“ We can no longer hide ”, says Johan Djourou on the future of Swiss women’s football

Johan Djourou, a former central defender of Arsenal and Hamburg, is now the head coach of the Swiss women’s national team.

In an interview with Flashscore, he talks about the development of women’s football in Switzerland and the promise of a successful European home championship.

How is Swiss women’s football?

“It’s not going too much. If you look at the players who play abroad, who play for large clubs, I think it’s quite interesting, like Sydney Schertenleib or Lia Walti, or other players who are in Germany … We also had the export of Iman Beey, who went to Manchester City, and Naomi Luyet, who went to Frankfurt.

But the Swiss women’s league is not professional, right?

“This is what really lacks in Switzerland today, this slightly professional side, so that players can focus more on football than their work outside the game. Unfortunately, which is a bit of a problem today, but it is also the case in other countries, is that girls are not 100% concentrated on football, because they have to work on the side and do other things to earn money.

Is it one of the Federation’s plans that Swiss women’s football should one day become professional?

“There are aspirations, of course. We still have a lot to do. We would like to see the number of registered players increase and that more young girls register to play football. We are currently at 40,000 and we should reach 80,000 after the euro.

We are already working on basic football and training. And then, of course, we would like women’s football in Switzerland to become a professional, but we also know that, unfortunately, it is a question of resources, television rights and income. We have the will, but I think there is still a little work to do before getting there. “”

Is there a strict plan to get there?

“We have set up a program inherited to leave a lasting and long -term impact after the euros. On the professional side, we are an incomparable country with France or other countries where things are more professional. So, today, Switzerland is developing, Switzerland is progressing, Switzerland learns and we can see that with the players we train today.

“But it’s complicated to get involved, given where women’s football begins.

“To reach a professional level, you need a lot of skills”

Before Euro 2025, was there a desire at the national level to accelerate things a little, to make sure that Swiss women’s football was a little better?

“There has always been the desire to improve, or at least try to learn from others. We know that Denmark works well, we know that Germany works well, we know that France works well … But then it is a question of proportion, it is a question of the number of players, it is a question of number of people involved, because to reach a professional level, you need a lot of skills.

So there are all kinds of aspects. But it is true that when approaching euros, one of my programs in particular, the Impulse program, was to do everything to optimize our performance in euros, to optimize everything on the sports and medical side at the national level of the team, to try to compete with the largest teams. “”

It has been said that Swiss women’s football has traveled a long way in the past ten years. What exactly changed?

“I think it is partly the opening of Borders of certain players, such as Lia Wälti who left, Geraldine Reuteler who plays Frankfurt … So it’s a bit like with boys, there is experience that is acquired abroad, there is also a know-how that returns to the country after.

The same goes for training, which is well today with the training center that we have in Biel, where players are monitored from an early age so that they have a clear path to follow if they are mentally strong. There is therefore a lot of work that has been done over the years, but this is also inspired by what we get players who play abroad. “”

“We must be determined to have young Swiss players play”

And will this work continue after the euros?

“Yes, of course, that is part of our Legacy program. The inherited program asks clubs to participate on the basis of certain criteria or parameters they can meet, after which they earn points and accelerate their progress.

Our goal is also to optimize the training of coaches, the training of players and the skills of people who are also involved in women’s football. It is really a program to also develop basic football, because we know that as soon as basic football is better, you end up with more players with an interesting potential for the future. “”

And when we see that some clubs, especially young boys, play the game in terms of training, is there a desire for a national training campaign in women’s football?

We want to have as many Swiss players as possible in our league. You must therefore understand that at one point, the Swiss championship is a springboard, a championship which offers training to other countries.

“And I think we see slowly this now with the examples I have given: Iman Beeney, Naomi Luyet and Noemi Ivelj, who leaves now and show that the championship is of high quality. But it is true that we must be determined to play young Swiss players.

Do clubs install training centers?

Again, it is a question of resources. There is the Federation’s training center, then there are professional clubs, with facilities for those under 15 who play with boys, but we don’t really have training centers as such.

You say that the Swiss championship is a springboard. Is it always complicated to keep young talents like Luyet or Beey in Switzerland?

Yes, clearly. And then it’s also a question of resources. These young players want to earn a living and only play football. So, today, it is complicated to keep young talents for a long time if you know abroad, you could earn much more money and be a full -time professional.

“With what’s going on, people are aware of the potential”

Are you optimistic about the future of Swiss women’s football when you see all the national enthusiasm for Euro 2025?

“It is very positive. I think that people have also learned to consume the product and appreciate it. Now, it is up to us, the clubs and the football association to work to continue. Because we know that a euro is a boom. But then, there is excitement, passion and so on.

If we take France as an example, the 2019 World Cup was not immediately followed by changes for French women’s football …

“We are aware of this. This is why we have to find new formulas, new ideas and be original. Women’s football has a lot of qualities that people appreciate, the euro is good, there are big matches … There may also be a need to realize that yes, there are 30,000 people in the stadiums, but that some girls will soon play in front of 2,000, 3,000, perhaps even 1,000 specters.

“This is a product that is flourishing. We cannot expect 25,000 people in each Swiss League match tomorrow, after the euro. It would be unreal. We must continue to build quietly and add a brick at the same time so that in the long term and a few years, we can achieve something lasting.

Will this European championship oblige the directors of clubs and the federation to take more account of women’s football?

“Yes, of course, I don’t think we can hide any longer. With what’s going on, people are aware of the potential. So it’s up to us to think carefully about how we can continue to present and use this product for the best effect.

Did you expect such a huge answer? Because there are cities today where it is difficult to find a Swiss women’s national team jersey …

“I expected that. I know the team and its quality. So, yes, I know that people were also hesitant, but it’s great that people finally accept and see the quality and beauty of this product. After that, of course, you need results, you need performance.

And I think that as soon as the girls put their shoulders behind the wheel and people realized that it is not a question of boys or girls, that they are women who fight for their country, it is clear that the craze is done. And it’s great to see this national enthusiasm in matches, with shirts everywhere, it’s extraordinary. “”

“Some players will continue to emphasize that we can always do better”

As a person who is in constant contact with the nati, is it a subject in the locker room to say that beyond this euro, there is a desire to promote the Swiss championship, to promote Swiss women’s football?

“I think it’s the battle of everyone for a long time. If you look at Lia Wälti or the players who started a long time ago, when there was no one in the stadium, and today they play in full stadiums, in Arsenal or elsewhere, it is clear that they are pioneers.

“So for them, the message has always been the same, namely that women’s football is accepted for its qualities and value, without any hatred, just to have their place. I think they are very satisfied with what is happening and we want it to continue.

In the streets of Switzerland, we see a lot of advertising with their faces. Does this make them more identifiable but also more legitimate in terms of defense of women’s football?

These girls are identified. I think it is important to make sure that young players can identify with their heroines. This is what would happen with men, and it is perfectly normal for them to have their place in marketing wherever they go and everywhere in each city.

A last question on the Swiss team. As a chief coach, are you optimistic about the match against Spain?

Regarding the game, it is 50-50 today. We know that they are one of the best world teams, but it’s 0-0 today. And it will also be 0-0 at the start, so it will be up to us to put all our ingredients, passion and determination to try to make an upheaval.

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