A long-time lynchpin of the VfL Women’s team is calling it a day, with Zsanett Jakabfi set to retire at the end of the current season. She had already decided to call it quits at international level at the beginning of the winter break, and now she is bringing an end to her club career this summer.
“It was by no means an easy decision,” Jakabfi explained. “It was a process that was a long time in the making. I just feel that it’s time to bring an end to my career.” The 30-year-old Hungarian forward joined Wolfsburg back in summer 2009 from MTK Budapest FC in her home country.
“So many highlights”
Once she plays her final match in June, Jakabfi will be able to look back on a unique and storied career, filled with titles and successes at every level. Between 2009 and 2020, she won the German league championship on no fewer than six occasions, with a further seven DFB Cup wins and two titles in the UEFA Women´s Champions League. “There were so many highlights during my time here, both on a sporting level with the other girls and on a personal level,” she said. “I made so many great friends here and won everything there was to win. The Champions League victory in 2013 in London is one of my fondest memories, but there were all the other titles as well – there are so many events that I still have to process.”
Top scorer this season
The striker already has an incredible list of statistics to her name, and that may well be added to between now and the end of the season with the She-Wolves still in contention on three fronts. “I want to enjoy every minute I have left with the team, but obviously I’m hoping that we make the most of all the chances we have so that we have something to celebrate at the end of the day,” she added.
Wolfsburg’s number 3, who was voted Hungary’s Player of the Year in 2020, has been one of the stand-out performers for the She-Wolves this season, scoring a team-high 15 goals in all competitions thus far. She is currently third in the Women’s Bundesliga scoring charts with nine.
“Total respect for her decision”
“Zsanett’s decision to bring an end to her career at the end of this season came as quite a surprise to us,” said Ralf Kellermann, VfL Women’s sporting director, “but I have nothing but total respect for the fact that she came to the decision so far in advance. She will be able to look back on an impressive career in which she always put the team first and was a key player in all of our major successes. We will miss her both on and off the pitch, and wish her all the very best for the future.”
