Wikipedia

Inka Grings

Inka Grings (born 31 October 1978) is a German former international footballer who played as a striker. She played sixteen years for FCR 2001 Duisburg before joining FC Zürich Frauen. She also played for the Germany national team. Grings is the second all-time leading goalscorer in Germany's top division, the Frauen-Bundesliga, with 195 goals and claimed the league's top-scorer award for a record six seasons.[4][5] Playing for Germany, she was the top-scorer at two UEFA European Championships. Grings was named Women's Footballer of the Year (Germany) in 1999, 2009 and 2010.

Inka Grings
Grings in 2024
Personal information
Full name Inka Grings[1]
Date of birth (1978-10-31) 31 October 1978 (age 46)
Place of birth Düsseldorf, West Germany
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
1984–1990 TSV Eller 04
1990–1995 Garather SV
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–2011[2] FCR 2001 Duisburg 197 (316)
2011–2013 FC Zürich 31 (55)
2013 Chicago Red Stars 16 (3)
2013–2014 FC Köln 19 (23)
Total 263 (397)
International career
1996–2012[3] Germany 96 (64)
Managerial career
2014–2017 MSV Duisburg
2017–2018 Viktoria Köln U17
2019–2020 SV 19 Straelen
2021–2022 FC Zürich
2022–2023 Switzerland
2024– Club Brugge
Medal record
Women's football
Representing  Germany
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Sydney Team
UEFA Women's Championship
Gold medal – first place 2005 England Team
Gold medal – first place 2009 Finland Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

She is currently the manager of Club Brugge after previously coached FC Zürich and Switzerland national team

Early life

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As a child, Grings wanted to be a tennis player. However, after no tennis club had accepted her, she instead started playing football at TSV Eller 04 in 1984. She later played for Garather SV.

Club career

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Duisburg, 1995–2011

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Grings signed with FCR 2001 Duisburg in 1995. She quickly became an important player for the club and in the following years one of the most successful goalscorers in Germany. In 1998, Grings won the German Cup, her first major title. She scored three goals in the final against FSV Frankfurt. The following year in the 1998–99 season she became the Bundesliga's top-scorer for the first time. Grings was named Women's Footballer of the Year (Germany) in 1999 by the country's sports journalists.[6]

Over the next decade, Grings became the Bundesliga all-time leading goalscorer, hitting the mark of 350 goals in January 2011.[7] She won the Bundesliga title with Duisburg in the 1999–00 season; that year she also set the all-time record for goals in a Bundesliga season by scoring 38 goals. She won the German Cup on two more occasions in 2009 and 2010, and lifted the UEFA Women's Cup in the 2008–09 season. Grings was the Bundesliga top-scorer for three years in a row from 2008 to 2010 and was again voted Women's Footballer of the Year (Germany) in 2009 and 2010.[6]

FC Zürich, 2011–13

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She ended her contract at Duisburg one year early in an agreement with the club and announced transferring to an international club.[8] On 1 September 2011 she joined Swiss side FC Zürich Frauen.[9] In the first season she won the championship as well as the cup.

Chicago Red Stars, 2013

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Grings during a match against Seattle Reign FC on 25 July 2013 in Tukwila, Washington.

In May 2013, Grings signed with the Chicago Red Stars for the inaugural season of the National Women's Soccer League in the United States alongside Sonja Fuss.[10] On 4 August 2013, she scored a brace against Seattle Reign FC helping the Red Stars win 3–1.[11] Grings was on the starting lineup in 14 of the 16 games in which she played for the Red Stars and scored three goals on the season.[12] The Red Stars finished the 2013 season sixth in the standings with an 8–6–8 record.[13]

She was waived by the Red Stars in September 2013.[14]

International career

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Grings with Germany in 2011

Grings made her debut for the Germany national team in May 1996 against Finland. She appeared for Germany at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, scoring three goals. However, Germany was eliminated in the quarter-final. At the 2000 Summer Olympics, she won the bronze medal with the German team, scoring once against Australia in the group stage. Grings' career, particularly at international level, has repeatedly been affected by injuries. She missed the 2001 European Championship on home soil and the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup due to injury. When she tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee shortly before the 2004 Summer Olympics, Grings initially announce to end her career. However, she changed her mind during physical therapy.

