Football | Elisa Senß: Rise to top performer in the DFB team

This Monday, the German women's soccer team will settle into their team hotel in Zurich, in the Wiedikon district on the Uetliberg. Elisa Senß will be there with them. The 27-year-old will play a key role in a major tournament for the first time at the European Championships in Switzerland from July 2 to 27.

The Oldenburg native is arguably the most underrated national player, despite having started nine out of ten international matches since Christian Wück took over. The national coach is banking on her: "She has skills that are rarely seen in women's football ." Not the strategist Sjoeke Nüsken of Chelsea FC, but the fighter from Eintracht Frankfurt is the established midfielder for the eight-time European champions. At the Olympic Games, Senß's role as a substitute didn't stop her from stunning with a "Goal of the Month" against Zambia. At the European Championships, she no longer wants to make a sporadic impact: "I developed relatively late. I always took small steps that served me well."

Strong replacement for Lena Oberdorf

Senß only made her debut for the German national team in December 2023, after interim coach Horst Hrubesch watched a cup match between Bayer Leverkusen and HSV. "I'm very grateful that he gave me a chance," she explains in retrospect. What Hrubesch saw on his doorstep in Hamburg in the fall of 2023 impressed him. The 55-kilo lightweight seemed to win every duel. In the whole debate about Lena Oberdorf's return, it was largely overlooked that Senß, only 1.61 meters tall, had closed the gap athletically.

In every direct duel, Senß's enjoyment is evident. "I absolutely love duels. I really enjoy it. I also get into duels well," she says. "I like the aggressive, the nasty. I know exactly when to position my body." Her trick? "I have a different center of gravity, so I'm not pushing shoulder to shoulder."

Her rise to top performer is also astonishing because, until three years ago, during her time at SGS Essen, she worked as a medical assistant in the trauma surgery ward during the day. On surgery days, she also worked from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. – only afterward did she head off to the evening training session with the Bundesliga team in Essen-Schönebeck. "My main job was as a medical assistant. I really enjoyed it because I also really enjoy helping people." However, she is now grateful "that I can only play soccer."

Title as a goal

Her partner, Felix Casalino, has also achieved a certain level of fame. He used to generate a large reach as an influencer with their shared photos. Senß revealed at the media day that her boyfriend has stopped such activities: He now works in sports marketing and plays for SpVgg Fechenheim 03. He also switched to the Gruppenliga because he wanted to move to Frankfurt with his girlfriend: Senß signed a contract with Eintracht Frankfurt last summer, running until 2027, "to win titles."

Senß takes a pragmatic view of Eintracht's upcoming reorientation: "Change is completely normal: players come, players go. This is also a new opportunity. I'm planning on playing with Eintracht next year." However, it sounds like the national player, represented by Jörg Neblung, could envision a move next summer. The number of interested parties, especially from abroad, is likely to increase significantly if the European Championship is even remotely successful.