Christmas is around the corner and the year is coming to an end. 2015 was a special year
for Lira Alushi and her husband Enis. The
German Women's international and the FC St. Pauli professional welcomed their first mutual
baby into the world in early November.
Lira Alushi talks about her son Arian in this DFB.de interview and on the
struggles of sleep deprivation. But the 27-year-old also looks ahead to the new year, as the
Paris St. Germain striker is debating the future of her sporting career?
DFB.de: Mrs Alushi, it's been an eventful year for you, right?
Lira Alushi: Yes, that's true. Our first child was born several weeks ago and my
husband and myself are filled with joy. These are incredibly fantastic times for us, ever since
Arian came into this world. Obviously it can get exhausting, but you simply don't want to
miss a single moment of it.
DFB.de: What was it like for you going through pregnancy?
Alushi: Looking back on it now, I have to say that it went by incredibly quickly. I
can still clearly envision myself standing on the pitch with Paris St. Germain in the
Champions League final in May against 1. FFC Frankfurt. We had only learned that I was
pregnant a few days prior. And now the child is here. At times, I still find myself struggling to
grasp it all.
DFB.de: What are your thoughts on that final?
Alushi: Obviously I would've liked to have won. It was a difficult game for me
personally, because I did go into the match with a lot of respect and fear even. I talked to
many doctors before the match and they all encouraged me and said that it was alright for
me to play. I should only make sure not to get hit in the stomach area with a knee or elbow.
It's not an easy situation for a female football player and it was a strange feeling. I was happy
when the game was over.
DFB.de: Do you miss football?
Alushi: Of course and I follow as much of it as a I can on TV. I also look closely on
what's happening in Paris, as I still have a contract there until next summer. We have to see
how everything will continue, but I do miss football and the entire sport a lot. I haven't been
doing any real sports for the past six months now. My son keeps me on my toes now.
DFB.de: Is a comeback an option for you?
Alushi: During my pregnancy, I always said that that was the plan - I was sure
that I would come back. But since Arian is here, things have changed slightly. I just love
spending time with him and really enjoy every minute we have together. Professional
football is very time-consuming and I just can't imagine being separated from him for a
longer period of time. My husband Enis and I also don't want to go back to having a long-
distant relationship again, so I'm taking his lead. I really can't say how things will turn out in
the future.
DFB.de: How are you feeling after giving birth to your son?
Alushi: I'm doing great and we've really settled in well. My husband usually has
training until the afternoon, which makes it a bit more of a challenge. But overall things are
going really well. We've adjusted to one another and have established a rhythm.
DFB.de: What does this rhythm look like?
Alushi: It's better now, but I still have to get up twice a night on a regular basis.
At first it was a bit more stressful because Arian had stomach-aches. Every sound he made
and we sat straight up in bed and it was quite exhausting. I really struggled from sleep
deprivation. Young parents will definitely know what I'm talking about. But everything is fine
now.
DFB.de: Did you expect things to be as difficult at the start?
Alushi: The mothers in our circle of friends frequently warned me, but you don't
really take them that seriously because everything still seemed so far away. But once the
baby is there, you know immediately what they were talking about.
DFB.de: Christmas is almost upon us and the new year is around the corner as
well. Any wishes for 2016?
Alushi: Probably like most other people I wish that my family stays healthy.
Across the world, 2015 was rather unpleasant but for my husband and myself it was
extremely beautiful. We now look forward to our first Christmas together with our baby and
then look forward to an exciting 2016.
[mmc/jm]
Christmas is around the corner and the year is coming to an end. 2015 was a special year
for Lira Alushi and her husband Enis. The
German Women's international and the FC St. Pauli professional welcomed their first mutual
baby into the world in early November.
Lira Alushi talks about her son Arian in this DFB.de interview and on the
struggles of sleep deprivation. But the 27-year-old also looks ahead to the new year, as the
Paris St. Germain striker is debating the future of her sporting career?
DFB.de: Mrs Alushi, it's been an eventful year for you, right?
Lira Alushi: Yes, that's true. Our first child was born several weeks ago and my
husband and myself are filled with joy. These are incredibly fantastic times for us, ever since
Arian came into this world. Obviously it can get exhausting, but you simply don't want to
miss a single moment of it.
DFB.de: What was it like for you going through pregnancy?
Alushi: Looking back on it now, I have to say that it went by incredibly quickly. I
can still clearly envision myself standing on the pitch with Paris St. Germain in the
Champions League final in May against 1. FFC Frankfurt. We had only learned that I was
pregnant a few days prior. And now the child is here. At times, I still find myself struggling to
grasp it all.
DFB.de: What are your thoughts on that final?
Alushi: Obviously I would've liked to have won. It was a difficult game for me
personally, because I did go into the match with a lot of respect and fear even. I talked to
many doctors before the match and they all encouraged me and said that it was alright for
me to play. I should only make sure not to get hit in the stomach area with a knee or elbow.
It's not an easy situation for a female football player and it was a strange feeling. I was happy
when the game was over.
DFB.de: Do you miss football?
Alushi: Of course and I follow as much of it as a I can on TV. I also look closely on
what's happening in Paris, as I still have a contract there until next summer. We have to see
how everything will continue, but I do miss football and the entire sport a lot. I haven't been
doing any real sports for the past six months now. My son keeps me on my toes now.
DFB.de: Is a comeback an option for you?
Alushi: During my pregnancy, I always said that that was the plan - I was sure
that I would come back. But since Arian is here, things have changed slightly. I just love
spending time with him and really enjoy every minute we have together. Professional
football is very time-consuming and I just can't imagine being separated from him for a
longer period of time. My husband Enis and I also don't want to go back to having a long-
distant relationship again, so I'm taking his lead. I really can't say how things will turn out in
the future.
DFB.de: How are you feeling after giving birth to your son?
Alushi: I'm doing great and we've really settled in well. My husband usually has
training until the afternoon, which makes it a bit more of a challenge. But overall things are
going really well. We've adjusted to one another and have established a rhythm.
DFB.de: What does this rhythm look like?
Alushi: It's better now, but I still have to get up twice a night on a regular basis.
At first it was a bit more stressful because Arian had stomach-aches. Every sound he made
and we sat straight up in bed and it was quite exhausting. I really struggled from sleep
deprivation. Young parents will definitely know what I'm talking about. But everything is fine
now.
DFB.de: Did you expect things to be as difficult at the start?
Alushi: The mothers in our circle of friends frequently warned me, but you don't
really take them that seriously because everything still seemed so far away. But once the
baby is there, you know immediately what they were talking about.
DFB.de: Christmas is almost upon us and the new year is around the corner as
well. Any wishes for 2016?
Alushi: Probably like most other people I wish that my family stays healthy.
Across the world, 2015 was rather unpleasant but for my husband and myself it was
extremely beautiful. We now look forward to our first Christmas together with our baby and
then look forward to an exciting 2016.
