Lena Oberdorf

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Lena Oberdorf
2023-07-03 Fussball, Frauen, Deutsche Nationalmannschaft, Media Day 1DX 6658 by Stepro-2.jpg
Oberdorf with Germany in 2023
Personal information
Full name Lena Sophie Oberdorf [1]
Date of birth (2001-12-19) 19 December 2001 (age 23) [1]
Place of birth Gevelsberg, Germany
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) [1]
Position(s) Midfielder, centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Bayern Munich
Number 8
Youth career
TuS Ennepetal
TSG Sprockhövel
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2018–2020 SGS Essen 36 (12)
2020–2024 VfL Wolfsburg 71 (17)
2024– Bayern Munich 0 (0)
International career‡
2014–2016 Germany U15 12 (6)
2016 Germany U16 4 (3)
2016–2017 Germany U17 13 (2)
2017–2018 Germany U19 6 (3)
2018 Germany U20 4 (1)
2019– Germany 51 (4)
Medal record
UEFA Women's Championship
Runner-up 2022 England
UEFA Women's Nations League
Bronze medal icon.svg 2024
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 July 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:29, 16 July 2024 (UTC)

Lena Sophie Oberdorf (born 19 December 2001) is a German professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the Germany national team. [2] A versatile player who can play in various positions ranging from centre-back, left-back, defensive midfielder, and central midfielder, Oberdorf is considered one of the most promising young talents in women's football. [3] [4]

Contents

Early life

Oberdorf played on, and captained, boys' football teams in her youth. Oberdorf started football at TuS Ennepetal. As a D youth, she switched to TSG Sprockhövel, where she was on boys' teams until 2018. [5] She was the only girl in the German youth league she played in, as the captain of TSG Sprockhövel. [6]

Club career

SGS Essen

In November 2017, Oberdorf signed a three-year contract with Bundesliga club SGS Essen, agreeing to join in the summer of 2018. [7]

She made her SGS debut on 9 September 2018 in DfB-Pokal second round against SV Henstedt-Ulzburg, where she immediately scored two goals in a 14–0 win. Almost a week later, on 15 September 2018 (matchday 1), Oberdorf scored two more goals in a 4-0 away victory against MSV Duisburg in the Frauen-Bundesliga.

VfL Wolfsburg

Ahead of the 2020–21 season, Oberdorf moved to VfL Wolfsburg. She signed an initial three-year contract, which was extended in the summer of 2022 to 2025. [8] [9]

Her first appearances came at the end of the COVID-delayed 2019-20 UEFA Women's Champions League, in which Wolfsburg lost 3-1 to Lyon in the final. Oberdorf replaced Svenja Huth as a 61st minute substitute.

In Oberdorf's first full season with Wolfsburg, she won the DfB-Pokal, a trophy that Die Wölfinnen remarkably won on four consecutive occasions during her time at the club.

The following year, Lena featured in 17 of Wolfsburg's 22 league matches as they won the 2021-22 Frauen-Bundesliga title. She also helped her side reach the Champions League semi-finals, where they were defeated by Barcelona.

Individually, Oberdorf's top performances for both club and country saw her place fourth in the 2022 Ballon d'Or Féminin award and third in the 2021-22 UEFA Women's Player of the Year ranking. [10]

Wolfsburg finished as runners-up in the 2022-23 UEFA Women's Champions League, with Oberdorf playing the whole final as her side lost 3-2 to Barcelona.

During her four-year spell with Wolfsburg, Oberdorf firmly became one of the brightest talents in European football, consistently catching the eye with her reading of the game, awareness, physicality and quality in possession. She made over 100 appearances for the club in all competitions before a release clause in her contract was triggered. [11]

Bayern Munich

On 15 February 2024, Bayern Munich announced the signing of Oberdorf, starting from summer that year until 2028. [12] The reported transfer fee made Oberdorf the most expensive female German footballer in history. [13]

Due to a severe cruciate and medial collateral ligament injury suffered whilst on international duty, Oberdorf has been unable to make her Bayern debut.

International career

Youth

Oberdorf made her national team debut on 28 October 2014 at the age of twelve. She came on for Verena Wieder in the 41st minute of the U-15 national team's 13–0 win against Scotland. Two days later, she scored her first goal in an 8–0 win over Scotland in another friendly.

