Sarah Zadrazil ahead of Bundesliga opener: ‘A constant upward journey’

Over 50,000 people will make their way into the Allianz Arena on Saturday to watch FC Bayern Women take on Bayer Leverkusen (tickets still available here) for what isn’t just a major sporting event but also a statement, a milestone, a form of silent triumph. And right at the heart of this moment is someone who helped make it happen before there were any floodlights, stages or applause. Sarah Zadrazil has started all four of Bayern’s previous matches at the Allianz. A player who has consistently and reliably helped shape this special moment.

The Austrian midfielder has been at Bayern for five years, but her story goes back well beyond that. To her childhood pitches in Bad Ischl, to her first passes in her youth teams, to the days when the dream of professional football did not yet play out in stadiums with neon signs. “I started out as a child playing for our village club with boys,” she explains. “And now I get to play at the Allianz Arena for a fifth time in front of over 50,000 people. I never could’ve dreamt of that.”

It is no coincidence that this dream became a reality. It is the result of perseverance, adherence to principles and an unyielding love for a game that has changed – but Zadrazil herself has not. The Austrian arrived in Munich in 2020. She had been the captain at Turbine Potsdam for a while and easily could’ve stayed in her secure position. But she decided to take the risk, to leave her comfort zone and compete. “I was aware of how strong the squad in Munich is. But I wanted to give it a try. Get out of my comfort zone. And today I’m infinitely glad that I took that step.”

It wasn't a move to a finished system. It was a move to a time of change. To a club that wanted more for women's football than just good results. And she was someone who not only embraced this change but helped shape it – not as a voice, but as a pace-setter at the heart of the game where balls are won and matches are controlled. Zadrazil established herself quietly but irrevocably. She did not become a director, but a conductor. Not a soloist, but the stabilising force of an ensemble.

A stadium and a calm heart rate

FC Bayern Women have had the chance to play in Munich’s footballing cathedral four times before, and each time she was the anchor on the pitch. She was there when it all began, with the first game against Paris Saint-Germain, when excitement filled the stadium. She was there on arguably the club’s greatest night when Barcelona were beaten. She was there for the hard-fought 1-0 win over Arsenal. And she was there for the first women’s league match at the Allianz Arena. Always calm, focused, unflustered.

“We as a team enjoy every match at the Allianz Arena,” she says with a warm smile. “Previously I was just a spectator, and then suddenly we were out there on the pitch ourselves in 2022. Playing against opposition like Barcelona are moments that are deeply ingrained in your heart.” For Zadrazil, the Allianz Arena is far more than just a stadium. It’s a symbol, a landmark and daily motivation of what’s possible. “I drive by every day heading to the Campus. And every time I think how amazing it is that we get to play here.”

Zadrazil has made 158 competitive appearances for Bayern, of which she’s won 123. She’s scored six goals, provided 13 assists, won four Bundesliga titles, the DFB Cup and two Supercups. But none of those numbers explain why her teammates miss her when she’s not out on the pitch. None of those numbers reflect the structure she provides by orchestrating play over the 90 minutes. “I’m not one for mazy runs or spectacular goals. But I believe I provide the game with some order,” the midfielder explains. “I coach, I talk a lot, I try to provide mentality out on the pitch. I’m often told that I make the players around me better.” It’s the highest of praise.

Once the lights go out

It’s not just how she plays that makes her a special player but how she brings it to life. She’s the one who listens, the one who realises someone isn’t feeling great in training, the one who observes the inner workings of a team. And that quality has a value that no scouting report can capture in modern football. She doesn’t describe herself as a symbolic figure. Maybe that’s exactly why she is one.

And now it's time for her fifth match at the Allianz. The biggest one yet. The opening game of the Bundesliga season in front of a crowd of more than 50,000 spectators. What was once unimaginable will become reality on Saturday evening. “The excitement is huge,” says Zadrazil. “We've talked about it a lot in the team. Everyone wants to be there. But at the same time, we're going in focused. Just like any other match.”

Leverkusen as an opponent must be taken seriously – there's no doubt about that. Last season’s difficult away game is still relatively fresh in the memory. And yet, this evening is not just about three points. It's about a feeling. A confirmation for all those who have been following this path for years. For Zadrazil, it's a kind of reflection of her own career. “Women's football is growing extremely fast. From year to year. Even back when I came to Munich – that was five years ago now – it was unimaginable that we could attract so many spectators to one of our matches. And so, in a way, it's a constant upward journey that I'm privileged to be part of. For me, it's particularly nice that I've been able to witness this development from the very beginning, when women's football was still very small.”

A match that stands for more. For a development that began quietly and is becoming increasingly vocal. For a career that never pushed itself into the foreground. And suddenly finds itself in the spotlight.

A ritual effect

And when the moment comes when the teams walk out onto the pitch, when the tension is palpable and the crowd holds its breath, she will do what she always does. Take two small jumps, twice with her left foot on the turf. A gesture that almost no one notices, yet says it all. “I've had this ritual for ages. Ever since my college days in the USA.” A silent start button. And then she will disappear, into the game, into the collective, into the movement of the whole. Not because she is hiding, but because she works where others often don't even look.

 

When the evening is over, the spectators have left and the pitch has emptied, another piece of history will have been written. Zadrazil has not only experienced this, but she has helped to shape it. The 32-year-old has never put herself in the spotlight – and yet today she symbolises everything that women's football stands for: grounded, powerful, ambitious. Ready for even greater things. Perhaps that is why she is not just a player in this record-breaking match. Perhaps she is quiet proof that greatness does not always begin loudly. But deeply. And sustainably.

🎟️ Get your tickets for the opening Bundesliga match at the Allianz Arena HERE! 

🏟️ Take a look back on FC Bayern Women’s previous matches at the Allianz Arena: