She's absolutely beaming. Following the spectacular double contract extensions for Pernille Harder and Magdalena Eriksson, it's another special December day in Munich – so it's no surprise everyone is in such a good mood.
When Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir spoke to fcbayern.com after signing her new contract, it was precisely this effect that filled the room: a voice that was neither loud nor dramatic, but warm, confident, almost homely. You could hear in it the maturity of a journey that had taken her from Iceland to Sweden and then on to Munich. To the place where she found more than just a job. "I've been happy and proud to be part of this team for a long time," she says with conviction.
A captain who leads by example
It was immediately apparent that this contract extension goes far beyond the sporting level for FC Bayern Women. Not only because Glódís has been boss of the defence since 2021. Not only because she is captain, an international and multiple German champion. But because she has become a figure who helps shape the self-image of this team. Over the past few years in Munich, the Icelandic centre-back has developed something that is rare: a role in which sporting responsibility and human impact are organically intertwined.
Glódís' extension was a top priority for us. She's one of our symbols.
Francisco De Sá Fardilha on Viggósdóttir's contract extension.
Technical director Francisco De Sá Fardilha found clear words to describe its significance. "This extension was a top priority for us," he said. "She's one of our symbols." It's not a given for a club to make such statements publicly. But in Glódís' case, it seemed necessary to explain why her extension is more than just a personnel matter. It stands for continuity in a team who never want to stand still. For stability at a level where every decision carries weight. And for the hunger that defines FC Bayern. "Her hunger for success never wanes," says Fardilha. "That's why she's our captain – and she will remain so."
Her importance is evident in every game she plays. It's her composure. The way she organises the defence, how she shifts the line, her heading ability, passing quality and how she adjusts the team with a brief instruction. As a centre-back, she sees the game from a perspective that others do not have. She recognises threats seconds before they arise. And when things get hectic, it's often her voice that slows down the pace and restores structure. Fardilha calls her "an extension of the coach on the pitch" – one who not only understands José Barcala's ideas, but embodies them.
Her influence extends far beyond the game itself. In the areas that fans never see – in the dressing room, in the gym, on the way between training and treatment – it becomes clear just how much of a binding force she is. New players talk about how easy she makes it for them to settle in. Experienced players know they can rely on her when things get emotionally tough. "She's a connector," says Fardilha. Someone who brings together cultures, personalities and age groups. This ability is rare and perhaps the very reason why this squad has one of the strongest internal cultures in European women's football.
Leadership that holds the team together
Glódís's own reflections show she didn't seek this role, but rather grew into it. She talks about how much she's developed in Munich, both as a player and as a person. "Becoming captain helped me grow even more," she says. "With more responsibility came more consistency."
The difficult months were also part and parcel of it: for the first time in her career, she recently missed games due to injury. For someone who had never actually been sidelined until the age of 30, this was a bit of a setback. "Mentally, it was tough," she says. But she talks about it without bitterness, more with a kind of clear insight: "That phase is behind me. Now I'm fresh and fit."
Our game thrives on the fact that we work for each other.
Glódís Viggósdóttir on the team spirit at FC Bayern Women
Where this strength comes from becomes clearer when she talks about team spirit. It's the simple things she mentions: the joy of coming to the Campus every day, the mix of competition and carefree fun, the feeling that every training session is worthwhile. "I think that's why we're so successful," she says. Everything for the others, never just for yourself. Explaining what makes a Bayern player special from this perspective seems obvious: "Our game thrives on the fact that we work for each other."
She'll carry this attitude with her into the future. When she talks about "potential," it doesn't sound like hope, but rather a deep-rooted conviction. She says the Champions League is the next step, and her voice becomes more animated as she speaks. The same happens when she talks about the new stadium in Unterhaching. It's clear that this image has long existed in her mind. It's not a dream, but a goal that she wants to help shape.
The signal effect of her decision
And that is precisely the crux of this extension. Bayern not only have an outstanding centre-back, but also a captain who leads the team not because it's her job, but because she possesses that combination of courage, empathy and ambition that makes all the difference in crucial moments.
Perhaps that's why the moment in which she signed the contract was so impressive, so calm and clear. With a voice that said what really matters to her: staying, shaping the future, moving forward. A sentence that conveys more than any headline. Because for FC Bayern, it means exactly what this contract extension is: a promise for the future. And a gift for the present. Perfect for Christmas
Happy holidays!
FC Bayern Women have extended the captain’s contract:
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