Simone Laudehr has been doing everything she can to get fit for Germany’s match against Austria in Regensburg on Saturday. She was the last one out of the Bayern München dressing room after they lost 2-1 to VfL Wolfsburg because she was getting treatment for her injury.
Laudehr hasn’t been able to start in a competitive match yet this season after she suffered an LCL tear in her ankle during the 6-1 win over Zimbabwe at the Olympic Games this summer. She has been working hard on her comeback and was allowed to come on for the last 20 minutes in the 4-1 win over Hibernian Ladies in the Champions League.
Despite these efforts, Laudehr was not able to return to full fitness to be called up for the international fixture in Regensburg. It would have been a special match for her for two reasons: it would have been her 100th international cap and Laudehr grew up in Regensburg where it was decided the fixture would take place. “For me, it’s the most beautiful town in the world,” she says and laughs, “it would be really special to play there for Germany, especially by making by 100th appearance.”
Returning home
Even though Laudehr will have to look on from the stands, she will be surrounded by her family and friends. “I don’t know exactly who is coming. Colleagues of my sister, friends of my parents, maybe everyone,” she said before the match. Laudehr visits her hometown a lot, even more often since she transferred to Bayern München as it is only an hour away.
Memories come flooding back whenever she returns home. “I still remember how my best friend and I used to pedal off after school to go and play football anywhere we could, on the football ground or even just on the grass with two trees as the goalposts.” Laudehr doesn’t keep contact with her first club FC Tegernheim anymore, but she still talks to her former manager Herbert Dengler.
Simone Laudehr has had a successful career ever since she left Regensburg. She has won the World Cup once, the European Championship twice, an Olympic Gold medal, the Champions League once and the DFB Cup three times. The only thing she hasn’t won is the league, but she wants to do this with his current club Bayern München.
Focusing on the comeback
Simone Laudehr did not stop at all after suffering an injury in Rio. She focused immediately on her comeback. She watched her teammates win the gold medal from home in München. She flew home immediately after getting injured so that she could concentrate on her recovery. Laudehr began her career in 2003 in München before playing for FCR 2001 Duisburg and 1. FFC Frankfurt. 13 years later, she returns to play for Bayern München ladies.
Bayern have won the league two years in a row and they want to do the same again. “It will be a big challenge,” says Laudehr, “but it is one that excites me.” After the Champions League match against Hibernian Ladies, Simone Laudehr was first back out on the pitch. She is giving her all to make her comeback. “I’m not the kind of player that needs a long time to recover” she said. She will make get her 100th cap for Germany, eventually.
