Ann-Katrin Berger

Ann-Katrin Berger (born 9 October 1990) is a German professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for English club Chelsea and the German national team.

Ann-Katrin Berger
Ann-Katrin Berger, PSG vs Twente, 2014–15 UEFA Women's Champions League
Personal information
Full name Ann-Katrin Berger
Date of birth (1990-10-09) 9 October 1990
Place of birth Göppingen, Germany
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Chelsea
Number 30
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2014 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam 19 (0)
2014–2016 Paris Saint-Germain 12 (0)
2016–2018 Birmingham City 24 (0)
2019– Chelsea 14 (0)
National team‡
2020– Germany 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:53, 8 March 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 1 December 2020

Early life

At the age of four, Berger began playing football in the KSG Eislingen. As a teenager, she moved to FV Faurndau. In 2007, she moved up to the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg. A year later, Berger moved to second division side, VfL Sindelfingen.[1]

Playing career

Club

In the summer of 2011, Berger signed a three-year contract with 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam in the Frauen-Bundesliga, the top division in Germany.[1] She made her debut for the club on 21 August 2011 and shut out Hamburger SV 4–0.[2] She made five appearances for the club during the 2011/2012 season playing a total of 450 minutes. Potsdam finished first in the league with an 18–2–2 record.[3] She was the starting goalkeeper in three of Potsdam's 2011–12 UEFA Women's Champions League matches helping the squad earn shut-outs against Þór Akureyri and Glasgow City F.C.[2][4]

Berger signed with Paris Saint-Germain in June 2014, playing 22 matches in all competitions during her two-year spell with the club.[5] In June 2016, she joined Birmingham City.[6]

In November 2017, Berger was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.[7] She made a full recovery. During her battle with cancer, she had a desire to continue playing football. On 4 February 2018, she made her first appearance since being diagnosed with cancer in the Fourth Round of the 2017–18 FA Women's Cup in an away match against Reading. Birmingham won 1–0. With her strong determination she had a brilliant season, and as a result she won the PFA Team of the Year Award.[8]

Berger continued her strong return in 2018, helping Birmingham City to a fourth-place standing after midway point of the 2018–19 FA WSL season. Having run down her contract at Birmingham City and rejected a new offer,[9] she joined reigning champions Chelsea on 4 January 2019.[10]

International

Berger received her first call-up to the German national team in November 2018.[10]

Personal life

Berger is openly gay, and she is in a relationship with her Chelsea teammate Jessica Carter.[11]

Honours

Club
1. FFC Turbine Potsdam
Birmingham City
Chelsea

References
  1. Mittnacht, Marianne (22 June 2011). "Mit 20 reif für die Champions League Torfrau Ann-Katrin Berger geht nach Potsdam". Neue Wurttembergische Zeitung. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  2. "Ann-Katrin Berger". Soccer Way. Archived from the original on 11 November 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  3. "2011/2012 Frauen Bundesliga". Soccer Way. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  4. Morgner, Sebastian (8 October 2013). "Turbine verteidigt Tabellenführung". Markische Allegemeine. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  5. "Player profile". Paris Saint-Germain. 17 June 2016.
  6. "PSG star signs for Birmingham". Birmingham City L.F.C. 17 June 2016. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  7. "Club statement: Ann-Katrin Berger". Birmingham City L.F.C. 27 November 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2017 – via bcfc.com.
  8. McNulty, Phil (17 May 2018). "Ann-Katrin Berger: From cancer diagnosis to PFA Team of the Year – BBC Sport". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  9. "Ann-Katrin Berger to leave Blues Women". Birmingham City FC. 28 December 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  10. "Ann-Katrin Berger signs for Chelsea FC Women". Chelsea FC. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  11. "Jess Carter on learning German". womenscompetitions.thefa.com. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
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