'We can no longer hide', says Djourou on the future of Swiss women's football

Johan Djourou, a former central defender with Arsenal and Hamburg, is now the head coach of the Swiss women's national team.

In an interview with Flashscore, he talks about the development of Switzerland's women's football and the promise of a successful home European Championship.

How is Swiss women's football doing?

"It's not doing too badly. If you look at the players who play abroad, who play for big clubs, I think it's quite interesting, like Sydney Schertenleib or Lia Walti, or other players who are in Germany... We've also had the export of Iman Beney, who went to Manchester City, and Naomi Luyet, who went to Frankfurt. So we have a very fine generation."

But the Swiss women's league is not professional, right?

"That's what's really lacking in Switzerland today, this slightly professional side, so that the players can concentrate more on football than their work outside the game. Unfortunately, what's a bit of a problem today, but it's also the case in other countries, is that girls aren't 100% focused on football, because they have to work on the side and do other things to earn money. So that's exactly what's still lacking in Swiss football."

Is it one of the federation's plans that Swiss women's football should one day become professional?

"There are aspirations, of course. We still have a lot to do. We'd like to see the number of registered players rise, and have more young girls signing up to play football. We're currently at 40,000 and we should reach 80,000 after the Euro.

We're already working on grassroots football and training. And then, of course, we'd like women's football in Switzerland to become professional, but we also know that unfortunately it's a question of resources, TV rights and revenue. We have the will, but I think there's still a bit of work to be done before we get there."

Is there a strict plan to achieve this?

"We've set up a legacy programme to leave a lasting, long-term impact after the Euros. On the professional side, we are a country that is incomparable with France or other countries where things are more professional. So today, Switzerland is growing, Switzerland is progressing, Switzerland is learning and we can see that with the players we're training today.

"But it's complicated to get involved, given where women's football is starting from. The girls don't even play in stadiums that are approved for the whole season. They still play in stadiums that are used by amateur clubs. So there's already all that to be put in place to try and have a much more professional side.

"To reach a professional level, you need a lot of skills"

Before EURO 2025, was there a desire at national level to speed things up a bit, to ensure that Swiss women's football was doing a bit better?

"There's always been a desire to improve, or at least to try and learn from others. We know that Denmark works well, we know that Germany works well, we know that France works well... But then it's a question of proportion, it's a question of the number of players, it's a question of the number of people involved, because to reach a professional level, you need a lot of skills. And sometimes, there are people who weren't necessarily trained for women's football either.

So there are all sorts of aspects. But it's true that in the run-up to the Euros, one of my programmes in particular, the Impulse programme, was to do everything to optimise our performances at the Euros, to optimise everything on the athletic and medical side at national team level, to try and compete with the biggest teams."

It's been said that Swiss women's football has come a long way in the last ten years. What exactly has changed?

"I think it's partly the opening up of borders by certain players, like Lia Wälti who has left, Geraldine Reuteler who plays in Frankfurt... So it's a bit like with the boys, there's an experience that's acquired abroad, there's a know-how that comes back to the country afterwards, too.

The same applies to training, which is good today with the training centre we have in Biel, where the players are monitored from a very young age so that they have a clear path to follow if they are mentally strong. So there's a lot of work that's been done over the years, but it's also inspired by what we get from players who play abroad."

"We have to be determined to get young Swiss players playing"

And is this work going to continue after the Euros?

"Yes, of course, it's part of our Legacy programme. The Legacy programme asks clubs to participate on the basis of certain criteria or parameters that they can meet, after which they earn points and accelerate their progress.

Our aim is also to optimise the training of coaches, the training of players and the skills of people who are also involved in women's football. It's really a programme to develop grassroots football too, because we know that as soon as grassroots football is better, you end up with more players with interesting potential for the future."

And when we see that certain clubs, notably Young Boys, are playing the game in terms of training, is there a desire for a national drive for training in women's football?

We want to have as many Swiss players as possible in our league. So you have to understand that, at some point, the Swiss championship is a springboard, a championship that provides training for other countries.