In July 2016, she took part in the Nordic Cup with the U-16 national team and finished second behind Norway with the team.

Also in 2016, Oberdorf was the youngest player in the 21-player squad of the U17 national team for the World Cup in Jordan. She featured in two group games against Venezuela and Cameroon and against Spain in the quarter-finals, scoring against Cameroon to make it 2–0 and against Spain to make it 2–1. In 2017 she qualified with the team for the European Championship in the Czech Republic and won it after beating Spain 3–1 in the final on penalties. After the tournament, she was voted "Golden Player" by UEFA.

For the U19 national team, she played six games from September 2017 to April 2018 as part of qualifying for the 2018 European Championship, but was already part of the squad in the summer of 2018 for the U20 national team and took part with this – again as the youngest German player – at the World Cup in France.

Senior

In December 2018, national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg called her up to the squad for the senior national team for the winter training camp from 14 to 21 January 2019 in Marbella. [14] She made her debut on 6 April 2019 in Solna in a 2–1 win in a friendly against Sweden, replacing Turid Knaak in the 61st minute. At 17 years and 109 days she is the eighth youngest player to make her debut for the national team. She established herself as a starter for the national team. [15]

Voss-Tecklenburg called her back to the German team for the 2019 World Cup. When she came on as a substitute in the first round match against China, she became the youngest German World Cup player at age 17 years, five months, and 20 days – a record that Birgit Prinz had previously held.

She scored her first international goal on 3 September 2019 in Lviv in the 8–0 victory over Ukraine in the second European Championship qualifier in group I, with her goal making it 4–0 in the 54th minute. [16]

She played for Germany at Euro 2022, including the final on 31 July, in which England won 2-1 after extra-time. Oberdorf played in five of the team's six games, unable to play in the other game due to suspension because of a second yellow card.

Oberdorf was one of the stars of the Euros, producing strong, controlling displays and one assist from a defensive midfield role. After her fantastic showing, the 20-year-old was recognised as the Young Player of the Tournament and voted into the "Eleven of the Tournament" by the UEFA coaching staff. [17]

On 16 July 2024, she sustained a knee injury during a 4–0 victory over Austria in the last match of the UEFA Euro 2025 qualifying, which forced her to miss the 2024 Summer Olympics. [18]

Personal life

Oberdorf's brother Tim Oberdorf, who is five years older, is also a footballer. [19] Her sister Julia Oberdorf, three years older, plays American football. [20]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 20 May 2024 [21]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueDFB-PokalContinental [a] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
SGS Essen 2018–19 Frauen-Bundesliga 16922–1811
2019–20Frauen-Bundesliga20340–243
Total361262–4214
VfL Wolfsburg 2019–20Frauen-Bundesliga––3 [b] 030
2020–21Frauen-Bundesliga20754312812
2021–22Frauen-Bundesliga1724190303
2022–23Frauen-Bundesliga1734080293
2023–24Frauen-Bundesliga1753120226
Total711716625111224
Bayern Munich 2024–25 Frauen-Bundesliga00000000
Career total1072922825115438
  1. ↑ includes UEFA Women's Champions League
  2. ↑ Joined during 2020–21 season but competed in the postponed 2019–20 UEFA Women's Champions League

International

As of 16 July 2024 [22]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Germany 2019122
202040
202170
2022121
202390
202461
Total514
Scores and results list Germany's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Oberdorf goal.
List of international goals scored by Lena Oberdorf
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
13 September 2019 Arena Lviv, Lviv, UkraineFlag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 4–08–0 UEFA Women's Euro 2021 qualifying
28 October 2019 Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium, Thessaloniki, GreeceFlag of Greece.svg  Greece 5–02–0UEFA Women's Euro 2021 qualifying
39 April 2022 Bielefelder Alm, Bielefeld, GermanyFlag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 1–03–0 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
49 April 2024 Tivoli, Aachen, GermanyFlag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 3–13–1 UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying

