"Football is growing, and so are we"

Eleni Rittmann is a footballer who embodies the evolution and character of European women's football in recent years. Having developed her career across diverse and competitive environments, she has carved out a path in a landscape that demands both talent and resilience. Despite her youth, she has already experienced the game from different cultural angles, notably in Sweden—one of the countries at the forefront of professionalizing and supporting the women's game.

In this interview, Rittman shares her insights on the growth of women’s football, the importance of the environment in shaping a player, and the contrasts she’s observed between leagues and football cultures. She also reflects on her time in Sweden, a country that played a key role in her personal and professional development, both on and off the pitch.

This conversation comes at a meaningful point in her journey, as she embarks on a new chapter following her recent signing with Thonon Evian Grand Genève FC – Féminin, a club competing in the French second division and part of an increasingly competitive league.

• First, how are you doing? I imagine you’re following the Euro closely and looking forward to starting the new season with your club.

- I am great thanks, starting  pre-season trainings since few days in a professional club abroad and watching all the games of Euro as it is also a fantastic promotion for women football.

• How have you seen women’s football evolution in Switzerland over the past few years, both in terms of media coverage and the conditions for players?

- Women football is improving each season in Switzerland and the level of D1 is totally different than few years ago. All the games have a TV coverage and we also play in main stadium. 

• What do you think the league still needs in order to keep growing?

In an ideal world, all the clubs in AWSL should pay a minimum salary to all the players of the first team so we could have a full professional league.

Right now, only they big clubs of the league can do it.

• What are your feelings heading into the new season, and what goals have you set for yourself?

- I just sign for a club in the french league. so i will need some time to adapt a new football and the language but I hope I could perform quickly and I  can t wait to play the first official game with my club.

• This past season, match attendance increased significantly, with nearly 12,000 more spectators compared to the previous year. How do you experience this growth from the pitch? Can you feel a difference in the atmosphere during games?

- I feel that we have more and more passionate people coming to the stadium to watch women football. Our fanbase is growing.

• Do you follow other European leagues? In your opinion, which European league is the strongest right now, and where do you think the competitive level is highest?

- The best European league is WSL in England as the 12 teams are all strong with 20 top players and each game is difficult.

Also Arsenal just won the Women Champions League and have signed striker Olivia Smith for a world-record fee of £1m so they should have a stronger team that last season to fight with Chelsea for the title.

• Are you familiar with the Spanish league? It operates a bit differently than the Swiss league — with more teams and no playoffs. What do you think about this competition? Would you like to play in Spain at some point?

- Spanish league is interesting league with some strong clubs and if one day, I have a good opportunity to come and play there, I will be happy to go.

• What’s your opinion on Barcelona and the rise of teams like Real Madrid in women’s football?

- I think Barcelona is doing a fantastic work to develop their women team and no one in the league can reach their level.

• The Women’s EURO being held in Switzerland is breaking several records for attendance and ticket sales. Do you think this reflects genuine interest in women’s football in the country, or is it more of an exception?

- I think women football will keep growing in the next years as we propose a different football than men football and some studies say that Women Football will be in top 5 sports by 20230.

• The Swiss national team has qualified for the EURO quarter-finals for the first time. What’s your opinion on this achievement, and what impact do you think it could have on women’s football in Switzerland?

- The coach of the team Pia Sundhage is doing a great work, and it is such a motivation for us in Switzerland to show our national team in quarter final of the EURO.

It is a great showcase for all the kids.

• On a personal level, you have a very active social media presence, which gives you a powerful platform. How do you manage that exposure, and how important do you think social media visibility is for players in promoting the Swiss league?

- At first, I thought it was about follower numbers. Today I know: It's about content, about responsibility. I don't just want to post pretty pictures, I want to make topics visible. Even the difficult ones. Strength also means showing weakness. I don't want to be a perfect role model, but an honest one.

• This year, we’ve seen several Spanish players — especially at Servette — join the AWSL from the Spanish league. What message would you like to share with people in Spain about Swiss women’s football? 

- It means we can attract players from the best leagues in Europe so it is of course very positive for the development of the league.

• On your social media, we have seen that you speak out against the hate directed at women’s soccer and female soccer players. Could you please leave a message to share with all the female soccer players who practice this great sport ?

- Follow your dreams, but don't forget about your education. And: You need perseverance if you want to combine studying and become a professional athlete.

With players like her leading both on the pitch and in important conversations, it’s no surprise that Swiss women’s football is gaining international recognition.

You can find more inspiring stories like this one at Mundo Futboleras, along with detailed statistics on female players across the five major European leagues.