It was in the nature of the occasion that Austria’s soccer team boss Irene Fuhrmann shed a tear or two at the media event disguised as a squad announcement for the World Cup qualifying duels with European champions England (September 3) and North Macedonia (September 6). In addition to the trainer, two well-deserved players took a seat who will no longer be available to her.
Captain Viktoria Schnaderbeck (31) and Lisa Makas (30) emotionally announced their resignation. It was a well-considered but ultimately necessary decision given a plethora of injuries both had already taken during the past season. The EURO 2022 in England, where the red-white-red team advanced to the quarter-finals, was supposed to be the (then secret) farewell show.
Eight knee surgeries
“I often went beyond my physical limits, which took a lot of strength,” said Schnaderbeck, who had already torn her cruciate ligament for the first time after just a few minutes on her competitive debut for FC Bayern – she was 17 at the time.
To date, the ÖFB long-term captain (since 2013) and defense chief has had eight knee surgeries. Nevertheless, Schnaderbeck was one of the outstanding players at the European Championships in 2017 (semifinals) and 2022 (quarterfinals).
“I can look back on 15 years of professional football with a lot of gratitude. There were indescribable moments,” emphasized the 83-time international and once again emphasized the incomparable team spirit and cohesion. “I cherished every moment. We laughed and cried tears.”
Striker Makas, who has scored 20 goals in 74 international matches, can only confirm that. “I’m saying goodbye to a very big chapter in my life. For 25 years I’ve done what has always fulfilled me,” said the 30-year-old from Mödling, who will remain in football as an official at FK Austria Vienna. With the ambition to get even more girls into sports, to improve structures and to “motivate” sponsors.
Makas would have liked to keep playing, but her body didn’t play along either. The former Germany legionnaire tore her cruciate ligament against Spain in the 2017 EURO quarter-finals, which was the beginning of a long story of suffering. “There were difficult moments when I was never alone. These girls (their national team colleagues, note) have become friends and family.”
Makas and Schnaderbeck were accepted as the 54th and 55th members of the ÖFB Legendenclub, the Linz team manager Isabel Hochstöger presented the duo with a cake, Fuhrmann found apt words of appreciation. “I hope that your voices will not be silenced, that you will advance sport and football and be a voice for equal opportunities and diversity in society.”
Source: Nachrichten