"And I think we're slowly seeing that now with the examples I've given: Iman Beney, Naomi Luyet, and Noemi Ivelj, who are now leaving and showing that the championship is of high quality. But it's true that we need to be determined to get young Swiss players playing.

Are clubs setting up training centres?

Again, it's a question of resources. There's the federation's training centre and then there are the professional clubs, with facilities for under-15s who play with the boys, but we don't really have training centres as such.

You say that the Swiss championship is a springboard. Is it still complicated to keep young talents like Luyet or Beney in Switzerland?

Yes, clearly. And then it's a question of resources too. These young players want to earn a living and do nothing but play football. So today, it's complicated to keep young talent for long if you know that abroad you might earn a lot more money and be a full-time professional.

"With what's happening, people are aware of the potential"

Are you optimistic about the future of Swiss women's football when you see all the national enthusiasm for EURO 2025? 

"It's very positive. I think people have also learnt to consume the product and appreciate it. Now it's up to us, the clubs and the football association to work to keep it going. Because we know that a Euro is a boom. But then there's the excitement, the passion and so on. And that's where we're going to have to be good at continuing to work subtly to achieve our goals."

If we take France as an example, the 2019 World Cup was not immediately followed by changes for French women's football...

"We're aware of that. That's why we need to find new formulas, new ideas and be original. Women's football has a lot of qualities that people appreciate, the Euro is good, there are some great matches... There's also perhaps a need to realise that yes, there are 30,000 people in the stadiums, but that some girls will soon be playing in front of 2,000, 3,000, maybe even 1,000 spectators. And that's all part of growing up. You have to accept that.

"It's a product that's in the process of blossoming. We can't expect 25,000 people at every Swiss league match tomorrow, after the Euro. That would be unreal. We need to continue to build quietly and add one brick at a time so that in the long term and in a few years' time we can achieve something lasting.

Will this European Championship force the directors of the clubs and the federation to take greater account of women's football?

"Yes, of course it will. I don't think we can hide any longer. With what's happening, people are aware of the potential. So it's up to us to think carefully about how we can continue to showcase and use this product to best effect.

Did you expect such a huge response? Because there are cities today where it's hard to find a Swiss women's national team jersey...

"I was expecting this. I know the team and its quality. So, yes, I know that people were hesitant too, but it's great that people are finally accepting and seeing the quality and beauty of this product. After that, of course, you need results, you need performance.

And I think that as soon as the girls have put their shoulder to the wheel and people have realised that it's not a question of boys or girls, that these are women fighting for their country, it's clear that the craze is catching on. And it's great to see this national enthusiasm at matches, with shirts everywhere, it's extraordinary."

"Some players will continue to stress that we can always do better"

As someone who is in constant contact with the Nati, is it a topic in the dressing room to say that beyond this Euro, there's a desire to promote the Swiss championship, to promote Swiss women's football?

"I think that's been everyone's battle for a long time. If you look at Lia Wälti or the players who started out a long time ago, when there was nobody in the stadium, and today they play in full stadiums, at Arsenal or elsewhere, it's clear that they are trailblazers. 

"So for them, the message has always been the same, which is to get women's football accepted for its qualities and its value, without any hatred, just to have their place. I think they're very happy with what's happening and we want it to continue.

In the streets of Switzerland, we see a lot of advertising with their faces. Does that make them more identifiable but also more legitimate when it comes to defending women's football?

These girls are identified. I think it's important to ensure that young players can identify with their heroines. That's what would happen with men, and it's perfectly normal for them to have their place in the marketing everywhere they go and everywhere in every city.

 

One last question about the Swiss team. As the head coach, are you optimistic about the match against Spain?

As far as the game is concerned, it's 50-50 today. We know they're one of the best teams in the world, but it's 0-0 today. And it'll be 0-0 at kick-off too, so it'll be up to us to put all our ingredients, passion and determination into trying to pull off an upset.

Switzerland vs Spain pre-match infoFlashscore