Birgit Prinz


Birgit Prinz is a German former footballer, two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion and three-time FIFA World Player of the Year. In addition to the German national team, Prinz played for Eintracht [Frankfurt (women)|1. FFC Frankfurt] in the Frauen-Bundesliga as well as the Carolina Courage in the Women's United Soccer Association, the first professional women's league in the United States. Prinz remains one of the game's most prolific strikers and is the second FIFA Women's World Cup all-time leading scorer with 14 goals. In 2011, she announced the end of her active career. She currently works as a sport psychologist for the men's and women's teams of Bundesliga club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
WWW Official Site

Club career

Prinz began her career at SV Dörnigheim FC. She made her Bundesliga debut for FSV Frankfurt, where she played from 1993 to 1998. During that time Prinz won two Bundesliga titles and two German Cups. In 1997 and 1998 she was the Bundesliga top scorer. In 1998, she moved to local rivals 1. FFC Frankfurt, where she has had her biggest success at club level. In 13 seasons at the club, Prinz won six Bundesliga and eight German Cup titles. She also won the Bundesliga top-scorer award twice more in 2001 and 2007. Prinz won the UEFA Women's Cup three times with Frankfurt, in the 2001–02, 2005–06 and 2007–08 seasons. She also reached the final in 2004, but lost to the Swedish side Umeå IK.
For two seasons, Prinz joined Carolina Courage in the professional women's league WUSA in the United States. During her short stint in America she claimed the 2002 WUSA Championship. After the 2003 World Cup, Prinz declined an offer from AC Perugia to play in Italy's men's Serie A, fearing her transfer would be used as a publicity stunt and she would end up on the bench.
In her time at FFC Frankfurt, Prinz won many personal awards, including a record eight German Female Footballer of the Year awards from 2001 to 2008. She was named the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2003, 2004 and 2005. For four consecutive years from 2007 to 2010 she came second, behind Brazil's Marta.

International career

At the age of 16, Prinz made her debut for the Germany national team in July 1994 against Canada. She came on after 72 minutes and scored the game-winner in the 89th minute. One year later, she won her first major title at the 1995 European Championship, scoring in the final. In the same year, she was named to Germany's squad for the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup, where they lost to Norway in the final match. She remains the youngest player ever to appear in a World Cup Final.
For the next decade, Prinz had one of the most successful international careers in women's football. She won four more UEFA European Championships in 1997, 2001, 2005 and 2009. At the Summer Olympics she won bronze three times with the German team, in 2000 Summer Olympics|2000], 2004 and 2008. At the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup, Prinz helped Germany win its first World Cup title in the women's game. She was honoured as the tournament's best player and top-scorer. Prinz became the women's national team captain at the end of 2003, and remained until her retirement. Four years later, at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, she captained the team to Germany's second World Cup title; she was awarded the Silver Ball as the second-best player at the tournament.
Prinz holds several national and international records. With 14 goals, she is the second all-time leading goalscorer at FIFA Women's World Cups. From 2008 until 2012, Prinz and Brazil's Cristiane both held the tournament record of ten goals at the Summer Olympics, although Cristiane has now surpassed Prinz. For the German national team Prinz appeared 214 times and scored 128 goals, and is the team's most capped player and top goalscorer.

Personal life

Prinz is a trained physical therapist. In 2010, she graduated with her master's degree in psychology from the Goethe University Frankfurt. Since January 2012, she has worked as a sport psychologist in the youth academy, women's U-17 and women's Bundesliga teams at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.

