“My heart beats for Borussia Dortmund” – an in-depth interview with Alex Popp | OneFootball

What were the reasons behind your move to Borussia Dortmund?“I’ve always been open about being a Dortmund fan. When the fans called for women’s football to be introduced at Dortmund, I was delighted and kept an eye on developments. The deciding factor for me was that I’m slowly approaching the end of my career. I’ve had a lot of injuries and don’t know how quickly it might all be over. That’s why I don’t want to miss the chance to play in a Borussia Dortmund shirt. My heart beats for this club, and that’s why I chose Dortmund.”

But you’ve also repeatedly emphasised over the past few weeks that it’s actually a gut decision. How much did your heart have a say in this decision? How loud was it?“It was extremely loud. I can tell that Dortmund are getting better and better. They’ve been on the up every year and are doing a great job. BVB’s interest made me proud from the very first moment and I immediately had a big grin on my face. Nevertheless, I naturally had to weigh up certain things. Is it really the right move? I needed time to think about that.”

Why is now the right time?“I’ve experienced so much during my many years at VfL Wolfsburg. I’ve won lots of trophies and had the chance to help shape the club. It was a very exciting and thrilling time. I believe this is a moment when I need to listen to my body. I don’t want to miss the opportunity to pull on the Dortmund shirt. That’s why I said: if not now, then when? It’s also very exciting for me to help develop this project further. I don’t want to just settle into a comfortable position and say I’ll just put on the shirt one more time and then I’ll have worn it and can stop after that. That’s not who I am. That’s why I believe now is the right time to continue helping to shape the club and eventually bring my career to a close.”

It’s worth noting that this love for Borussia Dortmund isn’t tied to which league we’re in, because it’s not yet clear whether we’ll be promoted to the 2. Bundesliga. At the moment, it’s also possible that we’ll stay in the Regionalliga. Why did you make such a clear commitment despite that?“That was definitely something I’d given a lot of thought to. I was asking myself if I want this, if I can you do this? The second division and the regional league are hugely different from the top flight and also from the Champions League, where I was still playing this year. But it was also clear to me that if I decide to do this, then I have to be fully invested, and I am fully invested. I don’t want any special treatment; I’m fully committed. I’ve decided to give it my all. That includes steps like this.”

You’re always incredibly ambitious. Ever since you turned professional, you’ve been competing for national and international titles. That isn’t the case at Borussia Dortmund just yet. What are your goals as you embark on your journey with Borussia Dortmund?“Everyone knows Borussia Dortmund’s plan is to get into the top flight as quickly as possible. I want to help ensure we get to the top flight as soon as possible and establish ourselves there. But first we need to see which league I’ll be starting in. Then I want to set our sights on promotion together with the team. Off the pitch, I want to help in terms of how we can continue to professionalise, what’s next in terms of infrastructure, what else is needed. That’s exciting too. I’ve experienced a lot, and here they’re still building things up. That’s why I want to contribute not just on the pitch but off it as well.”

What is your view of what has been achieved here at Borussia Dortmund over the past six and a half years?“I’ve been following the club’s progress from the very start. You have to take your hat off to them for getting promoted every year. That’s no mean feat and it’s not that easy, even in the amateur leagues. Off the pitch too, they’re doing a great job when you think about training camps, fitness tests and injury prevention. That’s a whole different ball game and it’s moving towards professionalism. It’s lovely to see that it wasn’t just lip service about wanting to reach the top flight, but that there’s real passion and a great deal of hard work behind it. You’ve seen that year after year, including with the transfers every summer. And now we know  that a training centre is being built for the women’s team, so I think some women’s Bundesliga clubs could learn a thing or two from that.”

“To be honest, it still feels a bit crazy when I think about it. I have a clear picture in my mind of myself as a little girl standing in the Westfalenstadion wearing a Dortmund shirt and a cap and waving a flag. Knowing that I’ll now be allowed to take to the pitch officially in that shirt makes me proud. I don’t want to call it a childhood dream because there wasn’t a women’s team at Borussia Dortmund when I was little, but from the moment the women’s team was founded, I always had it in my head that it would be lovely to wear that shirt one day. The fact that the time has finally come is absolutely crazy, but I’m absolutely thrilled.”