Chelsea’s Sjoeke Nüsken promoted to Germany women’s national team vice-captain. | OneFootball

Facing a gap in the leadership hierarchy following Giulia Gwinn’s tournament ending injury, Germany women’s national team head coach Christian Wück has nominated Chelsea professional Sjoeke Nüsken to serve as his new vice captain. The 24-year-old will take the place of Janina Minge, who has been promoted to captain in Gwinn’s absence.

Nüsken has earned 46 caps at German senior level since making her debut under Martina Voss-Tecklenburg in 2018. She’s been representing her country since first featuring as a 14-year-old at U15 level three years prior to that. Nüsken has struck twice for country and three times for her WSL championship-winning club this year.

The former Eintracht Frankfurt professional delivered a very memorable season for Chelsea Ladies back during the 2023/24 campaign, netting 13 goals for the Blues in 37 appearances across all competitions.

Speaking to members of the assembled media at the team’s hotel on Sunday, DFB starter Linda Dallmann commented on Nüsken’s selection.

“Sjoeke is a player who has taken enormous strides in recent years,” Dallmann said. “The last game was very emblematic of her development. She’s always working her way into spaces one doesn’t expect to find her in. She wins balls out of the back for us and paves the way forward for us.

“She provides us an unimaginable amount of security with her playing style,” Dallmann continued. “Together with Elisa [Senß], it’s a great midfield duo. I’m extremely proud that she features on this team with us.”

Dallmann followed this specific praise up with a humorous anecdote.

“She’s part of the ‘card gang’,” Dallmann remarked with a chuckle. “They like to play cards all day long. Elisa [Senß] is also part of it. It’s a more relaxed bunch; the ones that like to play cards. There a group that possesses plenty of character.

“The news came as no big shock,” Dallmann concluded. “We all just nodded our head in agreement.“

GGFN | Peter Weis