Former Germany captain Dzsenifer Marozsán has announced retirement from international football just months before the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The Lyon midfielder insists she is still feeling the effects of a serious knee injury she sustained after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament while playing a World Cup qualification game against Serbia.
The 2016 Olympics gold medalist said, “After my serious knee injury in spring 2022, I realised that it felt right to stop playing for the national team.
She added, “Missing the European Championship in England was one of many signs. I remember well how at the 2011 World Cup, when I was also injured, I didn’t even want to watch a single game, but now I have been the biggest fan of the girls watching on TV, without it hurting not to be there. The double work load wouldn’t be ideal. I’m doing well again at the club, but my knee isn’t the same as before, and I have to work very hard to make sure I can do all the training sessions and games.”
The 30-year-old concluded, “I think it would just be too much to then do internationals, both the preparation and the tournament.”
The news drew a string of heartfelt responses from those she worked with.
What they said :
National coach Martin Voss-Tecklenburg said, “I have the greatest respect for Dzsenifer Marozsán’s decision. She has a great personality and is an outstanding footballer who has done an incredible amount for German football. She has played a major role in the success of the women’s national team and has been a leading player, but also a role model. All of us in the team think very highly of her and can only thank her for everything. We want to say goodbye in the best possible way. We will invite her back in April for one last game against Brazil.”
Joti Chatzialexiou, sporting director of the national team, said, “Dzsenifer Marozsán is one of the most brilliant footballers to have played for Germany. We will miss her not only for her personality on and off the pitch, but for her outstanding technical ability and intuition as a footballer, with great ball skills and a unique understanding of the game. She has helped shape an era for the national team, crowned by titles for Germany. I wish her all the best for her future career and life.”
Marozsán’s international retirement comes amid concern over the number of ACL injuries at the top level of women’s soccer.
After announcing the news of her retirement, DFB announced that Dzsenifer Marozsán’ final game for Germany will be a friendly against Brazil next month on the 11th at (18:00 CEST) in Nuremburg, .