With four goals, Grings was the top-scorer at the 2005 European Championship, when Germany claimed its sixth European title. At the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2008 Summer Olympics, Grings was not part of the German squad, because of disagreements with head coach Silvia Neid. She returned for Germany at the 2009 European Championship, claiming her second European title. With six goals Grings again was the tournament's top-scorer. She has been called up for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.[3]

Grings has scored 64 international goals and is ranked third behind Birgit Prinz (128) and Heidi Mohr (83) for Germany's all-time top goalscorers. During 93 appearances, she has averaged 0.69 goals per games, which makes her the team's second most prolific scorer.[15]

Personal life

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Grings is openly bisexual, she had a well publicized relationship with women's team colleague Linda Bresonik, and also dated male Holger Fach, former head coach of VfL Wolfsburg.[16][17][18][19]

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition [20]
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Duisburg 1995-96 Frauen-Bundesliga 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1996-97 1+ 1+ 0 0 0 0 1+ 1+
1997-98 0 13 1+ 3+ 0 0 1+ 16+
1998-99 0 25 0 0 0 0 0 25
1999-00 18 38 0 0 0 0 18 38
2000-01 15 16 0 0 0 0 15 16
2001-02 11 11 0 0 0 0 11 11
2002-03 18 20 3+ 2+ 0 0 21+ 22+
2003-04 9 11 0 0 0 0 9 11
2004-05 15 25 0 0 0 0 15 25
2005-06 17 27 0 0 0 0 17 27
2006-07 14 22 0 0 0 0 14 22
2007-08 20 27 3 8 0 0 23 35
2008-09 19 29 1 2 9 12 29 43
2009-10 21 28 5 5 8 9 32 42
2010-11 19 23 3 5 7 11 29 39
Total 197+ 316 16+ 25+ 24 32 237+ 373
Zürich 2011-12 Swiss Women's Super League 0 17 0 0 0 0 0 17
2012-13 0 38 0 0 2 1 2+ 39
Total 31 55 0 0 2 1 33+ 56+
Chicago Red Stars 2013 National Women's Soccer League 16 3 0 0 0 0 16 3
Total 16 3 0 0 0 0 16 3
FC Köln 2013-14 2. Frauen-Bundesliga 19 23 3 2 0 0 22 25
Total 19 23 3 2 0 0 22 25
Career total 263+ 397 19+ 27+ 24 32 306+ 456

International

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Scores and results list Germany's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Grings goal.
List of international goals scored by Inka Grings
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 28 May 1998 ?   New Zealand 2–0 8–0 Friendly
2 6–0
3 8–0
4 28 June 1998 Soldier Field, Chicago, United States   United States 1–3 2–4
5 22 April 1999 Ludwigsparkstadion, Saarbrücken, Germany   Denmark 1–0 3–1
6 30 May 1999 Städtisches Sportzentrum Nonnenholz, Weil am Rhein, Germany   France 1–1 4–1
7 3–1
8 3 June 1999 Stadion Rheinbach im Freizeitpark, Rheinbach, Germany   Netherlands 1–0 2–0
9 24 June 1999 Civic Stadium, Portland, Oregon, United States   Mexico 1–0 6–0 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup
10 4–0
11 6–0
12 2 September 1999 Sternquell Arena, Plauen, Germany   Russia 3–1 3–1 Friendly
13 23 September 1999 Playmobil-Stadion, Fürth, Germany   Ukraine 1–0 3–0 UEFA Women's Euro 2001 qualifying
14 2–0
15 14 October 1999 Marschweg-Stadion, Oldenburg, Germany   Iceland 1–0 5–0
16 11 November 1999 Stadio Mario Lancellotta, Isernia, Italy   Italy 2–0 4–4
17 3–1
18 6 April 2000 Stadion am Bornheimer Hang, Frankfurt, Germany   Italy 2–0 3–0
19 11 May 2000 NSC Olimpiyskiy, Kyiv, Ukraine   Ukraine 4–1 6–1
20 16 July 2000 Bremer Brücke, Osnabrück, Germany   China 1–1 1–3 Friendly
21 27 August 2000 Old Tivoli, Aachen, Germany   Denmark 1–0 7–0
22 2–0
23 13 September 2000 Bruce Stadium, Canberra, Australia   Australia 1–0 3–0 2000 Summer Olympics
24 4 May 2002 Estádio Adelino Ribeiro Novo, Barcelos, Portugal   Portugal 7–0 8–0 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying
25 14 November 2002 Nattenberg Stadion, Lüdenscheid, Germany   Russia 2–0 4–0 Friendly
26 6 March 2003 Sportzentrum Große Wiese, Arnsberg, Germany   China 3–0 3–1
27 27 March 2003 Karl-Liebknecht-Stadion, Potsdam, Germany   Scotland 2–0 5–0 UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying
28 3–0
29 4–0
30 7 February 2004 Estádio Municipal de Albufeira, Albufeira, Portugal   Portugal 3–0 11–0 UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying
31 6–0
32 7–0
33 8–0
34 9–0
35 21 April 2005 Stadion an der Bremer Brücke, Osnabrück, Germany   Canada 3–1 3–1 Friendly
36 9 June 2005 Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington, England   France 1–0 3–0 UEFA Women's Euro 2005
37 15 June 2005 Deepdale, Preston, England   Finland 1–0 4–1
38 3–0
39 19 June 2005 Ewood Park, Blackburn, England   Norway 1–0 3–1
40 25 September 2005 Leimbachstadion, Siegen, Germany   Russia 2–0 5–1 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying
41 20 October 2005 Hans-Walter-Wild-Stadion, Bayreuth, Germany   Scotland 1–0 4–0
42 25 February 2009 Bielefelder Alm, Bielefeld, Germany   China 1–0 1–1 Friendly
43 9 March 2009 Estádio Algarve, Faro, Portugal   Sweden 1–3 2–3 2009 Algarve Cup
44 25 July 2009 Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim, Germany   Netherlands 2–0 6–0 Friendly
45 27 August 2009 Ratina Stadium, Tampere, Finland   France 1–0 5–1 UEFA Women's Euro 2009
46 30 August 2009   Iceland 1–0 1–0
47 4 September 2009 Lahti Stadium, Lahti, Finland   Italy 1–0 2–1
48 2–0
49 10 September 2009 Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland   England 4–2 6–2
50 5–2
51 24 February 2010 Complexo Desportivo Belavista, Parchal, Portugal   Denmark 2–0 4–0 2010 Algarve Cup
52 4–0
53 28 February 2010 Complexo Desportivo Belavista, Parchal, Portugal   Finland 1–0 7–0
54 3–0
55 5–0
56 3 March 2010 Estádio Algarve, Faro, Portugal   United States 1–2 2–3
57 2–3
58 15 September 2010 Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion, Dresden, Germany   Canada 1–0 5–0 Friendly
59 28 October 2010 Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg, Germany   Australia 1–1 2–1
60 25 November 2010 BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany   Nigeria 1–0 8–0
61 3–0
62 7 June 2011 New Tivoli, Aachen, Germany   Netherlands 5–0 5–0
63 5 July 2011 Borussia-Park, Mönchengladbach, Germany   France 2–0 4–2 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup
64 3–1

