She goes her own way

Woman as a football coach: “I want to be a role model”

Marianne Pahkala works for the Vienna Vikings.

(Bild: Hannes Jirgal)

She is the only woman to hold a coordinator position in top European football. Marianne Pahkala is responsible for the special teams at the Vienna Vikings in the European League of Football. It doesn't matter that she is a woman. Born in Finland, she has worked hard for her position. And she's only 30 years old.

Everyone just calls her "coach". That's the first thing you notice when you meet Marianne Pahkala at the Ravelinstraße football center in Vienna's Simmering district. "My gender plays no role at all in my day-to-day work," she confirms, "but of course, when something like World Women's Day comes around, I realize that I'm very privileged compared to other women. But for me, it's just my daily work."