Research Findings: Female representation sparsely exists in football's leading roles
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Slow Progress Towards Gender Diversity
Efforts to increase gender diversity in top management positions of German football clubs are progressing very slowly and unevenly. As of the 2024/2025 season, only 4 Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga clubs have women in top management roles, representing a mere 6 out of 100 top leadership positions across Germany’s premier and second-tier football clubs. This figure is unchanged from the previous season, demonstrating a persistent gender gap in football leadership.
Initiatives to Promote Women in Football Leadership
Despite this stagnation, there are initiatives aimed at promoting women in football leadership. The German Football Association (DFB) runs the "Future Leaders in Football" workshop, now in its sixth year, designed to empower and inspire talented young women to pursue executive roles in football. The program offers networking, education, and mentorship with prominent role models like UEFA Vice-President Laura McAllister and former players who transitioned into leadership roles. It aims to broaden the pipeline of women prepared to assume these positions and to foster structural change in football management.
Challenges and Obstacles
The leadership profile remains predominantly male, German, and middle-aged, making it difficult for women or outsiders to break in. Club officials acknowledge the importance of diversity but admit that real progress requires more action than just talk, highlighting the role of fans and members in pushing for change. The DFB’s workshop emphasizes creating conditions for women to lead courageously and sustainably and reflect diverse perspectives in football.
Broader European football efforts, such as UEFA events promoting women coaches and executives, provide additional inspiration but leadership at German clubs remains lagging.
The Need for Structural Overhaul
The leaders of several Bundesliga clubs are emphasizing the need for structural changes in football for increased gender diversity. The current top management is dominated by men, with the typical top manager being male, German, around 50 years old, having an academic education, having held his current leadership position for 5.6 years, and having worked full-time at the club for 8.6 years.
In conclusion, while there is growing awareness and some targeted development programs like the DFB’s “Future Leaders in Football,” the actual representation of women at the highest club management levels in German football remains extremely limited and static. This indicates that, although initiatives exist, much more structural overhaul and consistent effort are needed for Bundesliga clubs to genuinely address the gender diversity gap in their leadership ranks.
References
- Bundesliga.com
- DFB.de
- UEFA.com
- Progress towards gender diversity in the finance sector could parallel that of German football clubs, as both industries grapple with slow and uneven progress in leadership roles.
- Initiatives like "Future Leaders in Business" could emerge to empower and inspire young women in finance, offering networking, education, and mentorship similar to the DFB's program.
- The finance industry, like football, faces a leadership profile predominantly male, with structural changes and more consistent effort needed for genuine diversity.
- Diversity and inclusion initiatives in European business leagues, such as events promoting women executives, could encourage progress, but representation of women at the highest levels remains limited.
