VfL Wolfsburg forward Conny Pohlers, the all-time leading scorer in UEFA women’s club competition, is to retire at the end of the season.
Pohlers has scored 48 goals in winning the UEFA Women’s Cup and successor UEFA Women’s Champions League with 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam, 1. FFC Frankfurt and Wolfsburg. She also lifted the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup and UEFA Women’s EURO 2005 with Germany during her two-decade career. “I have thought about it for a while and it wasn’t a quick decision, but I feel it is the perfect time to say goodbye,” the 35-year-old told UEFA.com.
Joining Potsdam from youth side FSV 67 Halle, she remained until 2007 save for brief spells with TuS Niederkirchen and Atlanta Beat, aiding Turbine to two league titles, three German Cups and the 2005 UEFA Women’s Cup. Switching to Frankfurt, she won the UEFA Women’s Cup again in her first season, as well as a German double.
Pohlers added another league title in 2010/11 – when she was Frauen Bundesliga top scorer for the third time – before going to Wolfsburg. There she claimed the UEFA Women’s Champions League and German double last season before a brief return to the United States with Washington Spirit.
Not only does Pohlers have more than 300 Frauen Bundesliga goals to her name, she is also the only player to have won the title with three different teams. Similarly, no other player has triumphed at European level with three clubs.
Capped 67 times, with 28 goals, for Germany between 2001 and 2011, as well as the World Cup and UEFA Women’s EURO triumphs, Pohlers won Olympic bronze in 2004 and 2008. “I have always been at the right place at the right time,” she said. “Wherever I played I won titles and was successful.”
The forward now has a chance to add more honours with Wolfsburg, who are third in the Frauen Bundesliga, four points behind Potsdam. The same two teams also meet in the UEFA Women’s Champions League semis on 19 and 27 April, with a chance for Pohlers to reach a fifth final in Lisbon on 22 May and become the first player to 50 goals in the competition.
“Everything is still possible in the Bundesliga and I hope we can make it again to the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in Lisbon, even if Potsdam will be tough opponents in the semi-final,” said Pohlers, who will continue to work at Wolfsburg after she stops playing.
“I am grateful that I will get the opportunity to continue with the club, as this is not something you can take for granted. We are in talks, there might be a chance to work with the youth teams or in the youth academy. I might be even able to play for the reserve team, if I miss playing … “