There's a lot going on

"Women's football has partly moved in the wrong direction."

Alexandra Popp is a star of women's football. Yet, she will soon be playing for her favorite club, Borussia Dortmund, in the Regionalliga. A conversation about passion and humility.

She is a defining figure in German women's football. Alexandra Popp’s move to the third-tier Regionalliga team Borussia Dortmund took many by surprise—but for her, it is a matter close to her heart. In an exclusive interview with *WELT AM SONNTAG*, ​​she reveals why she views certain developments with increasing criticism.

WELT AM SONNTAG: Ms. Popp, which BVB player did you have a crush on when you were a little girl?

Alexandra Popp: Oh, that was a long time ago. When I became a BVB fan, Lars Ricken was playing—and Andy Möller. That was right at the beginning. By the time I was a bit older and going to the stadium myself more often, Jan Koller, Tomas Rosicky, Dedê, and Ewerthon were playing. Those were good times, I’d say.

WAMS: Andy Möller made a rather surprising move to Schalke 04 in the summer of 2000. You were nine years old then. A childhood shock?

Popp: (laughs) I actually had an Andy Möller jersey. My dad, who always had a soft spot for Schalke, used to tease me about it a few times. Later on, though, I also had a Rosicky jersey.

WAMS: Sadly, your father passed away in December 2022. What do you think he would have said about your move to Dortmund?

Popp: I think he would be very, very proud. Of course, he’d also tease me a bit. That’s a given. When you have that BVB-Schalke mix in the family, it’s just part of the deal. It was like that back then, too, whenever the Ruhr derby was coming up. So, things would certainly have been very funny at home.

WAMS: You played for FC Schwarz-Weiß Silschede in your hometown of Gevelsberg until you were 14. Could you have imagined back then that you might one day play for BVB yourself?

Popp: No, that felt a long way off. I played in mixed teams back then, and I was obviously aware that girls couldn't play with the men later on. It wasn't until I was called up to the district select team at age twelve that I found out there was actually a women's national team and a women's Bundesliga. But even later on, BVB still didn't have a women's team. That only changed when a banner was held up in the South Stand...

WAMS: ...bearing a clear demand to the club's leadership: "Football is for everyone – women's team now!" That was almost seven years ago.

Popp: That’s when I thought: Oh, I like the sound of that. Let’s see what comes of it. I watched closely to see if those in charge were actually taking the project seriously. After all, there are clubs that talk more than they actually deliver. Over the past few years, I’ve become convinced that really good work is being done here and that there’s a strong desire to climb the ranks as quickly as possible.

WAMS: What are your initial impressions following your move to BVB?

Popp: I’m very positive about it. The conditions here are incredibly good. You can tell how professionally things are run just from the little details: we eat together after training, and our training gear gets washed here. Of course, there are still areas where we can improve. We are still talking about a Regionalliga team, after all; there has to be room for growth. But I actually think it’s good that not everything is fully professionalized yet.

WAMS: Why?

Popp: Because it helps the girls stay humble to some extent. They should appreciate things the way they are. I think that attitude is a hugely valuable asset for the development of women's football.

WAMS: Didn’t it put you off, moving from a top club like VfL Wolfsburg to the Regionalliga?

Popp: No. I spent 14 years in Wolfsburg and knew what I had there—what I had built up over a long period. Many people there really valued me. I asked myself: Do I want to do something completely new again, or do I just let things wind down a bit here? What really hooked me about BVB was the opportunity to build something new, starting from a lower level. It’s a new challenge—with slightly different responsibilities.

WAMS: But it’s also a farewell to the really big stage—at least for the time being.

Popp: That was definitely intentional. I wanted to step away from that side of the business a bit. Women’s football has evolved significantly in recent years, which is generally a good thing. But in some ways, it has also moved in the wrong direction. Take the trend in transfer fees, for example...

