Standing tall: Ena Mahmutovic interview | OneFootball

Ena Mahmutovic made her debut in the Bundesliga at the age of 16 as an outfield player – now she’s 22 and the No. 1 at FC Bayern. In the September issue of members’ magazine 51, she describes her journey to becoming a goalkeeper, mistakes that made her better and her big dream.

Ena, you’re the No. 1 at FC Bayern and are also wearing the number on your back this season. What does that mean to you? Ena Mahmutovic: “I had 32 before, which I loved because I also wore it at Duisburg. But being given the No. 1 shirt at Bayern is something that every goalkeeper dreams of. Some of my team-mates came straight up to me and said: ‘Wow, cool, congratulations, you deserve it.’ That was nice. It doesn’t change anything in day-to-day life, though. I carry on working in the same way I did with 32.”

Shirt numbers in football have a special meaning. What does the No. 1 represent for you? “Quite clearly the player who’s always in goal. You aren’t gifted this number; a lot of sweat, work and discipline goes into it. It also means responsibility – but I’m happy to take that on. I wear 1 with pride because I’ve worked hard for it for two years.”

In your first two years at Bayern, you were the challenger competing with Mala Grohs for the goalkeeper jersey. How did you find that period? “Mala and I were rivals on the pitch, but off it we got on well and treated each other with respect – just like normal team-mates. Unfortunately Mala then suffered a serious illness, which meant I went in goal. That didn’t feel right to me. I always wanted to break into the team on merit, but that’s just how it was. Thankfully she recovered. After getting injured at the end of pre-season in my first year, we had an open competition in my second summer. We both got our chance. I was able to establish myself through performance, which was always my aim.”

How did you deal mentally with a team-mate, and a rival at that, being ill? “It wasn’t an easy situation. I certainly didn’t want there to be any kind of impression that I was benefitting from an illness or even pleased about the situation. That would be totally wrong. I think Mala would also say that the competition for the place at this high level both helped us on. In what other team are there two young goalkeepers at this level? You train with each other, push each other, and each of us got better as a result.”

Is it true that your dad would’ve preferred you to have a career as an outfield player? “Yes. I’m two-footed and played on the right wing at Duisburg for a long time as a youngster – until our goalkeeper pulled out before a cup game against Gladbach in the U13s. The coach then asked me if I could go in goal. Just before that, we’d been in a soccer hall and I went in goal for fun. I think they saw how much joy it brought me. The cup match then went to penalties and I saved a few spot-kicks.”

And with that you were a goalkeeper? “At first I did dual training – both in goal and outfield. It still benefits me to this day. I would even say it’s one of my big strengths because I can pass the ball with both feet. Then at 15, 16, I was permanently in goal. It’s a big dream of mine to one day score a goal as a goalkeeper. Maybe an opportunity will come up, who knows?”

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When you have a game where virtually nothing is happening in front of your goal, how does your dad react in the stands? “He gets restless (grins). He’s not a normal spectator who just enjoys the game – he wants to see me in action. When I’m just distributing the ball and hardly have anything to save, he finds it boring and really hopes that I finally get a shot at my goal. I know he’s very proud of how I’ve developed as a goalkeeper – even if he would’ve preferred me to be an outfield player.”

You also made your Bundesliga debut for Duisburg as an outfield player. “That was due to COVID. We only had 14 players and the coach brought me on as an outfield player in stoppage time. We were already 2-0 up against Leverkusen, so it couldn’t really go wrong.”

Your coaches like to praise your composure on the ball. Where does that calmness come from? “Pressure has never affected me. Keeping a clean sheet, being there in a Champions League semi-final – what’s better? In training it’s different: there it’s good to be able to work without pressure. When the goalkeeping coach is firing 10 balls at you at full power, the odd one goes in – and that’s the only way to improve. It’s crucial to remain self-critical at all times, and always look for where you can make tweaks. That’s crucial, especially if you want to take the next step in the Champions League.”

