VfL Bochum (women)

VfL Bochum is a women's association football club from Bochum, Germany. It is part of the VfL Bochum club.

VfL Bochum

Full name	Verein für Leibesübungen Bochum 1848 Fußballgemeinschaft e. V.
Founded	1 July 2010; 14 years ago (2010-07-01)
Ground	Ruhrstadion
Capacity	26,000
CEO	Ilja Kaenzig
Manager	Kyra Malinowski
League	2. Bundesliga
2023–24	Regionalliga West, 1st (promoted)
Home colours Away colours Third colours

History

VfL Bochum began its cooperation with TuS Harpen on July 1, 2008. TuS Harpen competed in the Regionalliga until its acquisition by VfL Bochum on July 1, 2010.^[1] During this period, another Bochum-based club, SG Wattenscheid 09, faced financial difficulties and dissolved, leading all their players to join the newly formed VfL Bochum women's team.^[1][2]

In their first two seasons in the Regionalliga West, VfL Bochum finished as runners-up. They became champions in their third season, earning promotion to the 2. Bundesliga.^[1]

On October 1, 2014, VfL Bochum 1848 announced that it would disband its women's football division at the end of the 2014–15 season to save 120,000 euros annually. This decision was met with sharp criticism from VfL fans. The fan club unserVfL.de stated in an open letter that the board's decision "cannot be reconciled with the values of the club" and accused the board of "trampling on social responsibility."^[3] However, on October 20, 2014, an extraordinary general meeting decided to retain the women's football division.^[4]

Despite this, the club withdrew the team from the 2014–15 2. Bundesliga, even though they had a mid-table finish.^[5] In the Regionalliga West, VfL Bochum finished as runners-up behind Borussia Bocholt in the 2017–18 season.^[6] Since June 20, 2018, the department has had a cooperation with the Swiss club FC Oerlikon Polizei Zürich, which includes an exchange of coaches and players.^[7]

The club remained in the Regionalliga West until they became champions of the 2023–24 season, earning promotion back to the 2. Bundesliga, following a 6–3 victory on aggregate over Mainz in the promotion play-off final.^[8]

Squad

As of 12 November 2024^[9]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  GER Kari Närdemann 2 DF  GER Antonia Haase 3 DF  GER Lina Backhaus 4 DF  GER Pia Rybacki 5 MF  GER Lilian Huber 6 MF  GER Janine Angrick (captain) 7 MF  GER Mara Wilhelm 8 MF  NGA Michelle Klostermann 9 MF  GER Alessandra Vogel 10 MF  GER Anna Moczarski 11 FW  GER Dörthe Hoppius 13 DF  GER Maja Hünnemeyer 14 MF  GER Anna Latifa Uebing

No. Pos. Nation Player 17 MF  GER Sarah Freutel 18 GK  GER Svea Resing 19 FW  GER Lucy Karwatzki 20 DF  GER Amelie Fölsing 21 FW  POR Anna Marques 22 MF  GER Nina Kerkhof 23 FW  GER Nina Lange 24 FW  GER Alina Angerer 30 GK  GER Leonie Doege 31 MF  GER Franziska Wenzel

Coaching history

Coach	Tenure
Roger Dorny	1 July 2010 – 30 March 2011
Thomas Reis	30 March 2011 – 30 June 2011
Arthur Matlik	1 July 2011 – 30 June 2013
Sabrina Gesell	1 July 2013 – 30 June 2015
Andreas Billetter	1 July 2015 – 18 April 2016
Heiko Küpper	19 April 2016 – 30 June 2017
Maik Büsser	1 July 2017 – 7 November 2018
Kelly Lorent	7 November 2018 – 19 November 2018
Paul Müller	19 November 2018 – 30 June 2021
Dimitrios Pappas	12 July 2021 – 31 July 2022
Kyra Malinowski	1 August 2022 – present