Germany’s inaugural female coach in professional sports is pursuing her aspirations.
Sabrina Wittmann became aware that her groundbreaking role was becoming secondary news when her team, the third-division German club FC Ingolstadt 04, entered a challenging phase in the 2024-25 season.
Since taking over from Michael Köllner in May 2024, her press conferences had been filled with repetitive inquiries. What was it like to be the sole female head coach of a men’s professional soccer team in Germany? How did it feel to serve as a role model? Was she able to enter the locker room after matches? She became accustomed to these questions, providing consistent responses, yet found the attention somewhat uncomfortable.
As those inquiries gradually diminished, replaced by critiques of Ingolstadt’s performance, she allowed herself a brief smile. She had achieved her goal: to be evaluated primarily as a manager.
Wittmann had previously coached Ingolstadt’s under-19 team before making history by stepping into the head coach position on an interim basis, just four matches before the conclusion of the 2023-24 season. Upon assuming the role, her initial thoughts were not on the broader implications of her appointment, but rather on the team’s strategy for the upcoming match against Mannheim in three days. “The first consideration was whether to stick with 4-2-3-1 or switch to 4-2-2-2. Did we have enough time?” she shared with ESPN.
Ingolstadt played to a 1-1 draw with Mannheim, and it was only later that evening that she checked her social media. “I began to understand what was happening because I saw my face everywhere,” she remarked.
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During those final four league matches, she secured two victories and two draws while also winning the Bayerischer Toto-Pokal, a regional cup. Wittmann had fulfilled her responsibilities, but there were no guarantees she would retain the position permanently. On June 5, 11 days after the season concluded, she was summoned to the office of Ingolstadt CEO Dietmar Beiersdorfer. A bottle of wine was present on the table, and she realized those assembled were anticipating good news.
The players were already aware they had a remarkable coach. “I thought it was impressive how genuinely she expressed in her first meeting [as manager] how unusual the situation was for her, as she was no longer working with teenagers, but with adults,” former Ingolstadt forward Pascal Testroet told Donaukurier.
“The reason I retained the position was that the players informed our management they wanted me to continue,” Wittmann stated. “So one of the most rewarding aspects of those four weeks [as interim] was realizing I was capable enough as a person — not just as a football coach, but as an individual — to lead a men’s team, without pretending to be someone else.”
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Wittmann, 34, was born in Ingolstadt, a town located 50 miles north of Munich, home to car manufacturer Audi. She grew up playing soccer and displayed talent, but it was a 2005 vacation in Calabria that launched her career in the sport. While playing on a hard court at the hotel with other guests, she caught the attention of legendary German striker Miroslav Klose.
“Naturally, it was a topic of conversation among the guests. ‘We played football right in front of such a star,'” Wittmann recounted to Bild. “At one point, a mutual acquaintance encouraged him to inform my mother that I should join a football club. Miro actually did … and that summer, I began playing for SC Steinberg.”
At 16, she spent a year in the United States on an exchange program, residing in Mount Sterling, Kentucky. Her high school coaches suggested she consider becoming a kicker in American football, but she chose to pursue her passion for soccer while also coaching a younger team.
By 2009, she was coaching in the Ingolstadt academy in Germany. It was more of a pastime — she had completed her high school diploma, enjoyed an apprenticeship at Audi, and studied law (and later, sports science). However, she continued to return to coaching, eventually working her way up to the top position.
When Wittmann first took her place on the sidelines, Ingolstadt attracted significant global media attention. “There were numerous cameras and media,” she noted. “That was something new for Ingolstadt, so I recognized, ‘OK, this is something special.’
Ingolstadt is established in the third tier, but they once competed at the highest level. From 2015 to 2017, Ingolstadt played in the Bundesliga. They were coached by Ralph Hasenhüttl (2013 to 2016) and featured Germany’s Pascal Gross and United States international Alfredo Morales in their squad. However, they were relegated to 2. Bundesliga in 2017 and dropped to 3. Liga in 2021.
They remain a club with ambitions of climbing the ranks while being realistic about their financial limitations, and they take pride in youth development. Wittmann has coached players from the U9 level up to the senior team. “When I coached the younger teams, I always felt I was playing with their dreams, so you do have doubts, but you must be rational.”
This connection and understanding with the players contributed to her securing the job on a full-time basis. “Sabrina works diligently and has a very effective approach to how she wants to play football,” midfielder Yannick Deichmann told TZ in August 2024. “We all trust and follow her without hesitation.”
