Give girls a goal, says Swiss football legend Lara Dickenmann

Hong Kong could boldly declare its ambitions to build a professional women’s football team, attracting global talent to advance its development, Swiss football legend Lara Dickenmann said as she made her inaugural trip to the city earlier.

“It will show all the girls what is possible, it will give them a goal and everything else will fall into place. You have to take a bold big step — that helps a lot,” she added.

The trailblazer of Swiss women’s football also advocated for strategic roles such as sporting directors and sports psychologists to build a supportive ecosystem around players.

Having made her debut in 2002 and retired in 2021, Dickenmann’s illustrious career includes two UEFA Women’s Champions League titles and seven French league championships with Olympique Lyonnais.

She now serves as an ambassador for the upcoming UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 on Thursday (Hong Kong time) , with opening group games including Switzerland-Norway, Spain-Portugal, Denmark-Sweden, and France-England.

The Hong Kong Football Club marked one of the stops on her city tour, where she interacted with young female players aged 6 to 16, expressing enthusiasm for their potential and energy.

For children under 10, Dickenmann emphasized the importance of fun in fostering a love for the game. With pre-teens around 12 or 13, she focused on building confidence as they undergo physical changes. For players aged 15 to 16, she offered detailed advice on balancing academics and football.

Dickenmann expressed surprise at Hong Kong’s strong emphasis on academics, where many parents prioritize education over sports. She countered that athletic participation can enhance academic performance.

Addressing the state of women’s football globally, she acknowledged significant disparities compared to men’s football, citing gaps in opportunities, resources, research, and funding.

Yet as a retired footballer, she saw not just the challenges but also her power to influence the sport’s trajectory. She emphasized how former female players, with their deep knowledge, can bring greater diversity to football as a whole.

Turning to Hong Kong, Dickenmann, as one of the most decorated players to have competed across multiple leagues, highlighted the city’s unique potential for sports development — a great hub for collaboration.

“I think Hong Kong is a place where a lot of cultures come together,” she said. “It could be a meeting point for teams from Asia, Europe, Australia, and even the US.”

She also observed that Hong Kong football is in capable hands, backed by strong infrastructure such as high-quality pitches and world-class stadiums.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing where Hong Kong football can go in the future, especially women’s football, and I’ve seen some good talent as well, so it’s going in a good direction.”

(Cheng Wong)