Honours

VfL Wolfsburg

Germany U17

Germany

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 "FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019: List of Players: Germany" (PDF). FIFA. 27 May 2019. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  2. ↑ "Lena Sophie Oberdorf – Spielerinnenprofil". DFB Datencenter (in German). Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  3. ↑ "Lena Oberdorf 2019/20 - scout report". Total Football Analysis Magazine. 11 April 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  4. ↑ Ruszkai, Ameé. "Lena Oberdorf: The jewel at the heart of German football". www.goal.com. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  5. ↑ "Lena Oberdorf: Mit 16 bei der U 20-WM". DFB – Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V. (in German). Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  6. ↑ Oberdorf, Lena (15 July 2023). "Germany's Lena Oberdorf: 'Parents shouted: don't get run over by a girl'". The Guardian (Interview). Interviewed by Donald McRae.
  7. ↑ "U17-Europameisterin wechselt zur SGS Essen – Der Frauenfussball-Bundesligist aus Essen". 6 October 2018. Archived from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  8. ↑ "Wolfsburg verpflichtet Nationalspielerin und Top-Talent Oberdorf". kicker (in German). Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  9. ↑ sportschau.de. "Frauenfußball: Lena Oberdorf verlängert Vertrag mit VfL Wolfsburg". sportschau.de (in German). Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  10. ↑ Metz, Madeleine (22 October 2022). "Euro 2022: The genius of the German midfield". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  11. ↑ "Oberdorf to leave VfL Women". VfL Wolfsburg. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  12. ↑ "FC Bayern verpflichtet Lena Oberdorf" (in German). FC Bayern Munich. 15 February 2024.
  13. ↑ "Lena Oberdorf: Bayern Munich sign Wolfsburg midfielder". BBC Sport. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  14. ↑ "Voss-Tecklenburg holt 30 Spielerinnen ins Wintertrainingslager". DFB – Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V. (in German). Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  15. ↑ Kornat, Wiktoria (8 July 2020). "Lena Oberdorf – The Jewel in Germany's young generation's forge of Talent". Football Engine. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  16. ↑ "Ukraine 0–8 Germany". UEFA. 3 September 2019.
  17. ↑ "Im Nachgang der Women's EURO - Vier Titelheldinnen in der Turnier-Elf – Diacre bleibt". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  18. ↑ Schreier, Robert (17 July 2024). "Schlimme Knie-Verletzung: Olympia-Aus für DFB-Star Oberdorf!" (in German). Bild.
  19. ↑ "Die Oberdorfs: Ein steiniger Weg für "Lehrer" Tim und große Erfolge für "Kiebitz" Lena". kicker (in German). 7 January 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  20. ↑ "„Ich habe mich nicht geoutet": DFB-Star Lena Oberdorf macht Liebesbeziehung öffentlich". EXPRESS (in German). 24 July 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  21. ↑ "L. Oberdorf, Summary - Soccerway".
  22. ↑ "Lena Oberdorf". dfb.de. 18 September 2021.
  23. ↑ "Eurosport is not available in your region". www.eurosport.com. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  24. ↑ Sanders, Emma (31 July 2022). "England beat Germany to win first major women's trophy". BBC. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  25. ↑ "Germany win Nations League play-off to reach Olympics". BBC Sport. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  26. ↑ "Lena Oberdorf named UEFA Women's EURO 2022 Young Player of the Tournament". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 31 July 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  27. ↑ "UEFA Women's EURO 2022 Team of the Tournament announced". UEFA.com. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  28. ↑ "Renard, Bronze and Morgan secure FIFPRO Women's 11 places". FIFA. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  29. ↑ Gladwell, Ben (21 August 2017). "2017: Lena Oberdorf". UEFA.com.
  30. ↑ "Wirtz, Katterbach und Oberdorf erhalten Fritz-Walter-Medaille in Gold". kicker (in German). 19 August 2020.
  31. ↑ "FRITZ-WALTER-MEDAILLE IN GOLD AN KÜHN, BÜHL UND ADEYEMI" (in German). German Football Association. 6 September 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  32. ↑ "FRITZ-WALTER-MEDAILLE IN GOLD AN HAVERTZ, KATTERBACH UND PAWOLLEK" (in German). German Football Association. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  33. ↑ "IFFHS WOMEN'S WORLD TEAM 2022". IFFHS. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  34. ↑ "IFFHS WOMEN'S WORLD TEAM 2023". IFFHS. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  35. ↑ "Oberdorf ist Fußball-Nationalspielerin des Jahres". SPORT1 (in German). 9 January 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
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