"Bye-bye, Birgit" is the motto chosen for Birgit Prinz's testimonial match scheduled to take place in the Frankfurt Volksbank-Stadion on 27 March 2012 (kick-off 18:00, broadcast live on Eurosport), pitting the German national women's team against 1. FFC Frankfurt.
Germany's most successful player of all times, now aged 34, has decided to hang up her boots after a magnificent career that saw her win two World Cups, five European Championships, three Olympic Games bronze medals, an incredible eight "Player of the Year" awards given by the German Association of Sports Journalists, as well as numerous club football trophies and personal honours.
For this third instalment of a special series celebrating Birgit's priceless contribution to the game, DFB.de asked long-time team-mate Ariane Hingst (174 caps) to share a few memories with our readers.
ROOM-MATES: "Birgit and I have been room-mates since time immemorial, so obviously you end up getting to know each other pretty well. Once – this must have been during some training camp or other – Birgit was sipping away at a cup of hot chocolate she had brought up to our room, so I asked whether it was any good. And she turned around and said, in a very housekeeper kind of voice 'Ma'am, I don't think you should order this drink. It won't be to your liking'. Isn't it great to share rooms with someone who knows what's really good for you?"
THE FORGOTTEN PENNANT: "International matches are events where nothing is left to chance. In the run-up to a game – especially if it's televised – everything is carefully planned, with most of the steps predetermined in the organisational script. On one occasion, however, Birgit came very close to messing up big time. Both teams were practically coming out of the players' tunnel and stepping onto the pitch when she realised she had forgotten the official DFB pennant. Fortunately, a good fairy appeared from out of nowhere and got it for her, just in time before the anthems were played. Obviously, this little slip-up had not escaped our attention, which meant that from then on, just about everyone made a point of ever-so-kindly reminding Birgit 'You won't forget the pennant again, will you?' Which after a while really drove her nuts!"
A DAY ON THE BEACH: "Once, during an Algarve Cup tournament, we were given a day off and what better way to spend it than getting a bit of a tan in February? And don't they always say ice baths are great for post-workout regeneration? So off we went to take a dip. But Birgit, ever the team captain feeling she had to keep a watchful eye on us, had left her glasses on, and when she re-surfaced they were gone. We all must have dived down a thousand times to get them back, in icy-cold water, mind you – but to no avail. Fortunately, she had a spare pair she could use for the rest of the tournament."
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"Bye-bye, Birgit" is the motto chosen for Birgit Prinz's testimonial match scheduled to take place in the Frankfurt Volksbank-Stadion on 27 March 2012 (kick-off 18:00, broadcast live on Eurosport), pitting the German national women's team against 1. FFC Frankfurt.
Germany's most successful player of all times, now aged 34, has decided to hang up her boots after a magnificent career that saw her win two World Cups, five European Championships, three Olympic Games bronze medals, an incredible eight "Player of the Year" awards given by the German Association of Sports Journalists, as well as numerous club football trophies and personal honours.
For this third instalment of a special series celebrating Birgit's priceless contribution to the game, DFB.de asked long-time team-mate Ariane Hingst (174 caps) to share a few memories with our readers.
ROOM-MATES: "Birgit and I have been room-mates since time immemorial, so obviously you end up getting to know each other pretty well. Once – this must have been during some training camp or other – Birgit was sipping away at a cup of hot chocolate she had brought up to our room, so I asked whether it was any good. And she turned around and said, in a very housekeeper kind of voice 'Ma'am, I don't think you should order this drink. It won't be to your liking'. Isn't it great to share rooms with someone who knows what's really good for you?"
[bild2]
THE FORGOTTEN PENNANT: "International matches are events where nothing is left to chance. In the run-up to a game – especially if it's televised – everything is carefully planned, with most of the steps predetermined in the organisational script. On one occasion, however, Birgit came very close to messing up big time. Both teams were practically coming out of the players' tunnel and stepping onto the pitch when she realised she had forgotten the official DFB pennant. Fortunately, a good fairy appeared from out of nowhere and got it for her, just in time before the anthems were played. Obviously, this little slip-up had not escaped our attention, which meant that from then on, just about everyone made a point of ever-so-kindly reminding Birgit 'You won't forget the pennant again, will you?' Which after a while really drove her nuts!"
A DAY ON THE BEACH: "Once, during an Algarve Cup tournament, we were given a day off and what better way to spend it than getting a bit of a tan in February? And don't they always say ice baths are great for post-workout regeneration? So off we went to take a dip. But Birgit, ever the team captain feeling she had to keep a watchful eye on us, had left her glasses on, and when she re-surfaced they were gone. We all must have dived down a thousand times to get them back, in icy-cold water, mind you – but to no avail. Fortunately, she had a spare pair she could use for the rest of the tournament."