Career statistics

International

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
127 July 1994Saputo Stadium, Montreal, Canada2–12–1Friendly
22 August 1994Bensalem Township Memorial Stadium, Oakford, USA6–36–3Friendly
321 September 1994Floschenstadion, Sindelfingen, Germany5–08–01995 qualifying">UEFA Women's Euro 1995">1995 qualifying
421 September 1994Floschenstadion, Sindelfingen, Germany8–08–0UEFA Women's Euro 1995 qualifying
523 February 1995Ruhrstadion, Bochum, Germany2–12–1UEFA Women's Euro 1995
626 March 1995Fritz-Walter-Stadion, Kaiserslautern, Germany2–13–2UEFA Women's Euro 1995
723 May 1995?5–08–0Friendly
89 June 1995Tingvalla IP, Karlstad, Sweden1–06–11995 FIFA Women's World Cup
925 October 1995Štadión Pasienky, Bratislava, Slovakia1–03–0UEFA Women's Euro 1997 qualifying
1023 July 1996RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C., United States2–22–31996 Summer Olympics
1124 April 1997?, Germany4–06–0Friendly
1224 April 1997?, Germany5–06–0Friendly
136 July 1997Melløs Stadion, Moss, Norway2–02–0UEFA Women's Euro 1997
1412 July 1997Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway2–02–0UEFA Women's Euro 1997
1525 September 1997Paul Greifzu Stadium, Dessau-Roßlau, Germany3–03–01999 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying
169 October 1997MSV-Arena, Duisburg, Germany3–13–1Friendly
1717 June 1998Ulefoss Idrettspark, Ulefoss, Norway1–22–31999 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying
1817 September 1998Sportpark Johannisau, Fulda, Germany3–05–01999 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying
1917 September 1998Sportpark Johannisau, Fulda, Germany4–05–01999 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying
2011 October 1998NSC Olimpiyskiy, Kyiv, Ukraine1–01–11999 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying
2114 February 1999?, Turkey5–012–1Friendly
2228 March 1999?, Germany4–14–1Friendly
2327 June 1999FedExField, Landover, United States1–03–31999 FIFA Women's World Cup
246 April 2000Stadion am Bornheimer Hang, Frankfurt, Germany1–03–0UEFA Women's Euro 2001 qualifying
2511 May 2000NSC Olimpiyskiy, Kyiv, Ukraine1–06–1UEFA Women's Euro 2001 qualifying
2611 May 2000NSC Olimpiyskiy, Kyiv, Ukraine2–06–1UEFA Women's Euro 2001 qualifying
2711 May 2000NSC Olimpiyskiy, Kyiv, Ukraine3–16–1UEFA Women's Euro 2001 qualifying
2811 May 2000NSC Olimpiyskiy, Kyiv, Ukraine5–16–1UEFA Women's Euro 2001 qualifying
2917 August 2000Kópavogsvöllur, Kópavogur, Iceland3–06–0UEFA Women's Euro 2001 qualifying
3017 August 2000Kópavogsvöllur, Kópavogur, Iceland4–06–0UEFA Women's Euro 2001 qualifying
3116 September 2000Bruce Stadium, Canberra, Australia1–02–12000 Summer Olympics
3216 September 2000Bruce Stadium, Canberra, Australia2–02–12000 Summer Olympics
3328 September 2000Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, Australia2–02–02000 Summer Olympics
3427 August 2000Old Tivoli, Aachen, Germany3–07–0Friendly
358 March 2001Donaustadion, Ulm, Germany2–32–4Friendly
3617 June 2001Niederrheinstadion, Oberhausen, Germany4–07–1Friendly
3727 June 2001Steigerwaldstadion, Erfurt, Germany2–05–0UEFA Women's Euro 2001
3817 November 2001De Grolsch Veste, Enschede, Netherlands2–03–02003 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying
3927 January 2002Guangdong Provincial People's Stadium, Guangzhou, China2–13–1Friendly
4018 April 2002Stadion am Schönbusch, Aschaffenburg, Germany3–06–02003 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying
4118 April 2002Stadion am Schönbusch, Aschaffenburg, Germany4–06–02003 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying
4218 April 2002Stadion am Schönbusch, Aschaffenburg, Germany5–06–02003 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying
434 May 2002Estádio Adelino Ribeiro Novo, Barcelos, Portugal8–08–02003 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying
4417 October 2002Donaustadion, Ulm, Germany1–02–0Friendly
4514 November 2002Nattenberg Stadion, Lüdenscheid, Germany1–04–0Friendly
4627 March 2003Karl-Liebknecht-Stadion, Potsdam, Germany1–05–0UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying
4727 March 2003Karl-Liebknecht-Stadion, Potsdam, Germany5–05–0UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying
4822 May 2003Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark, Prenzlauer Berg, Germany1–01–1Friendly
4925 May 2003Haderslev Football Stadium, Haderslev, Denmark2–26–2Friendly
5025 May 2003Haderslev Football Stadium, Haderslev, Denmark3–26–2Friendly
5125 May 2003Haderslev Football Stadium, Haderslev, Denmark6–26–2Friendly
5228 August 2003Dreiflüssestadion, Passau, Germany3–04–0UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying
5311 September 2003Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor, Darmstadt, Germany1–04–0Friendly
5411 September 2003Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor, Darmstadt, Germany2–04–0Friendly
5520 September 2003Mapfre Stadium, Columbus, United States3–14–12003 FIFA Women's World Cup
5624 September 2003Mapfre Stadium, Columbus, United States2–03–02003 FIFA Women's World Cup
5724 September 2003Mapfre Stadium, Columbus, United States3–03–02003 FIFA Women's World Cup
5827 September 2003RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C., United States4–06–12003 FIFA Women's World Cup
592 October 2003Providence Park, Portland, United States6–17–12003 FIFA Women's World Cup
602 October 2003Providence Park, Portland, United States7–17–12003 FIFA Women's World Cup
615 October 2003Providence Park, Portland, United States3–03–02003 FIFA Women's World Cup
6215 November 2003Stadion an der Kreuzeiche, Reutlingen, Germany4–013–0UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying
6315 November 2003Stadion an der Kreuzeiche, Reutlingen, Germany6–013–0UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying
6415 November 2003Stadion an der Kreuzeiche, Reutlingen, Germany7–013–0UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying
6515 November 2003Stadion an der Kreuzeiche, Reutlingen, Germany9–013–0UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying
667 February 2004Estádio Municipal de Albufeira, Albufeira, Portugal1–011–0UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying
677 February 2004Estádio Municipal de Albufeira, Albufeira, Portugal4–011–0UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying
687 February 2004Estádio Municipal de Albufeira, Albufeira, Portugal10–011–0UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying
6931 March 2004Stadio Druso, Bolzano, Italy1–01–0Friendly
7028 April 2004Marschweg-Stadion, Oldenburg, Germany1–06–0UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying
7128 April 2004Marschweg-Stadion, Oldenburg, Germany5–06–0UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying
722 May 2004Almondvale Stadium, Livingston, Scotland2–13–1UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying
7324 July 2004Stadion am Bieberer Berg, Offenbach am Main, Germany2–03–1Friendly
7411 August 2004Pampeloponnisiako Stadium, Patras, Greece1–08–02004 Summer Olympics
7511 August 2004Pampeloponnisiako Stadium, Patras, Greece2–08–02004 Summer Olympics
7611 August 2004Pampeloponnisiako Stadium, Patras, Greece4–08–02004 Summer Olympics
7711 August 2004Pampeloponnisiako Stadium, Patras, Greece7–08–02004 Summer Olympics
7817 August 2004Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece2–02–02004 Summer Olympics
7925 September 2004Na Litavce, Příbram, Czechia2–05–0UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying
809 March 2005Municipal de Lagos, Lagos, Portugal2–02–12005 Algarve Cup
8111 March 2005Providence Park, Dr. Francisco Vieira Stadium, Silves, Portugal2–04–02005 Algarve Cup
8211 March 2005Providence Park, Dr. Francisco Vieira Stadium, Silves, Portugal3–04–02005 Algarve Cup
8321 April 2005Stadion an der Bremer Brücke, Osnabrück, Germany2–13–1Friendly
849 June 2005Deepdale, Preston, England1–04–0UEFA Women's Euro 2005
8515 June 2005Deepdale, Preston, England4–14–1UEFA Women's Euro 2005
8619 June 2005Ewood Park, Blackburn, England3–13–1UEFA Women's Euro 2005
874 September 2005Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, Canada4–24–3Friendly
8825 September 2005Leimbachstadion, Siegen, Germany4–15–12007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying
8920 October 2005Hans-Walter-Wild-Stadion, Bayreuth, Germany3–04–02007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying
9020 October 2005Hans-Walter-Wild-Stadion, Bayreuth, Germany4–04–02007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying
919 March 2006Estádio Algarve, Portugal2–05–02006 Algarve Cup
9211 March 2006Estádio Algarve, Portugal1–03–02006 Algarve Cup
933 August 2006Grotenburg-Stadion, Krefeld, Germany1–05–0Friendly
943 August 2006Grotenburg-Stadion, Krefeld, Germany2–05–0Friendly
9526 August 2006Richmond Park, Dublin, Ireland2–03–02007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying
9630 August 2006Stadion Breite, Schaffhausen, Switzerland2–06–02007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying
9723 September 2006McDiarmid Park, Perth, Scotland1–05–02007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying
9823 September 2006McDiarmid Park, Perth, Scotland4–05–02007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying
9927 September 2006Eduard Streltsov Stadium, Moscow, Russia3–03–22007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying
10025 October 2006Städtisches Waldstadion, Aalen, Germany3–15–1Friendly
10123 November 2006Wildparkstadion, Karlsruhe, Germany2–06–3Friendly
10212 April 2007Lohrheidestadion, Bochum, Germany1–15–12009 qualifying">UEFA Women's Euro 2009">2009 qualifying
10310 May 2007Bridge Meadow Stadium, Haverfordwest, Wales1–06–0UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualifying
10410 May 2007Bridge Meadow Stadium, Haverfordwest, Wales2–06–0UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualifying
10510 May 2007Bridge Meadow Stadium, Haverfordwest, Wales6–06–0UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualifying
10629 July 2007MDCC-Arena, Magdeburg, Germany2–04–0Friendly
1072 August 2007Stadion der Freundschaft, Gera, Germany1–05–0Friendly
1082 August 2007Stadion der Freundschaft, Gera, Germany5–05–0Friendly
10922 August 2007Stadion Oberwerth, Koblenz, Germany3–07–0UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualifying
11030 August 2007Bruchwegstadion, Mainz, Germany2–02–2Friendly
11110 September 2007Hongkou Football Stadium, Shanghai, China4–011–02007 FIFA Women's World Cup
11210 September 2007Hongkou Football Stadium, Shanghai, China5–011–02007 FIFA Women's World Cup
11310 September 2007Hongkou Football Stadium, Shanghai, China8–011–02007 FIFA Women's World Cup
11417 September 2007Yellow Dragon Sports Center, Hangzhou, China1–02–02007 FIFA Women's World Cup
11530 September 2007Hongkou Football Stadium, Shanghai, China1–02–02007 FIFA Women's World Cup
11628 October 2007Stadion Lohmühle, Lübeck, Germany3–03–0UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualifying
11728 February 2008Dreisamstadion, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany1–02–0Friendly
1187 March 2008Estádio Algarve, Portugal1–03–02008 Algarve Cup
1197 March 2008Estádio Algarve, Portugal2–03–02008 Algarve Cup
12010 March 2008Municipal Stadium, Vila Real de Santo António, Portugal2–02–02008 Algarve Cup
12117 July 2008Alpenbauer Sportpark, Unterhaching, Germany2–03–0Friendly
12218 August 2008Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai, China1–01–52008 Summer Olympics
12325 July 2009Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim, Germany4–06–0Friendly
12410 September 2009Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland1–06–2UEFA Women's Euro 2009
12510 September 2009Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland6–26–2UEFA Women's Euro 2009
12624 February 2010Complexo Desportivo Belavista, Parchal, Portugal2–04–02010 Algarve Cup
12725 November 2010BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany4–08–0Friendly
12825 November 2010BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany5–08–0Friendly

At World Cup and Olympic Tournaments

Prinz competed in five FIFA Women's World Cup:
Sweden 1995,
USA 1999,
USA 2003,
China 2007
and Germany 2011;
and four Olympics:
Atlanta 1996,
Sydney 2000,
Athens 2004,
and Beijing 2008.
Altogether she played in 43 matches and scored 24 goals at those nine global tournaments. With Germany, Prinz is a two-time world champion from USA 2003 and China 2007, and a runner-up from Sweden 1995, as well as a three-time bronze medalist from Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.

Honours

FSV Frankfurt
1. FFC Frankfurt
Germany
Individual