Portrait

Born: 27 November 1985Kriens, Switzerland

FootballerSwitzerland

Lara Dickenmann

Lara Dickenmann helped take Swiss women’s football onto the international stage, winning European titles while speaking openly about being a lesbian.

Lara Dickenmann was born in Kriens in 1985. She made her senior debut for Switzerland as a teenager and continued her development in the United States, playing college football at Ohio State University.

Her club career took her to Olympique Lyonnais, where she won domestic titles and the UEFA Women’s Champions League in 2011 and 2012. In 2015 she moved to VfL Wolfsburg, adding German league and cup honours to her record. Her versatility allowed her to contribute in midfield and defence.

For Switzerland, Dickenmann was a leading player during the team’s progress towards its first World Cup in 2015 and first European Championship in 2017. She also spoke publicly about being a lesbian and the stereotypes attached to women’s football. She married fellow footballer Anna Blässe.

Dickenmann retired from playing in 2021, aged thirty-five. She then became general manager of the women’s team at Grasshopper Club Zurich, moving from performance on the pitch to the work of developing a club and supporting the next generation.

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