Goals by competition

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Competition Goals Matches
Friendlies/Algarve Cup 30 50
FIFA World Cup 5 8
UEFA Women's Euro 10 11
World Cup qualifiers 3 9
Euro qualifiers 15 13
Olympics 1 5
Total 64 96

Matches and goals scored at World Cup and Olympic tournaments

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Inka Grings competed in two FIFA Women's World Cup: USA 1999, and Germany 2011; one Olympics: Sydney 2000; played in 13 matches and scored 6 goals.[21] Along with her Germany team, Grings is a bronze medalist from Sydney 2000.

Key (expand for notes on "world cup and olympic goals")
Location Geographic location of the venue where the competition occurred
Lineup Start – played entire match
on minute (off player) – substituted on at the minute indicated, and player was substituted off at the same time

off minute (on player) – substituted off at the minute indicated, and player was substituted on at the same time
(c) – captain

Min The minute in the match the goal was scored. For list that include caps, blank indicates played in the match but did not score a goal.
Assist/pass The ball was passed by the player, which assisted in scoring the goal. This column depends on the availability and source of this information.
penalty or pk Goal scored on penalty-kick which was awarded due to foul by opponent. (Goals scored in penalty-shoot-out, at the end of a tied match after extra-time, are not included.)
Score The match score after the goal was scored.
Result The final score.

W – match was won
L – match was lost to opponent
D – match was drawn
(W) – penalty-shoot-out was won after a drawn match
(L) – penalty-shoot-out was lost after a drawn match

aet The score at the end of extra-time; the match was tied at the end of 90' regulation
pso Penalty-shoot-out score shown in parentheses; the match was tied at the end of extra-time
Orange background color – Olympic women's football tournament
Blue background color – FIFA women's world cup final tournament
Goal Match Date Location Opponent Lineup Min Score Result Competition
  USA 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup
1
 1999-06-20[m 1] Los Angeles   Italy Start

1–1 D

Group match
1 2 1999-06-24[m 2] Portland   Mexico Start 10 1–0

6–0 W

Group match
2
 57 4–0
3
 90+2 6–0
3
 1999-06-27[m 3] Washington   Brazil 89.

off 89' (on Meyer)

3–3 D

Group match
4
 1999-07-01[m 4] Washington   United States {{{4}}}.

off 92' (on Hoffmann)

2–3 L

Quarter-final
  Sydney 2000 Olympic Women's Football Tournament
4
5
 2000-09-13[m 5] Canberra   Australia Start 35 1–0

3–0 W

Group match
6
 2000-09-16[m 6] Canberra   Brazil Start

2–1 W

Group match
7
 2000-09-19[m 7] Melbourne   Sweden {{{4}}}.

off 45' (on Mueller)

1–0 W

Group match
8
 2000-09-24[m 8] Sydney   Norway Start

0–1 L

Semifinal
9
 2000-09-28[m 9] Sydney   Brazil {{{4}}}.

