in your life?

The way I am and the people in my life who believe in me.

6. What was the best decision in your football career?

The best decision in football was choosing a professional football career and proving everyone who didn't believe in me wrong.

7. What three things in your life are you most grateful for?

For my family, my friends and for my health.

8. Do you have a role model and why?

I don't have a real role model, but I intend to play football the way Serge Gnabry or Kingsley Coman do.

9. If you could change one thing in football: what would it be?

Women's football is often still laughed at. I would very much like this to change and be just as accepted as men's football.

10. If it were up to you, what song would be playing in the locker room before games?

This is constantly changing. Right now, my pre-game playlist would be “Invincible” by Pop Smoke.

11. Your life without football would be...

I can't say exactly or imagine it. Maybe I would have become a tennis or golf professional.

Thank you, Sophia! We wish you lots of success with SGS. Stay healthy!