Nadine Keßler

Nadine Keßler

Keßler playing for Germany at UEFA Women's Euro 2013.
Personal information
Full nameNadine Keßler
Date of birth4 April 1988
Place of birthLandstuhl, West Germany
Height1.69 m (5 ft 6 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionAttacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
VfL Wolfsburg
Number13
Youth career
SV Herschberg
SV Hermersberg
SC Weselberg
2004–20051. FC Saarbrücken
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2005–20091. FC Saarbrücken52(37)
2009–20111. FFC Turbine Potsdam34(19)
2011–VfL Wolfsburg58(31)
National team‡
2003Germany U152(1)
2003–2004Germany U1715(3)
2004–2007Germany U1923(10)
2008Germany U2010(2)
2010–Germany29(10)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 25 May 2014.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18:03, 19 June 2014 (UTC)

Nadine Keßler (born 4 April 1988) is a German footballer. She currently plays for VfL Wolfsburg and the German national team.[1] Keßler was the recipient of the FIFA World Player of the Year award at the 2014 FIFA Ballon d'Or.

Early life

Born in Landstuhl, Keßler was raised in nearby Weselberg, where she attended kindergarten and primary school. As a youth, she began playing for boys clubs[2] SV Herschberg, SV Hermersberg, and SC Weselberg.[3] At the age of 16, she began playing for the female team 1. FC Saarbrücken in the second division.[2] From 2006 to 2007, she was the team's leading scorer.[4]

After graduating from high school in 2007, Keßler began basic training in the Bundeswehr in October 2007. She was stationed in a sports promotion group at the Bundeswehr Sports School in Warendorf and held the rank of Corporal. She also attended the German University for Prevention and Health Management (DHfPG) where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Health Economics in 2012. In 2014, she enrolled in the MBA program at DHfPG.[2]

Club career

1. FFC Turbine Potsdam, 2009–2011

Keßler signed with 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam in the top-division Frauen Bundesliga in 2009 at the age of 21.[4] She helped the team finish the regular season at the top of the league table with a 19–1–2 record scoring 11 goals.[5] The team clinched the 2009-10 UEFA Women's Champions League after defeating Olympique Lyonnais in penalty kicks.[6]

VfL Wolfsburg (2011–present)

In 2011, Keßler transferred to VfL Wolfsburg.[7] The team finished second during the 2011-12 regular season with a 18–2–2 record. Keßler scored 11 goals tying for fourth in the league for most goals scored.[8]

During the 2012-13 season, Keßler scored eight goals helping Wolfsburg finish first during the regular season with a 17–3–2 record.[9] She captained the team to win the 2012-13 UEFA Champions League after defeating Olympique Lyonnais 1-0 in the final.[10]

In 2014, Keßler led Wolfsburg to championships in the Frauen Bundesliga and UEFA Women's Champions League.[11] Wolfsburg became the first German team in the history to win the treble of League, German Cup and Champions League. [2] Keßler was awarded the UEFA Best Women's Player in Europe Award.[12] She was awarded the FIFA Player of the Year award in January 2015 having received 17.52% of the vote over Marta (14.16%) and Abby Wambach (13.33%).[11] Upon receiving the award, she said, "It's a reward for hard work, good performances and a good development track. I know it's a trophy for individuals, but I'd never have won it without my teammates."[13]

International career

Keßler represented Germany at the youth level on the under-15, 17, 19, and 20 teams from 2003 to 2008. She made her debut for the senior national team at the 2010 Algarve Cup on 26 February 2010 in a match against Finland after coming on as a 46th minute substitute for Lena Goeßling and scoring her first international goal in the 77th minute.[14]

Keßler played attacking midfielder for Germany during the 2013 UEFA Women's Euro helping the team win their sixth consecutive trophy with a 1–0 win over Norway.[15]

International goals

Scores and results list Germany's goal tally first:

Keßler – goals for Germany
# Date Location Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 26 February 2010 Parchal, Portugal  Finland 6–0 7–0 2010 Algarve Cup
2. 13 February 2013 Strasbourg, France  France 2–3 3–3 Friendly
3. 3–3
4. 11 March 2013 Lagos, Portugal  Norway 2–0 2–0 2013 Algarve Cup
5. 21 September 2013 Cottbus, Germany  Russia 2–0 9–0 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
6. 8–0
7. 23 November 2013 Žilina, Slovakia  Slovakia 1–0 6–0 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
8. 4–0
9. 12 March 2014 Faro, Portugal  Japan 1–0 3–0 2014 Algarve Cup
10. 8 May 2014 Osnabrück, Germany  Slovakia 4–0 9–1 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification

Source: [16]

Honours

Team

with 1. FC Saarbrücken

with 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam

with VfL Wolfsburg

with Germany

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Steckbrief Nadine Keßler" (in German). dfb.de. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Nadine Kessler (26): The German University is Ideal for Competitive Athletes."". German University for Prevention and Health Management. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "Es ist schön, zu Hause zu sein“". Der Pfälzische Merkur. 14 August 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 ""Mir imponiert, wie es hier läuft"". 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam. 25 September 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  5. ↑ "Frauen Bundesliga 2009/10". Soccer Way. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  6. ↑ "2009/10 UEFA Champions League". Soccer Way. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "Nadine Keßler transfers to Wolfsburg" (in German). womensoccer.de. 29 March 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  8. ↑ "2011/12 Frauen Bundesliga". Soccer Way. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  9. ↑ "2012-13 Frauen Bundesliga". Soccer Way. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  10. ↑ Saffer, Paul. "Wolfsburg show teeth to take Lyon's title". UEFA. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Nadine Kessler beats Abby Wambach for Women's Player of the Year award". Sports Illustrated. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  12. ↑ "Kessler wins Best Women's Player Award". UEFA. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  13. ↑ "Kessler: I’m totally overwhelmed". FIFA. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  14. ↑ "Deutschland – Finnland 7:0 (1:0)" (in German). dfb.de. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  15. ↑ "Women's Euro 2013: Germans win sixth straight European title". BBC Sport. 28 July 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  16. ↑ "Players Info Keßler Goals". DFB. Retrieved 3 February 2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nadine Keßler.