off +94' (on Goette)

2–0 W

Bronze medal match
  Germany 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup
10
 2011-06-26[m 10] Berlin   Canada {{{4}}}.

on 65' (off Mbabi)

2–1 W

Group match
11
 2011-06-30[m 11] Frankfurt   Nigeria {{{4}}}.

on 53' (off Prinz)

1–0 W

Group match
5
 12 2011-07-05[m 12] Moenchengladbach   France Start 32 2–0

4–2 W

Group match
6
 68 pk 3–1
13
 2011-07-09[m 13] Wolfsburg   Japan {{{4}}}.

off 102' (on Popp)

0–1 aet L

Quarter-final

Honours

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FCR 2001 Duisburg

FC Zürich Frauen

Germany

Individual

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011 – List of Players: Germany" (PDF). FIFA. 28 July 2014. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 November 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Inka Grings" (in German). Framba.de. Archived from the original on 23 April 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Nationalspielerin Inka Grings" (in German). DFB.de. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  4. ^ "Women's Bundesliga all time golascores" (in German). Deutscher Fußball-Bund. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Women's Bundesliga top golascores per season" (in German). Deutscher Fußball-Bund. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  6. ^ a b c "Grings erneut Fußballerin des Jahres" (in German). DFB.de. 8 August 2010. Archived from the original on 21 August 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  7. ^ "Duisburgs Inka Grings markiert ihren 350. Bundesliga-Treffer" (in German). Märkische Allgemeine. 2 February 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  8. ^ "Grings leaves Duisburg" (in German). womensoccer.de. 21 August 2011. Archived from the original on 28 July 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  9. ^ "Grings transfers to Zürich". womensoccer.de. 29 August 2011. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  10. ^ "Fuss and Grings travel again – to Chicago" (in German). kicker.de. 16 March 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  11. ^ "CHICAGO RED STARS VS. SEATTLE REIGN 3 – 1". Soccer Way. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  12. ^ "Inka Grings". Soccer Way. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  13. ^ "2013 NWSL Season". Soccer Way. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  14. ^ "NWSL Waiver Draft". National Women's Soccer League. 9 September 2013. Archived from the original on 20 October 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  15. ^ Deutscher Fußball-Bund. Top scorers. DFB.de. Accessed 1 March 2010.
  16. ^ Who has scored the most hat-tricks in a single season? Plus: famous football twins (2); the bisexual German international love triangle; and where does 'Villa' come from?
  17. ^ Best. Lesbian. Week. Ever. (August 8, 2008)
  18. ^ The wonderful (and out) players of the Women's World Cup
  19. ^ Series: Foul Play: Seven Deadly Sins of Football
  20. ^ https://www.weltfussball.de/spieler_profil/inka-grings/2/
  21. ^ "FIFA Player Statistics: Inka Grings". FIFA. Archived from the original on 29 June 2008.
  22. ^ "Duisburg's Grings claims scorers' honour". UEFA. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
Match reports
  1. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup USA 1999: MATCH Report: Germany – Italy: Group matches". FIFA. Archived from the original on 28 December 2012.
  2. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup USA 1999: MATCH Report: Germany – Mexico: Group matches". FIFA. Archived from the original on 28 December 2012.
  3. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup USA 1999: MATCH Report: Germany – Brazil: Group matches". FIFA. Archived from the original on 28 December 2012.
  4. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup USA 1999: MATCH Report: USA – Germany: Quarter-finals". FIFA. Archived from the original on 28 December 2012.
  5. ^ "Women's Olympics Football Tournament Sydney 2000: MATCH Report: Australia – Germany: First stage". FIFA. Archived from the original on 18 March 2013.
  6. ^ "Women's Olympics Football Tournament Sydney 2000: MATCH Report: Germany – Brazil: First stage". FIFA. Archived from the original on 18 March 2013.
  7. ^ "Women's Olympics Football Tournament Sydney 2000: MATCH Report: Germany – Sweden: First stage". FIFA. Archived from the original on 18 March 2013.
  8. ^ "Women's Olympics Football Tournament Sydney 2000: MATCH Report: Germany – Norway: Semifinal". FIFA. Archived from the original on 18 March 2013.
  9. ^ "Women's Olympics Football Tournament Sydney 2000: MATCH Report: Germany – Brazil: Bronze medal match". FIFA. Archived from the original on 18 March 2013.
  10. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011: MATCH Report: Germany – Canada: First stage". FIFA. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013.
  11. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011: MATCH Report: Germany – Nigeria: First stage". FIFA. Archived from the original on 27 October 2013.
  12. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011: MATCH Report: France – Germany: First stage". FIFA. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013.
  13. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup USA 2011: MATCH Report: Germany – Japan: Quarter-finals". FIFA. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013.
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  NODES
Association 3
INTERN 11
Note 2