Germany's Grings wants to coach a men's team again

Inka Grings wants to coach a men's football team again, with the former German international saying the most difficult part is convincing club officials that a woman can do the job, reported Xinhua.

Grings, 43, was the first woman to coach a men's team in the higher divisions of German football when she was in charge of fourth tier club Straelen in 2019 and 2020.

She is currently in charge of Swiss women's team Zurich but said in an interview with the German Football Federation (DFB) website on Saturday that coaching a men's side again "is and will remain my aim.

"The biggest hurdle are the people who are not on the pitch. It is a big challenge to convince the decision-makers. I believe that gender should not decide whether someone is a good coach. In the end only quality, competence and authority should be decisive," she said.

Grings, who has three men among her coaching staff in Zurich, added that a male-female "mix is much more interesting and effective in most cases. Unfortunately many people don't see it like this.

"I have the highest coaching licence possible in Germany and had a lot of success as a player. Maybe I just need to be patient a little longer," she said.