Sabrina Wittmann appointed as first female head coach of German men's soccer team in top 3 divisions – The Associated Press

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Coach Sabrina Wittmann from Ingolstadt reacts during the 3. Liga soccer match between FC Ingolstadt and SV Waldhof Mannheim on May 5, 2024. Sabrina Wittmann has been appointed the permanent head coach of German third-tier club Ingolstadt, marking the first time a female coach has been given the role with a men’s team in the country’s top three national divisions. The 32-year-old Wittmann was put in charge of Ingolstadt for its last four games of the season as interim coach and on Wednesday the club said she had been appointed on a permanent basis. (Daniel Karmann/dpa via AP)
Coach Sabrina Wittmann gives instructions during the 3. Liga soccer match between FC Ingolstadt and SV Waldhof Mannheim, in Ingolstadt, on May 5, 2024. Sabrina Wittmann has been appointed the permanent head coach of German third-tier club Ingolstadt, marking the first time a female coach has been given the role with a men’s team in the country’s top three national divisions. The 32-year-old Wittmann was put in charge of Ingolstadt for its last four games of the season as interim coach and on Wednesday the club said she had been appointed on a permanent basis. (Daniel Karmann/dpa via AP)
Coach Sabrina Wittmann from Ingolstadt sits on the bench before the start of the match between FC Ingolstadt and SV Waldhof Mannheim on May 5, 2024. Sabrina Wittmann has been appointed the permanent head coach of German third-tier club Ingolstadt, marking the first time a female coach has been given the role with a men’s team in the country’s top three national divisions. The 32-year-old Wittmann was put in charge of Ingolstadt for its last four games of the season as interim coach and on Wednesday the club said she had been appointed on a permanent basis. (Daniel Karmann/dpa via AP)
Coach Sabrina Wittmann from Ingolstadt reacts during the 3. Liga soccer match between FC Ingolstadt and SV Waldhof Mannheim on May 5, 2024. Sabrina Wittmann has been appointed the permanent head coach of German third-tier club Ingolstadt, marking the first time a female coach has been given the role with a men’s team in the country’s top three national divisions. The 32-year-old Wittmann was put in charge of Ingolstadt for its last four games of the season as interim coach and on Wednesday the club said she had been appointed on a permanent basis. (Daniel Karmann/dpa via AP)
Coach Sabrina Wittmann from Ingolstadt reacts during the 3. Liga soccer match between FC Ingolstadt and SV Waldhof Mannheim on May 5, 2024. Sabrina Wittmann has been appointed the permanent head coach of German third-tier club Ingolstadt, marking the first time a female coach has been given the role with a men’s team in the country’s top three national divisions. The 32-year-old Wittmann was put in charge of Ingolstadt for its last four games of the season as interim coach and on Wednesday the club said she had been appointed on a permanent basis. (Daniel Karmann/dpa via AP)
Coach Sabrina Wittmann gives instructions during the 3. Liga soccer match between FC Ingolstadt and SV Waldhof Mannheim, in Ingolstadt, on May 5, 2024. Sabrina Wittmann has been appointed the permanent head coach of German third-tier club Ingolstadt, marking the first time a female coach has been given the role with a men’s team in the country’s top three national divisions. The 32-year-old Wittmann was put in charge of Ingolstadt for its last four games of the season as interim coach and on Wednesday the club said she had been appointed on a permanent basis. (Daniel Karmann/dpa via AP)
Coach Sabrina Wittmann gives instructions during the 3. Liga soccer match between FC Ingolstadt and SV Waldhof Mannheim, in Ingolstadt, on May 5, 2024. Sabrina Wittmann has been appointed the permanent head coach of German third-tier club Ingolstadt, marking the first time a female coach has been given the role with a men’s team in the country’s top three national divisions. The 32-year-old Wittmann was put in charge of Ingolstadt for its last four games of the season as interim coach and on Wednesday the club said she had been appointed on a permanent basis. (Daniel Karmann/dpa via AP)
Coach Sabrina Wittmann from Ingolstadt sits on the bench before the start of the match between FC Ingolstadt and SV Waldhof Mannheim on May 5, 2024. Sabrina Wittmann has been appointed the permanent head coach of German third-tier club Ingolstadt, marking the first time a female coach has been given the role with a men’s team in the country’s top three national divisions. The 32-year-old Wittmann was put in charge of Ingolstadt for its last four games of the season as interim coach and on Wednesday the club said she had been appointed on a permanent basis. (Daniel Karmann/dpa via AP)
Coach Sabrina Wittmann from Ingolstadt sits on the bench before the start of the match between FC Ingolstadt and SV Waldhof Mannheim on May 5, 2024. Sabrina Wittmann has been appointed the permanent head coach of German third-tier club Ingolstadt, marking the first time a female coach has been given the role with a men’s team in the country’s top three national divisions. The 32-year-old Wittmann was put in charge of Ingolstadt for its last four games of the season as interim coach and on Wednesday the club said she had been appointed on a permanent basis. (Daniel Karmann/dpa via AP)
INGOLSTADT, Germany (AP) — Sabrina Wittmann has been appointed the permanent head coach of German third-tier club Ingolstadt, marking the first time a female coach has been given the role with a men’s team in the country’s top three national divisions.
The 32-year-old Wittmann was put in charge of Ingolstadt for its last four games of the season as interim coach and on Wednesday the club said she had been appointed on a permanent basis.
“When I took over the first team in May on an interim basis, I had hoped that it wouldn’t just be a short adventure,” Wittmann said in a statement. “With every moment that I spent with the team after that, my wish to be allowed to stay long-term in this position grew stronger.”
Wittmann was unbeaten in her four games as interim coach with two wins and two draws, and her team won the regional Bavarian Cup to qualify for next season’s German Cup.
In November, Marie-Louise Eta became the first female assistant coach in the top-tier Bundesliga when she was appointed Union Berlin. Female head coaches have also worked at German clubs in the regional fourth tier before.
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