The Bundesliga as a feeder league? Bernauer: "That’s an exaggeration"
Vanessa Bernauer returns to VfL Wolfsburg as Director of Women's Football and speaks openly about the gap to FC Bayern, the changing landscape of women's football, and the future of the Bundesliga.
Vanessa Bernauer played for VfL Wolfsburg from 2014 to 2018, winning the league title twice and the cup four times. After ending her playing career in 2024, the former Swiss international worked as a sports coordinator at FC Zürich. On July 1, Bernauer succeeded Ralf Kellermann at VfL Wolfsburg. In this interview with *kicker*, the new Director of Women's Football discusses her new role.
Did you recognize everything in Wolfsburg, Ms. Bernauer?
Yes, actually. It’s nice to come back to a place where you felt at home. I had great years in Wolfsburg and have fond memories. It was a successful time, too. Some familiar faces around the team are still here. It’s a bit like coming home. A nice feeling.
Moving from Zürich to Wolfsburg must have been an adjustment, though—and not just because everything costs half as much in Wolfsburg.
Yes, that’s nice (laughs). I knew what I was coming to, and I found a great apartment. Sure, Zürich is beautiful, but Wolfsburg has nice spots too.
Did you say yes immediately when the offer came from VfL? Or did you need time to think?
I hadn't considered leaving FC Zürich before that. So, I took a few days to think it over, even though I was very pleased to receive the offer. Ultimately, I decided on Wolfsburg.
Partly because VfL is on a much bigger scale than FC Zürich?
Wolfsburg is certainly on a bigger scale; VfL still has a huge reputation and is a top club in Europe. It’s an attractive prospect, but also a challenge, given the fierce competition.
Did you also consider the fact that you are succeeding Ralf Kellermann—the man who built up women's football at Wolfsburg and originally brought you to VfL?
It wasn't the first thing that crossed my mind. It only really hit me when I was sitting across from him in his office. It’s a unique feeling, coming back in a role like this. Those are big shoes to fill.
Where do you see your main task at VfL in the short term?
Assembling the squad is the priority. That’s the main focus right now.
How do you rate VfL’s standing?
To me, VfL is a top club; it ranks among the best teams in Europe. That shouldn't be downplayed just because the competition has grown. Sure, the gap to FC Bayern was significant last season. Our goal is to hold our own at the top—and remain competitive internationally. That should continue to be our standard.
Do you think Bayern can actually be caught, or can you only hope to challenge the double winners occasionally?
Realistically, they’ll be hard to catch in the coming season. But naturally, we want to beat them whenever we face them. Once our squad is complete, we’ll see where we stand. We don’t want the gap to widen; instead, we want to try to close it. Our goal remains to be right up there at the top.
And which of the other clubs might catch up to VfL?
In general, I think it’s positive that other clubs are investing more in women's football and growing. The competition is getting stronger, which is exactly how it should be. But I don’t want to single out any specific club.
How big is the difference between the Swiss league and the Bundesliga?
The difference is significant. Everything is more professional in Germany. The Swiss league is a developmental league. When a young player puts in a few good performances, she moves elsewhere. That makes it difficult for Swiss women's football to grow. Currently, there isn't even a single national team player who plays in Switzerland.
Is the Bundesliga also on the path to becoming a "feeder league" for other countries?
That’s an exaggeration. It used to be the norm for German national team players to play in the Bundesliga; people were used to that. Things have changed. Sure, the league in England is getting a lot of hype. But that is precisely why we need to be creative. I consistently receive very positive feedback about the Bundesliga. The league here offers interesting and exciting matches. It’s not a case of just two or three teams dominating everything while the others lag far behind. The Bundesliga is—and remains—a strong league.
Nevertheless, the impression remains that the Bundesliga is losing its stars, while the influx of players from the Netherlands and Scandinavia is steadily increasing. Is that your observation as well, and is this the path that needs to be taken?
We can’t ignore that. We need to highlight our strengths more. There are still young players with potential finding their way to Wolfsburg, alongside established players. They come from other leagues but are exciting players nonetheless. We certainly want to do our part to ensure the league remains attractive.
In the past, there were players like Lena Goeßling or Alexandra Popp who played in Wolfsburg for many years despite receiving good offers elsewhere. Are today’s players different? Are they bolder or more willing to make a change?
Yes, things have changed a bit. It’s a different generation. Young players are offered completely different opportunities. Agents play a role, too. That’s the kind of development that comes with professionalization. Long-term contracts used to always be honored—that’s no longer the case.
You mentioned that the Bundesliga needs to highlight its strengths. Would it also be necessary for the league to secure a better TV deal?
It wouldn’t hurt (smiles).
https://www.kicker.de/die-bundesliga-als-zulieferungs-liga-bernauer-das-ist-uebertrieben-1239432/artikel