Ann-Katrin Berger’s Story: Beating Cancer to Goalkeeper Glory
There are many women’s soccer players who inspire on and off the field. One great example is Ann-Katrin Berger. Gotham FC and Germany’s goalkeeper has been through a lot, but she has always managed to overcome any challenges she faced. From beating cancer to finding her place in the national team, read on to learn more about Ann-Katrin Berger.
Ann-Katrin Berger’s Fight Against Cancer
She was first diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2017; at that time, she was playing for Birmingham City. It only took Berger four months to recover. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of Berger’s cancer. In 2022, she took to social media to announce that her cancer had returned. The recurrence was heartbreaking news not just for Berger but for her loved ones and fellow players.
“I’ve said before that as a sportsperson, you have to fight every day to be the best you can be, and that’s something I will continue to do. I hope that by sharing my journey, I can help others who find themselves in a similar situation,” Berger wrote in a statement she shared back then. We are lucky that Berger chose to share her inspiring journey, which has surely helped others. She then went on to overcome this second cancer diagnosis.
Wanting to Inspire Others
Having cancer is a difficult thing to go through, not just physically but also mentally. Despite this, Berger has been very open about her fight against cancer. She makes sure to share her journey during such a rough time. “I actually quite like to talk about it. It’s a topic nobody likes to talk about, but in my position, I think I can help people,” she told the BBC when talking about her cancer diagnosis.
It takes a lot of courage to admit that something isn’t easy, and Berger has this courage. “I’m not sitting here saying everything was easy because it’s not, but whatever your main focus is–and mine was football–you can achieve everything you want to. That’s why I think it’s really important for me to be open. I did it, so why can’t everyone else?”
Berger’s Time At Chelsea
Every team dreams of having a goalkeeper with Berger’s talent, and Chelsea made their dream a reality when Berger joined them. During her spell with Chelsea, which started in January 2019, Berger played an important role when things were difficult.
During five years at Chelsea, Berger won four WSL titles, three FA Cups, two Conti Cups, and one Community Shield. She also won a Golden Glove. Behind all these awards are unforgettable moments where the German goalkeeper truly shined. No Chelsea fan can forget the day when Berger saved two penalties during the team’s match against Atletico Madrid in 2021. She went on to have two penalties saved once again when Chelsea met Lyon in the Champions League quarter-final.
Her Great Relationship With Jess Carter
One of the fan-favorite relationships in women’s soccer is between Berger and England’s defender Jess Carter. They have always publicly supported each other, making their relationship heartwarming. After Berger’s second diagnosis, Carter said in an interview that she believed that her partner “would be back to her best in no time.” She was right.
Now, both Berger and Carter are living their best lives. They got engaged this year, and it was easy to guess that Carter would follow her fiancée to Gotham FC. The previous Chelsea teammates are now sharing the pitch, but this time for Gotham FC. What was a loss to Chelsea is a win and a great moment for the fans of the NWSL side. No matter where they go, the support Berger and Carter have for each other will always be there.
What Makes Berger Successful
Success doesn’t come quickly, and it may take years to achieve. It indeed didn’t happen quickly with Berger. Germany’s goalkeeper walked a long road to reach the level she is at right now. For years, she wasn’t considered a valuable player for the national team. There was a time when she only had two caps for Germany; this was in 2021, and everything has changed since then.
The 33-year-old fought long and hard to reach the level of success that she is enjoying today. While some may have doubted her before, many believed in her and her talent. Emma Hayes was one of those who thought that Berger had something to offer. After she joined Chelsea, it became clear that Hayes made the right choice.
“As I say time and time again, you can score goals to win games, but defense wins championships, and she is an unbelievable asset to the team. She’s the best goalkeeper in this country and, along with Tiane Endler, they’re the best in the world. I think she’s improving, the more pressure, the more she responds,” were the words Hayes used to describe Berger, as reported by the Guardian.
Making the Right Move
While Berger played an essential role for Chelsea during her time there, it became clear last season that her role had ended. Hayes’ starting lineups depended more on Hannah Hampton and Zecira Musovic, leaving Berger with only five WSL matches played during the 2023/24 season. Despite being named in the top three for the FIFA Best Women’s Goalkeeper Award for the 2022/23 season, Berger no longer had a guaranteed spot with the Blues. But she still has Hayes’ respect, who, according to ESPN, said, “An amazing servant, I’ll always say, I’ve never seen a goalkeeper save penalties like Ann, the best in the world,” when Berger was leaving the club.
It can be hard leaving a team you spent years in, but Berger is someone who wants success. She decided to leave Chelsea and signed a contract with Gotham FC. Later on, Berger proved that this was one of the best decisions she had made during her career. The move to Gotham allowed the German goalkeeper to get minutes and prove herself.
She found herself part of Gotham’s starting lineup just nine days after signing a contract with them. The move was more than enough for her to find a spot for herself in Germany’s Olympic roster. Now, Berger is playing regularly in the NWSL, and she once again reminded everyone who has ever doubted her that she has a lot to offer. This move gave Berger the chance to go to Paris, and later on, they would win an Olympic medal.
Berger Becoming Germany’s Hero
After years of hard work, Berger found a spot in the field for Germany. A complete transformation happened as Berger became the number one goalkeeper for the national team after years of not being considered. It was a chance for Berger to prove herself as one of the best goalkeepers there, and she managed to do that during this year’s Olympics. During Germany’s run, Berger made some crucial saves that landed them a match for the Bronze medal against Spain. Some of these were her two penalty saves against Canada, where she then scored the winning penalty.
Entering the match, many predicted that the Women’s World Cup winners would go home with the Bronze medal. However, Berger and her teammates stopped that; it helped that Spain had some problems. When Spain was awarded a penalty in the dying moments, Berger stepped up and saved the penalty shot by the Spanish star, Alexia Putellas. This was the moment that secured the bronze medal for Berger’s side. It was also a moment that made Germany’s fans imagine how many more matches they could have won if Berger was given a chance years ago.
Ann-Katrin Berger’s Inspiring Journey is One to Remember
Now, Berger still has much to give for both Gotham FC and Germany. She has come a long way, beginning with playing for Sindelfingen and Turbine Potsdam in Germany. Then, making a move to Paris Saint-Germain and later on to Birmingham City. With the latter, she won the WSL Players’ Player of the Year in 2017 after her return following her first cancer diagnosis.
Berger has many career highlights, and they all play an integral part in her inspiring journey. One of these highlights is the five years she spent with Chelsea and then rediscovering herself at Gotham FC. She finally found recognition in Germany, where she helped win the Bronze medal. Berger has recently been named the German Footballer of the Year, which is something she definitely deserves.
Last year, during an interview with The Times, Berger talked about her healing journey. She also shared her ambitions. “I want to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world again.” She managed to do just that. All of these moments shaped Ann-Katrin Berger’s inspiring journey. It hasn’t been easy, but perhaps this made the journey even better. Now, Berger is at the height of her career with more things to achieve. There is no doubt that Ann-Katrin Berger’s journey is inspiring not just to the fans of the game but to the players themselves.
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