Renate Lingor

Born in Karlsruhe, she has won every title there is to win in football – most of them several times over. Her award as the ‘Best Indoor Player of All Time’, which she received in 2014, is unique. It may not be her most significant title, but it says a great deal about the qualities that defined her game.

At the heart of her game was outstanding technique, which allowed Lingor to hold her own against her opponents in the tightest of spaces. This was complemented by a creative flair and an eye for open spaces, which she opened up for her teammates with brilliant passes. However, the fact that she rose to become a pivotal figure in the national team during the 2000s and played a key role in winning two World Cup titles was not solely down to her seemingly effortless movements. Lingor was also a fierce fighter. In this respect, she perfectly embodied the essence of ‘Idgie’. Her nickname, borrowed from a character in a novel and a film, stood for her hands-on, resolute and determined nature. In this way, she shook off the reputation as a bit of a diva that had sometimes preceded her in her younger years, and developed into an almost complete player who was also able to make her mark when winning the ball.