Knaak: I’ve never enjoyed football as much as this year | OneFootball

Rebecca Knaak says 2025 has exceeded her wildest expectations after signing a new contract with City.

The German defender has penned a new deal with the Club which will extend her stay at the Joie Stadium until the summer of 2028.

It’s the latest milestone in a phenomenal year for the centre-back who signed from FC Rosengard in January before totalling 16 appearances for the Blues while scoring five goals.

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Due to her impressive performances, she not only became an influential figure for Andrée Jeglertz’s side, but she also earned a maiden senior Germany cap in February before playing every game for her nation at Euro 2025 as they reached the semi-finals.

And Knaak admitted that the past 12 months have been the most enjoyable of her career so far.

“I don’t think I could’ve even dreamt of this,” she said.

“I remember last New Year’s Eve I was sitting there with my best friends – because I was off to Abu Dhabi the next day to join the training camp – and we were like ‘this is going to be so interesting to see next year how everything has been’.

“Because we just didn’t know. I had no idea, and I couldn’t have even dreamt of this year. I’m not saying everything was great, it was tough as well, there were tough periods. But all in all, it’s more than I could’ve dreamed of.

“It feels like I’ve started a second career this year which is amazing and I’ve never enjoyed football as much as this year.

“The games for City have helped me a lot. I remember when I travelled to my first national team camp, I wasn’t that nervous because I felt I had a lot of games in the WSL on the highest level.

“And it helped me to improve, but I was also used to the quality because every team we meet is a top team. So that really helped me.

“Then the experience from the Euros in the summer has helped me as well, it’s been both and the integration has been smooth for me. It was a lot of learning, but I could also use it straight away.

“I always try to bring something from City to the national team and the other way around so I can have the best of both worlds. It definitely helps to play on that level, though.”

The summer of 2025 saw several changes at City with the appointment of Jeglertz as Head Coach as well as arrivals and departures in playing personnel.

FREE PRINTING ON KNAAK 27 SHIRTS UNTIL SUNDAY

Across the first half of the season so far, the Blues have continued to develop under the Swede’s stewardship and we’re currently top of the Barclays Women’s Super League with 27 points – our highest-ever tally after 10 league matches.

Knaak says the progression under Jeglertz is clear to see, and that she’s enjoying his tutelage to date.

She added: “If we just take the development of the team during the season, I obviously missed the first part of the season, so I didn’t really get to work with Andrée as much as I wanted to because I was injured in the beginning unfortunately.

“I think I could see the girls enjoying the freedom on the pitch and the culture is very flexible and open and everyone is active, proactive, asking questions.

“And I think, he has created a nice atmosphere on the pitch and off the pitch and we’ve seen a great development in the team, and we all know we still aren’t at the finish line.

“We know there are so many things to come and every coach can coach you in a different way, every coach has different philosophies, and I try to get as much out of that as I can.

“Right now, I’m learning a lot from Andrée which I’m very much enjoying.”