Thursday 03 June 2021, 10:28

Living Football Podcast | Episode 7

  • Steffi Jones takes centre stage in the latest episode of 'Living Football'

  • The podcast also features futsal legends Kike and FIFA Fan Award winner Marivaldo

  • We take a look at the Solomon Islands and their journey to the Futsal World Cup

The Living Football podcast is back. In episode seven, Reshmin Chowdhury chats with former Germany defender Steffi Jones, who won 111 caps for her country, about a career in which she won one FIFA Women’s World Cup™ and three UEFA Women’s EUROs.

"When I was called up for my first game [and got to meet many international players]... I had so many role models," said Jones. "At that point it was Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Silvia Neid. There were so many icons that I’d watched on television, and then I got to play my first match. I had goosebumps; the national anthems played and I felt so proud.

"And then before you know it, you’re at a World Cup and the stadium is full. You have so many fans and they’re all there for you, to see these two teams play. The most important thing is that your first ball is a good one and that you get a good touch, because then you know that the game will go well.

"That was the greatest moment. I was unlucky to pick up an injury, so I didn’t make it to the final, but I watched it on TV and cheered on the team from home."

Thanks in no small part to her impressive medal collection and commitment to social causes, the former defensive stalwart is both a popular and respected personality within the German sporting world. After calling time on her playing career, Jones was appointed President of the Organising Committee for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011™ by the German Football Association (DFB).

In 2015 she was named assistant coach of Germany’s women’s national team alongside Silvia Neid, helping them to win Olympic gold at Rio 2016. She then became head coach of the national side, a role she held until March 2018. She has been the patron of the Bundesstiftung Kinderhospiz (German Children’s Hospice Foundation) since October 2019 and is also involved in women’s football at SSV Buer.

As well as Steffi Jones, the latest episode features futsal legends Kike and Marivaldo Francisco da Silva, who won the FIFA Fan Award for his incredible commitment to the sport.

As if that was not enough, we also take a look at the highlights of the 71st FIFA Congress, learn about several important reforms to football’s transfer system and travel to the Solomon Islands to hear how they qualified for the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Lithuania.