VfL Wolfsburg are introducing a new system for the captaincy, with the double-winners having named Pernille Harder, Alexandra Popp and Almuth Schult as a trio of leaders all on an equal footing. The three are taking over from long-time skipper Nilla Fischer, who left the club at the end of last season. On the pitch, as set out in the laws of the game, only one player will wear the Wolfsburg captain’s rainbow armband but on an internal level, the trio will share the responsibility. For the season-opener in the FLYERALARM Women’s Bundesliga against SC Sand on Sunday 18 August (kick-off at 14:00 CEST, live on MagentaSport), Alexandra Popp will be the Green-Whites’ on-field captain.
"Consistent, innovative and logical"
"The three players have already taken on responsibility for our team in recent years, and they are also leading figures in their respective national teams," said VfL head coach Stephan Lerch. "Pernille, Alex and Almuth will be able to combine their strengths and complement one another perfectly, which to me makes this system consistent, innovative and logical, even though it is a novelty in women’s football in Germany."
VfL Women sporting director Ralf Kellermann added: “Sharing the responsibility across a number of shoulders has long been a successful practice, not only in sport but also in other social areas. I’m therefore convinced that a trio of captains is an expression of a very contemporary leadership structure.”