WAMS: …Arsenal is paying 600,000 euros for 19-year-old Lisa Baum from RB Leipzig...

Popp: ...well, there are times when I simply cannot fathom that. From that perspective, I’m quite happy that things here are still pretty down-to-earth—that the focus is on the football itself, and that people aren’t complaining about the food but are just glad there’s food available at all. That’s another reason I’m here; I wanted to get back to my roots a bit.

WAMS: Do you ever calculate how much more money you could have earned if you’d been born ten years later?

Popp: Honestly? I’m so glad that isn’t the case—because it allowed me to experience things that were, and still are, incredibly important to me. I played for very little money in my early days, but I got to help shape the sport's development. I didn't just step into a ready-made setup. I know where I come from and that many things shouldn't be taken for granted. Younger players have experienced football very differently; they mostly know only the "higher, faster, further" mentality—and above all, the "more" mindset. That’s a bit of a shame, really. Because it’s damaging the sport to some extent.

WAMS: In what way?

Popp: Because, in the end, it’s no longer just about passion—about leaving your heart out on the pitch. That’s why I’m glad I grew up the way I did and can fully appreciate just how privileged we are as professional footballers. A lot of people forget that.

WAMS: But the fact that salaries are rising and there are now players with a massive public profile surely indicates the increased visibility of women’s football.

Popp: Yes, on one hand, it’s great to see how our sport has developed and become professional—especially internationally. But precisely because so many people get upset about the rampant commercialization in men’s football, I had hoped we might manage to take a slightly different path. Yet when I hear about the transfer fees being paid for players who are barely 19 years old, I can only shake my head. I just hope the players are well-prepared for the consequences, because the pressure is going to increase significantly.

WAMS: How do you envision your leadership role at BVB—especially regarding your younger teammates?

Popp: In many ways, just as it has been in recent years. I want to lead from the front and try to maintain a high standard of performance. I’ll certainly speak up from time to time—off the pitch as well. People shouldn't think that just because it’s the Regionalliga, it’s a casual, laid-back affair. We have concrete goals, and that’s why I’m here. I certainly won’t be taking it easy. There are young players here who look up to me and wonder: "What does 'Poppi' actually do? How does she prepare for a match?" I’m well aware of that.

WAMS: You’re 35 now. BVB Sporting Director Ralf Kellermann—who also came from Wolfsburg—said that you still push yourself to the limit in every match, and that you’ve actually gained physical freshness since retiring from the national team. Do you feel the same way?

Popp: Yes, it’s sad but true (laughs). I really notice that the breaks—whether the international breaks or the summer break—do me a world of good. That means I can really go full throttle again now.

WAMS: Since you mentioned which male football stars' jerseys you wore as a girl: Would you like to see boys walking around in BVB jerseys bearing the names of female players one day?

Popp: That would be cool. But things are already moving in that direction. My brother told me he saw a lot of people in Mallorca wearing jerseys with female players' names on them. That’s great to see.

WAMS: The men's national team is getting a new head coach with a BVB background. Is Jürgen Klopp a good choice?

Popp: Yes, there has definitely been progress. Clubs are investing in infrastructure; BVB is building a new training center. Work is also underway at the German Football Association (DFB) and the newly founded Women's Bundesliga association (FBL e.V.) to improve structures. Sure, there are still setbacks—like when existing pitch heating systems aren't turned on for Women's Bundesliga matches. We still need to make some adjustments.

WAMS: The men's national team is getting a new head coach with a BVB background. Is Jürgen Klopp a good choice?

Popp: Looking at his track record, he’s certainly a good choice. But I’m still curious to see how it goes, because being a club coach and a national team coach are two very different things. As a national team coach, you don't have your team right in front of you every day; you don't have as much time with the squad. But I really hope we can finally turn things around and see good, successful football again.

WAMS: The men's World Cup was overshadowed by many issues only tangentially related to football: political debates, ticket prices—even interference from a head of state. What was your take on that?