Michelle Ulbrich is the new team captain of Werder Bremen's women's side. The record appearance holder takes the armband following Lina Hausicke's transfer to Union Berlin, as reported by Kicker on Wednesday.
The decision was made by the team itself. Ulbrich, who previously served as vice-captain, will be supported by Juliane Wirtz as her deputy. The squad still boasts experienced players like Mariella El Sherif, Julia Magerl, and Medina Desic. Werder's Bundesliga season started with a defeat, leaving them 15th with zero points from one match. The next chance to get points comes this Saturday, September 5th, in a home game against RB Leipzig, who are currently third in the table. The club's current injury list can be tracked on our injuries page.
Who is the new captain Michelle Ulbrich?
Michelle Ulbrich is a mainstay at Werder Bremen. She has now made nearly 300 competitive appearances for SV Werder and holds the club's appearance record. Her loyalty and experience make her a natural leader within the squad. "It fills me with pride to now take on this role and lead the team as captain," said Ulbrich. "I am also very grateful to be able to represent my heart's club as captain."
Why was the captaincy changed?
The change in leadership became necessary because long-time captain Lina Hausicke left the club. Hausicke moved to Union Berlin on deadline day after nine years with Werder. This gap in the leadership group needed to be filled. Head coach Friederike "Fritzy" Kromp welcomed the team's choice: "The fact that the team has now expressed its trust in her as captain is a nice confirmation of her role within the team." Kromp added that Ulbrich has repeatedly taken on responsibility in the past.
What is the team's current situation?
The Werder women are under pressure to respond quickly after a poor start to the season. Following an opening defeat, they have scored one goal but conceded four, resulting in a -3 goal difference. In the standings, they are three points behind leaders Bayern Munich. The upcoming match against the strong Leipzig side is therefore important for the early table development. An overview of the upcoming tasks is available on our fixtures page.
Who supports Ulbrich in her new role?
At Michelle Ulbrich's side is Juliane Wirtz as the new vice-captain. This leadership duo is intended to bring stability and continuity to the team. The entire squad, including established forces like El Sherif, Magerl, and Desic, must now pull together to achieve the sporting objectives. The first test for the new leadership pair is on September 5th at the Weserstadion.
