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- A former player from Germany, she came to the Kingdom in August 2021 as the first head coach of the Saudi women鈥檚 national team
- Appointed technical director in February 2023, she is credited with transforming the women鈥檚 game in the country and inspiring a new generation of players
RIYADH: The 抖阴短视频n Football Federation announced on Friday the departure of Monika Staab, its technical director of women鈥檚 football, after more than three years with the organization.
She was credited with transforming the women鈥檚 game in the Kingdom during her tenure and for inspiring a new generation of players to take up the sport.
Staab, a former player from Germany, joined the federation in August 2021, initially as the first head coach of the Saudi women鈥檚 national team. The federation said her leadership and vision played a pivotal role in shaping its strategy for women鈥檚 football, driving growth both on and off the pitch. She was appointed technical director in February 2023.
She coached the women鈥檚 national team in their first-ever match, a landmark 2-0 victory over the Seychelles in February 2022. Under her guidance, the Kingdom launched its first regional league for women in 2021, followed by a national football championship in 2022.
Staab also spearheaded the introduction of under-17 and under-20 women鈥檚 national teams, laying the foundations for the development of future talent.
Staab leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of milestones that have shaped women鈥檚 football in 抖阴短视频, the federation said. (SAFF)
In March 2023, she helped the Saudi women鈥檚 national team secure its first-ever FIFA ranking, and this month they reached their highest-ever position, climbing eight places to 166th. The team is now about to begin its campaign to qualify for the 2026 AFC Women鈥檚 Asian Cup.
Staab leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of milestones that have shaped women鈥檚 football in 抖阴短视频, the federation said.
鈥淲e bid farewell to Monika and thank her for helping to transform women鈥檚 football across 抖阴短视频,鈥� said Lamia Bahaian, the organization鈥檚 vice president, as she expressed her deep gratitude for Staab鈥檚 contributions.
鈥淗er vision, passion and tenacity have inspired us all. There are young girls across 抖阴短视频 now playing football at all levels thanks to the work she has done and the impact she鈥檚 had.
鈥淎lthough her time with SAFF has drawn to a close, her legacy will continue for generations.鈥�
Bayan Sadagah, the captain of the women鈥檚 national team, said: 鈥淢onika has inspired both myself and all my teammates to believe in ourselves and our team. Our journey as a team is inspiring so many girls across the country to play and follow football, and I know we all wish her the very best for the future.鈥�
The federation said women鈥檚 football has become a cornerstone of its strategy to grow the sport at all levels and participation has surged, with more than 70,000 schoolgirls playing football across the country.