Crossing Borders and Building a Career in Elite Women's Football

Lorena Sumser joins the show to share lessons from a global career across Germany, France, and Scotland. Lorena has worked in the private sector, the Bayern Munich Academy, FFC Wacker München, the German U20 and U23 National Teams, OL Féminin, and now Rangers FC Women, where she serves as the Lead Physical Performance Coach.  We dive into the realities of supporting players in different systems, the importance of collaboration between club and national team staff, and how culture and expectations shape the physical preparation of female footballers. Lorena talks through her experiences at World Cup level, what she learned from OL's Champions League environment, and how she approaches player readiness in the Scottish league. In this episode, we cover: • Early influences that shaped Lorena's coaching path • What national team environments teach you about communication and trust • Navigating the U20 and U23 pathway in Germany • Managing players with different playing minutes and training histories • What separates elite performers at OL and why their standards are so high • The role of culture in gym expectations and strength training • Moving into a lead role at Rangers and guiding a growing performance department • The coaching values and principles that stay consistent across environments This conversation offers practical insight for coaches, physios, strength coaches, and sport scientists working in women's football, or anyone preparing to step into a new environment with different demands and expectations.