Research Findings: Limited Representation of Women in Leadership Roles within Elite Soccer - Research Findings: Limited Representation of Females in Leadership Roles within Professional Football
The representation of women in top management positions within German Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga clubs remains very low, according to a survey conducted by Football Can Do More (FKM). The survey, based on the AllBright reports that analyze the composition of supervisory boards and management boards of DAX companies, reveals that out of 100 top positions in these clubs, only six are held by women.
The low numbers are attributable to historical gender norms and stereotypes that have shaped football administration into a male-dominated field, resulting in hiring practices and leadership expectations that favor men. Additionally, network effects and lack of role models have limited the career advancement of aspiring female managers. With few women in senior roles, they have fewer role models and less access to influential networks.
Despite these challenges, efforts have been made to increase diversity. The German Football Association (DFB) and Bundesliga clubs have introduced diversity and inclusion initiatives, including policies encouraging clubs to nominate women for leadership and technical roles. Some clubs are also implementing mentorship and leadership training programs tailored for women to prepare them for high-level management positions.
UEFA and other governing bodies provide awareness campaigns and funding to national associations, including Germany, to promote women in leadership within football. Discussions are ongoing about introducing quotas or targets for female representation in club and association leadership to accelerate change.
However, progress remains slow due to cultural resistance within football institutions and the competitive, results-driven nature of football management which often disfavors experimentation with non-traditional appointees.
Key figures in German football, such as Axel Hellmann, board spokesman of Eintracht Frankfurt, and Alexander Wehrle, chairman of the board of VfB Stuttgart, have expressed a desire for more women in leadership positions, emphasizing the need for support and drive from clubs, members, and fans.
Katja Kraus, co-chairwoman of FKM and a former national goalkeeper, clarifies that the analysis is not a blame game but emphasizes that the positive discussions and efforts to change have not yet resulted in corresponding numbers regarding gender diversity in football. She is the first woman to join the board of a football Bundesliga club, Hamburger SV, in 2003.
The structure of top management in German football shows a clear gender imbalance. The control bodies of the 36 Bundesliga clubs, responsible for appointing top management, are sparsely staffed with women, with only 10.3% of positions (28 out of 271) held by female members. The average tenure of a top manager in German football is 5.6 years in their current leadership position and 8.6 years working full-time at the club.
Four of the 36 clubs have women in their top management: Schalke 04, FC St. Pauli, 1. FC Heidenheim, and Werder Bremen. Fernando Carro, managing director of Bayer Leverkusen, values diversity as important for their organization and for society as a whole.
The statement from Federal Research Minister Dorothee Baer (CSU) reiterates that Bundesliga clubs perform significantly worse than comparable small and medium-sized enterprises in Germany regarding the representation of women in top management. Despite the CSU Minister not providing specific details, it is clear that the Bundesliga has a worse representation of women in top positions compared to the German economy.
In summary, German football’s low female representation in top management stems from historical, cultural, and structural challenges, while current efforts focus on awareness, training, and policy adjustments to improve diversity, though progress remains limited and incremental.
- To address the persisting low representation of women in top management positions within German Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga clubs, it's crucial to adapt and implement comprehensive community policies focusing on vocational training and leadership development for women in sports-related fields, such as football.
- In addition to policy changes, promoting science, health-and-wellness, and women's health, as well as encouraging sports like football for girls and women, can help challenge historical gender norms and stereotypes, expanding opportunities for aspiring female sports managers.
- By introducing and supporting sports-analysis programs tailored for women, we can empower them with the necessary tools and knowledge, eventually leading to increased diversity and inclusivity within football leadership.
