Renate Lingor

Lingor began her career in 1981 with SV Blankenloch at the age of six, in 1983 she joined the youth team of Karlsruher SC. Aged 14 she signed with SC Klinge Seckach where she started her professional career in German Bundesliga. Despite several offers from top German teams she remained there until 1997 when she joined 1. FFC Frankfurt. Lingor's position is in the central midfield. She is well known for her good technique, her ability to read a game and her free kicks. She has retired after the 2007–08 season.

Before her first appearance in the German national team in 1995 Lingor made 19 games for the Under 20 Team. Since then she has been constantly part of the team that won several international titles. Her goal against Sweden at the 2004 Olympics secured the bronze medal for her team. In 2006 Renate Lingor was nominated as FIFA Women's World Player of the Year together with Marta (Brazil) and Kristine Lilly (USA). Lingor announced, that she would retire after the 2008 Olympic Games.[2]

Lingor usually played in the number 10 role in midfield behind the forwards, although she was also been used in a more attacking role on occasion, or even in a deeper role in front of the defence. In 2007, a FIFA.com profile described her with the following words: "She moves around the pitch with lithe elegance, is technically brilliant and has excellent vision. She can dummy and feint past almost anyone and is lethal from set pieces – so much so that she is often compared in her homeland with top playmakers from the men's game like Mehmet Scholl and Thomas Hassler. And with good reason. Lingor, who stands 1.66m (5'5") tall, is as consistently exceptional as her now retired male counterparts." The profile also praised her for creativity and playmaking skills, lauding her as a "master of the defence-splitting pass," while also noting her work-rate, stating: "Lingor is not only a creative outlet just behind the front two but also capable of working in front of the defence to break up opposition play and then launch lightning-quick counter-attacks."[3]

1. FFC Frankfurt

• UEFA Women's Champions League: Winner 2002, 2006, 2008
• Bundesliga: Winner 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008
• DFB-Pokal: Winner 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008
• DFB-Hallenpokal for women: Winner 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2007

Germany

• FIFA Women's World Cup: Winner 2003, 2007
• UEFA Women's Championship: Winner 1997, 2001, 2005
• Football at the Summer Olympics: Bronze medal 2000, 2004, 2008

Individual

• 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup All star team