With VfL Wolfsburg, she has won everything at club level apart from the DFB Cup. In 2013, she became a European champion with the national team and Almuth Schult has now also been voted as the World Goalkeeper of the Year alongside the American Hope Solo, who finished on the same number of points. In an interview with DFB.de, 23-year-old Schult speaks about the award, the German goalkeeping position and about the summer’s World Cup in Canada.
DFB.de: The year has only just begun and you have already picked up a big award. 2015 couldn’t have started any better for you, could it?
Almuth Schult: You could say that. Three days in training and already a piece of silverware. Things can continue like that (she laughs).
DFB.de: You won the championship once again with VfL Wolfsburg and defended your Champions League title. There was no way that this award was going to pass you by…
Schult: I hadn’t even thought about it and was surprised when I got the news. It is a great honor and I am of course very happy about it even though I personally was not that pleased about the first half of 2014. We won the title at that time of course but I actually thought that my performances were better in the second half of the year and therefore I hope that it continues after the winter break.
DFB.de: The IFFHS’s jury called you a “symbol of the future” in their reasoning for the award. How do you see yourself?
Schult: “Symbol of the future” sounds a bit unrealistic. I am 23-years-old now and that is still young for a goalkeeper. The majority of goalkeepers have their best years when they get to their late 20s/early 30s because experience is vital in this job. You can see that in the development of Manuel Neuer over the last couple of years or with Nadine Angerer, who is still putting in top performances at 36 years of age. You get this kind of experience as you get older and of course after playing many matches. That is why I am sure that I will still have a future as a goalkeeper.
DFB.de: Manuel Neuer has also become World Goalkeeper of the Year in 2014 and junior World Champion Meike Kämper was awarded the Golden Glove last summer at the U20 World Cup. What is it about a German goalkeeper’s game that makes them so successful, also at an international level?
With VfL Wolfsburg, she has won everything at club level apart from the DFB Cup. In 2013, she became a European champion with the national team and Almuth Schult has now also been voted as the World Goalkeeper of the Year alongside the American Hope Solo, who finished on the same number of points. In an interview with DFB.de, 23-year-old Schult speaks about the award, the German goalkeeping position and about the summer’s World Cup in Canada.
DFB.de: The year has only just begun and you have already picked up a big award. 2015 couldn’t have started any better for you, could it?
Almuth Schult: You could say that. Three days in training and already a piece of silverware. Things can continue like that (she laughs).
DFB.de: You won the championship once again with VfL Wolfsburg and defended your Champions League title. There was no way that this award was going to pass you by…
Schult: I hadn’t even thought about it and was surprised when I got the news. It is a great honor and I am of course very happy about it even though I personally was not that pleased about the first half of 2014. We won the title at that time of course but I actually thought that my performances were better in the second half of the year and therefore I hope that it continues after the winter break.
DFB.de: The IFFHS’s jury called you a “symbol of the future” in their reasoning for the award. How do you see yourself?
Schult: “Symbol of the future” sounds a bit unrealistic. I am 23-years-old now and that is still young for a goalkeeper. The majority of goalkeepers have their best years when they get to their late 20s/early 30s because experience is vital in this job. You can see that in the development of Manuel Neuer over the last couple of years or with Nadine Angerer, who is still putting in top performances at 36 years of age. You get this kind of experience as you get older and of course after playing many matches. That is why I am sure that I will still have a future as a goalkeeper.
DFB.de: Manuel Neuer has also become World Goalkeeper of the Year in 2014 and junior World Champion Meike Kämper was awarded the Golden Glove last summer at the U20 World Cup. What is it about a German goalkeeper’s game that makes them so successful, also at an international level?
Schult: We enjoy an excellent education here in Germany. There is an extra goalkeeping training license, in which the basics are intensively examined in order to identify talent, and there are goalkeeping coaches involved at each course. For this to happen there is a lot of support at the clubs for both male and female goalkeepers and that again gives them additional confidence. We have always been a goalkeeping nation and I am happy about that. I am also happy for Manu (Manuel Neuer), as he had a great World Cup and has absolutely deserved this award.
DFB.de: Despite your young age, you have already won a few titles. However, there is one that you are still missing and it will be up for grabs in Canada this year.
Schult: Yes, the World Cup. I have already won a World Cup with the U20s and that was a fantastic experience. That was the biggest title of my youth and when you win a World Cup, you definitely want to experience that feeling again. For sure it will not be easy this year. Our preparation is short and there are lots of favorites at this tournament but we are greatly looking forward to Canada.
DFB.de: Nadine Angerer is the number one in the German goal. What is your personal plan up until the World Cup and throughout the tournament?
Schult: I am trying to further develop myself in training, to give my all during matches and to show that I am a good goalkeeper. I can only profit from Natze’s (Nadine Angerer ‘s) experience. I now want to go into the World Cup preparation injury-free and then have a good tournament with the team.
