Almuth Schult Retires Due to Clubs' Reluctance to Sign Mother Players

kansas city, usa - Former top goalkeeper Almuth Schult believes European clubs ended her career early due to reluctance in signing a player with children, despite her Olympic and Champions League achievements.

Almuth Schult: Clubs' Reluctance to Sign Mother Players

Former top women's soccer goalkeeper Almuth Schult, an Olympic gold medalist and Champions League winner, retired early citing European clubs' reluctance to sign players with children. Schult, 34, retired in March after her contract with the Kansas City Current ended.

Challenges Faced by Schult

Schult expressed her frustration with the lack of opportunities to continue playing at the highest level due to being a mother. She believes that European clubs still struggle with accepting mother players, leading to limited career options.

Discrimination Against Mother Players

In an interview with Germany's Kicker magazine, Schult highlighted the stigma around motherhood in women's soccer. Despite her proven skills and experience, top clubs only offered her a third-choice backup role, overlooking her capabilities.

She emphasized the disparity between European and U.S. clubs in supporting players with children. Schult mentioned that better support systems in the U.S. allowed her to continue her career, implying that European clubs have lessons to learn.

Legacy and Achievements

Throughout her career, Schult achieved significant milestones, including winning the Champions League with Wolfsburg in 2014 and an Olympic gold medal with Germany in 2016. Despite retiring from professional play, she continues to contribute to the sport as a commentator on German TV.

Reflecting on her retirement, Schult expressed disappointment at the missed opportunities to play at the highest level for a few more years, attributing it to clubs' apprehensions about mother players.