How helpful is your experience as an outfield player in terms of putting yourself in the opposition attacker’s shoes? Do you sometimes know what corner she’s going to aim for? “It’s certainly helpful. But I mainly benefit in having a certain understanding of the game, in recognising which pass is going to most help our team in a situation. Should I chip it out to the full-back, who might come under pressure? Or is there a gap in the middle where I can play it to our holding midfielder and she can then drive? I have to recognise that and also find solutions under pressure.”

How much of it is talent, and how much can you train to develop, for example, that understanding of the game? “It’s not possible without talent – but it’s also not possible with just talent. Training is a crucial factor. I still remember constantly practising chip balls with my goalkeeping coach at Duisburg when I was 15, 16, even after training or on days off. I played thousands of passes to him. That repetition creates automatism – the earlier you start, the better. And now, when I see that I can play a nice chip ball to our full-back in a match, it gives me a feeling of pleasure. And when it comes off, wow, even more dopamine is released.”

You once said that you prefer to get straight back into training when you’ve made a mistake. Is that your way of dealing with setbacks? “Yes. I want to get back onto the pitch immediately in order to get better. I fumbled the ball on my international debut against Italy and I was really angry with myself, also because I knew: now I’m probably going to have to wait until I get another chance. It was then one and a half years before I got to play again against Slovenia. Luckily we won 2-0 and I could finally put the Italy game behind me.”

What exactly happened against Italy? “I did a feint to get away from one opponent – but unfortunately, there was a second one who I didn’t see. She just had to tap the ball into the net. I’d done a similar turn in the first half, which came off. My goalkeeping coach in the national team, Michael Fuchs, said afterwards to me: ‘Make a note of that for your career: those things only ever work once.’ Because the forwards are anticipating it next time. Since then, I’ve not made another mistake like that.”

Is it better for you as a goalkeeper to have a good memory, or to be able to quickly forget things? “The latter. If we play against Barcelona tomorrow, I’m certainly not going to be thinking beforehand about my mistake against Italy. The only thing going through my head is performing as well as possible and wanting to win.”

You were 16 when you made your Bundesliga debut. Would the young Ena have thought back then that she’d be in goal for Bayern and Germany a few years later? “My dream was always to play for Duisburg. Unfortunately, things went downhill for the women’s team. I matured and wanted to get the best out of myself. When you get an offer from FC Bayern, you don’t spend long considering it – although it wasn’t easy leaving Duisburg after 10 years.”

Do you feel Bavarian by now? “It’s funny when I go home to the Ruhr region, sometimes I say ‘Servus’ – that’s become habit. And I really like the lifestyle in Munich. Nature everywhere, lakes, mountains – I’m super happy here.”

In your free time you like travelling, sometimes flying far away. Do you deliberately seek distance from the day-to-day football life? “I probably do. I love travelling. There are so many beautiful countries and places, and I want to see them all. I went to French Polynesia in the summer – stunning! Japan was also delightful, not just on our Allianz Women’s Tour – I’d been there privately six months before. I really enjoy it, I can properly switch off and when I come back, I’m full of energy.”

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A season is also a journey. Where will this one lead? “We had a historic season last year, and obviously we want to defend the double. But we also have our eyes on another competition. With the quality and experience we have, we want to take the next step in the Champions League.”

And if the Germany coach says you’re going to the World Cup in Brazil as No. 1 next summer... “The roles are clearly assigned in the national team currently. Ann-Katrin Berger is the best goalkeeper I’ve ever trained with, I have great respect for her. I can learn so much from her, and I’m very glad about that. Of course, my aim is to be involved in Brazil – it would be wrong if the FC Bayern goalkeeper didn’t have that expectation. But the national team is still a kind of bonus for me. My bread and butter is at Bayern, that’s what I’m concentrating on and that’s how I can stake my claim. If the national team coach then calls me up, it’s confirmation that I’m on the right track.”

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