Werks11 Podcast – Episode 28: Achim Feifel

Achim Feifel was appointed as the new head coach of the Werkself Women in the summer of 2019. After just avoiding relegation in last term, the team secured an impressive fifth place in the Women's Bundesliga at the end of the first half of this season. In the Werks11 podcast, the 56-year-old talks about progress in the past 18 months, his targets for the Bayer 04 Women as well as the attraction of, and general development in, women's football. "Our set-up is now completely professional. That is evident just from the fact the team supporting the team is getting ever bigger – from a goalkeeping coach to medical support," said Feifel.

One important feature of the 70-minute interview is the subject of attitude and mentality – two values that have been with the sports teacher for his whole life, have impressed him and remain very important to this day in his philosophy. "If my players get fouled in training – and there is no serious injury – then I ask them to get straight back up again," said the boss who born in Swabia.

In addition, Achim Feifel reveals a number of personal insights, talks about his football idol Carles Puyol, his coaching career (including Hamburg SV, FFC Turbine Potsdam), his work abroad in Russia and his beginnings as a coach at the start of the 2000s, which included time spent with the youth teams at Bayer 04.

His boss back then, Frank Schaefer, who is now director of the Academy and Fortuna Düsseldorf, has contributed an exclusive question. As have Bayer 04 captain Jessica Wich and his former player Merle Barth (FFC Turbine Potsdam). Take a listen.

Where can I find the Werks11 podcast?
Episode 28 is available now from all the usual podcast providers – just subscribe to the Werks11 podcast on Soundcloud, iTunes or Spotify to avoid missing another episode.