German Football Icon Doris Fitschen Passes Away at 56

The former national team captain and DFB leader leaves a lasting legacy in women's football after a long battle with illness.

Doris Fitschen, a pivotal figure in German women's football, has died at the age of 56 after a prolonged illness.
She earned 144 caps for the German national team between 1986 and 2001, winning four European Championships and an Olympic bronze medal in 2000.
Fitschen played a key role in Germany's first international title for women's football, the 1989 European Championship on home soil.
Her post-playing career included managing the German women's national team from 2009 to 2016, during which they won two European Championships and Olympic gold in 2016.
As DFB's Coordinator for Women's Football, Fitschen was instrumental in advancing the sport, including overseeing the 'Women in Football FF27' initiative.