Leipzig Rising

Larissa Schreiber, Germany

Larissa Schreiber is a midfielder for the RB Leipzig women’s first team. The team started in 2016 and after promotion in 2020 from Regionalliga Nordost (the 3rd tier of German women’s football), the team is now playing in the 2. Frauen Bundesliga. The team won the Saxony Cup in 2019.

What is the story of your football life and journey?

My name is Larissa Schreiber, I'm 18 years old and from Germany. I grew up in Roitzsch, a small village near Leipzig. At the age of 12 I moved to boarding school in Leipzig to go to a sports school. The boarding school was a kind of flat share, where many athletes between 10 to 18 years lived if they went to the sports school (but lived too far away or in another city). The sports school is a special school, offering optimal conditions for young talented athletes to develop in both sport and school. When I was there, I had more time to focus on football. I had more time for training in the morning and I didn’t get too much homework, so I also had more time to train in the afternoon.

Last year I did my A-Level exams and I have been doing a voluntary social year in a primary school since last summer. I started playing football in kindergarten. First, I played with boys near my hometown. After 7 years, and full of experiences of playing football against and with boys, I changed my club and since that moment have played for a club in Leipzig. Since 2016 I have played for RB Leipzig. First in youth teams and for two years in the women’s team. I play in midfield for the women’s first team.

What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos?

I tried to give a closer look at our season in 2019, which was successful. I thought I could show some special moments for me and my team, especially from our 2019 Saxony Cup Final, which was a big highlight. The Cup Final was against another club from Leipzig. It was the final of the female competition in Saxony and we won 3-2.

It was one of the biggest games for me with the women’s team. It was a great experience. You can see our coach, who is very focused. The day was very special for us and strengthened our team spirit. Such a win is an experience which we have forever in our heads and minds. I am very proud to play for RB Leipzig, because the club offers me the opportunity to play football at a high level.

How is the RB Leipzig women’s team developing?

In 2019 we played with a very young team. But we accepted the challenge and played a good season against teams with more experience. We set ourselves a high but not unattainable goal of promotion into a higher league. Unfortunately, we just missed our goal. But I think we were able to draw the right conclusions and were prepared for the new season in 2020. Our ambition was to finish the 2020 season in first place in the table.

Due to the pandemic, we couldn’t finish the last season. But at the moment when our season was stopped, we were leaders in our league, the Regionalliga Nordost (3rd tier). So we were able to advance to 2. Frauen Bundesliga (the 2nd tier of German women’s football). The joy was so big because we achieved our goal. We couldn’t celebrate the promotion together on the pitch because of the pandemic. But we were still happy to play in 2. Frauen Bundesliga this season. 

This current season we played 3 games and won all of them. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, two games were cancelled again. But in early December we play the third round of the Cup against Eintracht Frankfurt. It’s a special game for us, because Frankfurt plays in 1. Frauen Bundesliga. So we are excited that we can play against such a strong opponent.

Are there any good stories connected with the people or teams you photographed?

I have known our goalkeeper Gina since 2013. She also moved for sport and boarding school in Leipzig at the same time. She is a very good friend. We were in the same class and did our A-Level exams together last summer. But we have also played football together since 2013, so we know each other’s weaknesses and strengths. We're connected by a lot of experiences and special moments in private and of course in football.

What are the opportunities for female footballers in Germany?

Currently I have the impression that girls and women have so many opportunities to play football in clubs. More and more clubs give us the chance to realise our dream to play football at all levels, whether at amateur level or as a competitive sport.

What role does football play in German society?

Football plays an important role in German society. It brings people from different social classes together. No matter where they come from, what culture and religion they belong to, or which language they speak. It's a game in which origin doesn't play a role. Football is a platform which provides opportunities for players in higher leagues to set an example. They can be role models for younger people with their good and responsible behaviour. 

What does football mean to you?

For me football means developing myself. I am part of a team and therefore I have a certain amount of responsibility towards my teammates. It's a great thing to see how both the team and I develop through experiencing victories and defeats. You learn from defeats and work together, to make it better next time. The feeling of community, the close connection to team members and friends is great. It's like a second family, with whom I can work on my (and our) dreams. For me football is more than just sport itself. For me football connects people.

When I was younger, I had a dream to play for the youth national team. I was even invited twice for training camps. But my performances were not enough and because of this I wasn't invited again. From that moment on I trained hard. But not only for the dream of playing for the national team, mainly to improve myself and to help my team.

What are the biggest changes happening at the moment in women's football? What is the future for German women's football?

I think more and more clubs are giving girls and women the opportunities to play football on a higher level. I believe that more and more clubs are trying to offer women the same opportunities as men. This is an important step, but I think the potential to doing it more and better is high.