Almuth Schult, a prominent figure in women's soccer, stated that clubs were reluctant to recruit a player who has children.

Almuth Schult, a prominent figure in women's soccer, stated that clubs were reluctant to recruit a player who has children.

Almuth Schult, an Olympic gold medalist and Champions League champion, was recognized as one of the leading goalkeepers in women's soccer. She asserts that her career was prematurely curtailed due to clubs' hesitance to recruit a player with children. The 34-year-old former German national team goalkeeper declared her retirement in March, shortly after her contract with the Kansas City Current in the National Women’s Soccer League concluded. In an interview with Germany’s Kicker magazine published on Tuesday, Schult expressed, 'In Europe, it still seems uncommon for a female soccer player to have children. Regardless of whether clubs acknowledge it, that is my personal observation.' She noted that many clubs are concerned about potential challenges associated with mothers, despite such issues not being inevitable. Schult believes she could have continued playing at a high level for another one or two years, asserting that motherhood was 'the primary reason' negotiations did not progress, as top clubs only offered her a position as a third-choice backup. After giving birth to twins in 2020 and a third child in 2023, Schult remarked, 'I was already without a contract following my second pregnancy.' She emphasized that no club believed she could still contribute, despite having demonstrated her capabilities after her first pregnancy. Schult achieved Champions League victory with Wolfsburg in 2014 and secured an Olympic gold medal with Germany at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, while also establishing a career as a commentator on German television. She suggested that European clubs could benefit from the practices of their U.S. counterparts in supporting players to maintain their careers post-motherhood, stating, 'My career would likely have taken a different trajectory had I received the same support in the U.S. as I have recently experienced.'