About me

In sports, in life, in projects – my interest in people is what always leads the way. What matters? The honest and genuine, and looking at the big picture. Welcome to my world!
What's important to me? Being tolerant, responsible and authentic. Pushing boundaries motivates and drives me. I try to remind myself to never stop learning – life has so much to offer if you approach it with an open mind.
Big victories or devastating defeats – for me football is 100 percent emotion. I have done it all and every experience made me stronger. On and off the pitch. Without football my life would be completely different. Austria, Munich, London: I have always been fascinated by what I could experience beyond the chalk lines of the football pitch. Meeting interesting people and learning their stories have touched me for life.
Youth
1998 – 2006
When I was about seven years old football became a part of my life.
Right across from our farm was a big football pitch where ten to 15
children would play all day long.
I was always the only girl on the pitch. We used to play for hours at a
time only getting interrupted by my mother insisting we'd have a water
break. If nothing was going on at the village pitch, we played on our lawn.
On these days we would set up a cash register where every time someone
kicked the ball into my mother's flowers, they had to pay a fine. Looking
back, I can say it paid off.

Bayern Munich
2007 – 2018
As a child I proudly collected posters of famous footballers. Lothar
Matthäus, Stefan Effenberg and Roy Makaay were hanging over my bed. At
16 years old I wanted to pursue a career as a professional footballer
and play abroad. I took the initiative together with Carina Wenninger
and we asked Bayern Munich if we could have a trial session with them.
We impressed Bayern enough for them to sign us and soon after we were off
to live in Munich. It was not an easy time for me: far away from home at
16, new school system, new city. A whole new world. I had just turned 17
when I had my big debut. My biggest day turned into the worst day: Only
after ten minutes I ruptured my anterior cruciate ligament. Hours later
when I was in the hospital, the doctor told me: "Mrs. Schnaderbeck, professional
football won't be an option for you anymore!"
Thankfully I didn't give up on my career. I fought back from this injury
and many more that came after. I played for FC Bayern for eleven years.
I was a regular in the team and I took part in celebrating two German championships
and a DFB Cup victory. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to realize that
my dream of being a professional footballer actually came true.

Arsenal
2018 – 2022
Leaving FC Bayern to play for Arsenal was not an easy decision but I
never regretted it. I felt it was time for a change in my career and
English football, being on the rise, seemed to be a good challenge.
The excitement and happiness I felt during the first weeks at the club
helped me to overcome the big shock and setback by injuring the cartilage
in my knee very badly – the season seemed to be over before it had even
begun. But I came back once more and experienced an absolute happy end:
being in the starting eleven again and winning the league.
Playing for Arsenal is something very special. It's a different football
club, a special culture, and I am always amazed by the unique and loyal
fans. If you step on the pitch, you feel the pride being a "gunner". You
feel the tradition, the responsibility coming with it and the fascination
about this club. I am very happy that I have been part of it.

Tottenham Hotspur
2022
Football is fast-moving and things can change in an instant. For me,
being 100 percent true to myself and keeping my integrity intact, is
the most important thing. After coming back from my last injury and
being in full training again at Arsenal it was important to me to have
regular training sessions and game time for the remaining months of
the season leading up to the Euros 2022. I've always felt very
comfortable at Arsenal but since I was not the first choice anymore, I
decided to go on loan to Tottenham when they made me an offer. I had
the feeling that this is exactly the right thing to do both for my
career and for my knee. Despite the rivalry between the two London
clubs, we managed to solve everything well for both parties. Now
looking back, it was the right decision.
Once again, I have experienced the importance of being open to new things
and challenges. It was great to witness how the club have invested into
the women's team. It's one of many ways to see how women's football in
England and globally is developing and growing and I feel lucky that I
was part of the development.

National Team
2007 – 2022
What we have built in the national team goes beyond sport. We have
showed that with the right team spirit, passion and emotions you can
achieve anything. Looking back, it's amazing how everything turned
out. In the beginning we had to fight for even having training clothes
that fit and to be taken seriously. Then we made it to the third place
in the Euros 2017, played the opening game in the Euros 2022 in
England in Old Trafford in front of 75.000 people and reached the
quarter finals again.
There has always been a drive in us players to prove to everyone that despite
the lack of resources we can achieve great things as a team. We had to
fight for everything ourselves – no one was giving it to us for free. This
team spirit was our key to success.
I'm incredibly proud to have made 83 caps for my own country and represented
it as the captain of the team for 9 years.

Life after football
2023
After 16 years of professional football and 8 surgeries on my right knee, I was tired – physically and mentally. After 3 league titles, 1 cup title and 2 European championships I was content and grateful. And after the Euros 2022 on the biggest stage of European football and in England that has been my home for 4 years – I have come full circle. It was the right moment to retire from professional football.
Now, I am sharing my experiences and lessons learned about success, high performance teams, goals and visions, diversity, dealing with setbacks and more in my keynotes.
Book a keynoteIn addition to my motivational speeches, I also offer hands-on workshops characterized by their interactive design and tailored approach.
These sessions focus on personal exchange, developing concrete solutions, and experiencing team dynamics. Participants have the opportunity to reflect, actively engage, and develop immediately applicable strategies for team culture, leadership, and goal-setting—making them the perfect complement to my talks.
Book a workshopAdditionally, I bring my expertise as a football pundit on TV at ORF and as a member of the UEFA football board regarding strategic topic in Europeans female football.

