Wück speaks on scouting, systems, and personal coaching journey ahead of Wembley debut

After interim trainer Horst Hrubesch led the German women's national team to a bronze medal in the Paris Olympics, Christian Wück now assumes command of the what was once the most dominant force in global female football  The trainer who coached the Germany U17s to a World Championship last November is now tasked with helping lead the DFB-Frauen back to their former glory.

A reign of dominance in the Women's European Championship (seven consecutive titles) came to an end when Silvia Neid's team lost out to eventual champs Holland in the 2017 tournament. Martina Voss-Teckelenburg's 2022 Women's Euro squad made it to the Final, but lost out to England when captain Alexandra Popp had to withdraw with a late injury.

The German women haven't captured a world championship since taking their second consecutive FIFA Women's World Cup crown in 2007. Since winning the 2013 Euros, the only title over the past 11 years came when Neid's team took Olympic Gold in the 2016 games. Wück spoke on his hopes for turning the program around in an interview with Paul Bartmuß and Gunnar Meggers of Germany's Kicker Magazine.

Wück opened up a bit on his own personal coaching journey at the end of the interview. The 51-year-old former Nürnberg, Wolfsburg, KSC, and Arminia Bielefeld initially started coaching for free in the amateur ranks after he retired. An ill-fated attempt to coach professionals at Holstein Kiel then led him into the DFB youth coaching system in which he's been working for the last 13 years.

On making his debut in Wembley on Friday:

"I'm not nervous yet. That will come on the day of the game. At the moment, we're in the preparation phase. I'm excited to work with the players and see how quickly they can adapt to things. It's all about the details." 

"The goal is to play a 4-2-3-1. My approach to dealing with the players is a little different since I'm working with adults. I've spoken to Horst Hrubesch about individual players, though we haven't had time to sit down over coffee and cake yet." 

On his experience with women's football:

"I took my first steps in women's football at the 2019 World Cup in France. I followed the entire tournament as a scout, saw and analyzed other teams. I passed on the knowledge I gained to my team at the time."

"I approached the whole thing with great enthusiasm back then because I didn't know what to expect. But it was impressive to see the excitement the women generated in France. It was football at a very high level."

"Since then, I've always stayed a bit in the know. At coaches' conferences, we've also gotten together and discuss the latest in women's football."

On building his first roster:

"It's important to take this step-by-step. I need a mix of experienced players and those who will bring some fresh impetus. The next tournament is coming and I want to tryout some things in these four friendlies, maybe even some new positions for the players."

"We want to enter [this Spring's] Nations' League with a basic structure and make only gradual changes. The goal is to say that we'll know what 85 to 90 percent of the team will look like. The Nations' League is important, but we mostly want to prepare for the summer Euros.: 

"We [my staff and I] travel to watch players playing domestically and abroad. Sometimes I have weekends when I can watch up to four matches. The Frauen-Bundesliga is timed so that one can sometimes watch two games a day." 

"There's nothing like watching matches in person. It's much better in the stadium than on video. We've been to Italy, France, and the United States. That was one of our central tasks. It's also a sign of appreciation for the players when the coach comes to see them in person." 

On who can replace Alexandra Popp:

"All three players who have retired from national team duty [defender Marina Hegering, captain Popp, and keeper Merle Frohms] leave huge gaps. Alex was a leader on the pitch and a very important structural component of the team. Marina was secure and consistent. Merle was young and had a future."

"I'm not going to say, 'You're now replacing Alex Popp, you're now my captain and you're now a leader.; That doesn't work. But I do believe that we have enough potential in these positions in terms of footballing ability and character. And we have leading players who can quickly grow into these roles."

"We have promising young players who still need time to grow into the roles. Our biggest upheaval is in the defensive corps. I don't want to sit here and say that we'll win the Euros. My job is to convince the players that they can." 

On his personal coaching journey:

"I stopped playing for Bielefeld at the age of 29. I wanted to stay connected to football and worked for free as a coach in the sixth division. It's a different world there. For those players, it was important about having camaraderie in the locker room and their family coming to watch them play." 

"Professional footballers care about points, money, and pleasing the fans. Amateur footballers want to sit together and have a beer while also staying connected to their coach. As a professional coming from above, I learned a lot about what they wanted and needed." 

"I learned the most from my [ill-fated] head-coaching job at Holstein Kiel [in 2009/10]. It was one of the worst times for me. It was very frustrating for me because I would sit in my room at night wondering why some of my previous measures hadn't worked."

"That was the first time I realized how important it is to put together a squad, how important it is to adapt your concept to the team and not to impose anything on it. That's what I'm going to do here too. I'm here doing what I love. I don't have much of a life, but I'm fine with that."