German women's football trailblazer and Olympic medallist Doris Fitschen dies at 56

German football legend Doris Fitschen passed away on Saturday (16 March) at the age of 56 after a long battle with illness, the German Football Association (DFB) announced on its website.

A trailblazer in the women’s game, she made her national team debut at 17 - scoring a goal as a substitute - and earned a total of 144 caps, winning four European Championship titles and an Olympic bronze medal at Sydney 2000. Considered one of the most successful female players in her country, Fitschen secured multiple German titles with Frankfurt and Siegen before ending her career with Philadelphia Charge in the USA in 2001.

After retiring, the former midfielder became a respected pundit and key figure at the DFB, where she served as general manager of the women’s national team from 2009 to 2016. Under her tenure, the team won two European titles and Olympic gold in Rio. Since 2022, she has led the DFB’s women in football strategy.

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin hailed her as "an inspiring leader and mentor".

“Through this attitude, she became a role model for many, not only on the field but also as a person. It was an honour for me to have worked alongside Doris,” said DFB General Secretary Heike Ullrich.

Inducted into the German Hall of Fame in 2019, Fitschen once said: "The joy of the game, the fun of football. The opportunity to make a difference excites me."

Click here to read article