“She knows what she wants, is ambitious yet composed,” former Ingolstadt player Patrick Sussek told Kicker.
During the 2024-25 preseason, she stood before the senior team as their head coach, aware that their positive feedback to the board had significantly influenced her appointment. They discussed drills and tactical adjustments, but she also communicated that she would rely on their support.
“Perhaps at times I am more lenient than a man,” she remarked. “But when I was with the under-19s, a father [of one of the players] told me that the strength of a woman was something I should not lose. So I strive to remain true to myself, not to harden my demeanor or anything.”
“It took me nearly 15 years to coach a professional team. It’s not solely about the knowledge you acquire, but also about your own confidence: Be authentic, stay committed, and be patient.”
Wittmann encounters negativity at matches and on social media but chooses to disregard it. When her close friends hear her being criticized, they often make light of it. “I try not to dwell on that, because if it comes down to conversations, nine out of ten are genuinely positive and one is negative,” she explained. “The loudest [voices] are sometimes the most negative, but I focus on the nine that are positive.”
One of Wittmann’s initial challenges in her role was obtaining her UEFA Pro Licence — a required certification for managers in Germany’s top three leagues. Until she was accepted into the program in January 2025, Ingolstadt faced a one-time fine of €10,000 and an additional €3,500 for every match she managed. She balanced that course with her coaching responsibilities, overseeing a team in transition — Ingolstadt lost 19 players in the summer of 2025. However, in January, she received her license. “Dreams pursued — some achieved, new ones discovered,” she posted on Instagram.
At that point, she was uncertain whether Ingolstadt would extend her contract, as the team was near the relegation zone. However, throughout February, results improved, and her future became more certain. On March 6, Ingolstadt announced that Wittmann had signed a new contract. “Her authenticity, clear football philosophy, and unwavering commitment to the sustainable development of our team and players distinguish her,” Beiersdorfer stated. “Her extensive experience at FC Ingolstadt 04 has given her an exceptional sense of identification with and responsibility for our club.”
Regarding personal role models, Wittmann admires Jurgen Klopp’s passion and Pep Guardiola’s meticulous tactical focus. She dedicates time to studying Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel. However, she is also conscious that there are aspiring young managers looking to her for motivation.
“I recognized that I opened the door a bit for women, and initially, I was genuinely concerned about closing it faster than I would prefer,” she said. “But I reassured myself, along with the support of those around me, ‘Let’s just act and not talk too much about it.’ And all the pressure I felt at the beginning — you become accustomed to it.”
She added: “I reside in Munich, and I visited the [farmers’ market], where a 6-year-old girl who wasn’t interested in football at all was so thrilled that I had obtained the job.
“Many people wish me well, but I know there are those who hope for unfavorable outcomes. However, I strive to remain calm, understanding that if it succeeds, it is because I am true to myself and not trying to be tougher than I am.”
There are few women in Wittmann’s position. Nadine Keßler, UEFA’s head of women’s football, has pointed out the gender disparity among Pro License holders. “In Europe, we have 75 times as many Pro License men’s coaches as female coaches. The DFB has the most balanced ratio — with 28 times as many male Pro License holders,” she noted.
Union Berlin’s Marie-Louise Eta became the Bundesliga’s first female assistant coach in 2023, and in 2017, Bibiana Steinhaus-Webb made history as the first female referee in the Bundesliga. Inka Grings (SV Straelen) and Imke Wübbenhorst (Sportfreunde Lotte) have coached in the fourth tier.
“I truly feel honored, but I dislike the term ‘role model,'” Wittmann expressed. “My closest friends are doctors working in hospitals; they are role models. I’m a football manager, and I’m not saving lives, so it’s a significant term for me. But if I can assist young girls and boys in achieving their goals, then that makes me proud. It took me some time to realize that, but I now feel more confident in that belief.”
It has been another challenging season for Ingolstadt, but they are secure in 3. Liga. The hope is to retain their top players this summer, and the youth system Wittmann has helped develop continues to produce impressive talents. Meanwhile, Wittmann collaborates with her close confidant, assistant coach Fabian Reichler, to strategize their path to promotion. In addition to being the first female coach in German professional soccer, Wittmann is also the youngest manager in the top three divisions. This is not her limit.
“One of the lessons I learned quickly was that if you lose three consecutive matches, you feel terrible,” she said. “But you must instill belief in everyone, so you fight. Regardless of whether you’re a man or a woman, if the players sense that you’re doubting yourself or lacking confidence in your approach, they will follow suit. So you fight and believe in yourself and your capabilities.”
