Thodoros Karapetsas spoke exclusively to Manos Staramopoulos about women's football, his team Zurich, how he sees this project developing and much more...

First of all, what exactly is your role in the Zurich women's team?

R/: I am the Head of Sports at FC Zurich Women. Together with my colleague Pascal Troentlé and the management commission we are responsible for the whole Women’s Department of FC Zurich. Beginning with the whole education of all our girls in the academy, Talent management of all our national players, selecting coaches, specialists and general staff, ending with our first team: Transfer negotiations with agents/clubs or players, organizing everything around our first team, UEFA Women’s Champions League campaign etc. Additionally we got the competence to conceptionally transform all our experiences into a specific and unique education at FC Zurich Women.

At what level is women's football in Switzerland?

R/: At the moment the Swiss League is a very good and abroad appreciated league with an educational character. There is a lot of momentum in Swiss Women’s football, especially at FC Zurich. We completely changed our way to educate our players – every position got an exact profile, based on technical, athletical and tactical requirements.

We see that in the US and in the countries of Northern Europe, at the national level, their pay is now the same as that of men

R/: Basically I have to say that every single nation has to decide how they want push the whole wave of women football. Credit Suisse, the main partner of swiss football decided, that on A-Nationallevel both teams will earn the same bonuses. Of course money has an influence on the development of women's football. But many other factors are also important, such as media coverage.

Is your team, Zurich, again one of the favorites for the new championship?

R/: Last Season we won the national Cup and the national Championship. Of course we want to defend our titles and go the next step internationally: Groupstage UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Internationally, apart from Barcelona, ​​what other teams will star in the new Champions League?

R/: Difficult to say. The UEFA Euro in England is still ongoing and I don’t know how the players will come back to their clubs. Olympique Lyon, VFL Wolfsburg and Chelsea FC are definitely to name as UWCL aspirants, as well as Barcelona.

How is the life of a female soccer player in Switzerland?

R/: This is difficult to generalize in Switzerland. We have girls in our first team, they still go to school, or in schools completely spezialized on talent development. Others are already learning a job with an apprenticeship. Others are studying. Older players work and play. Professional players live like a professional. We train in the morning as well as in evening sessions.

What do you think is the best this season in the world and will claim the Golden Ball?

R/: There are very good players at the moment. My personal favorites offensive: Diani, who is always able to create something and has a lot of speed. Sam Kerr is a very intelligent striker and effective in the box. My personal defensive players are Millie Bright and Wendie Renard.

Tell us a few things about yourself, professionally or not. Were you born in Greece or in Switzerland?

I am born in Switzerland, in Zurich. My parents are born in Greece, they both come from Kozani (Livadero).

With 4 years age I began playing football at Grasshopper Club Zurich. I made my way to the first squad, where I first signed a professional contract with 16 years. I was member of the Greece U19 national team. After a few injuries I went over the Swiss Challenge League (second highest league in Switzerland) to Super League in Greece, where I played for AO Kerkyra. After having cruciate ligament injuries and operations and two years of Reha I decided to finish my career as a professional footballer.

I became a football personal trainer. Additionally I made personal trainings for diverse athletes of different sports, where I was able to transport all my experiences to young athletes. Parallel I open my own fitness center, complete specialized on individual training. I made trainerdiploms at the Swiss football federation, I am now participating at the UEFA A course.

In January 2022 Pascal and I decided to take over FCZ Women.

Thodoros Karapetsas is 32 years old (25.07.1990).

He is married to Dimitra Karapetsa and they have a 7-month-old son (28.12.2021).

As a footballer he played as a central midfielder (playmaker). He was particularly talented, he had several offers from abroad when he was young (at 14 he was invited by Milan for 2 weeks (it was at the time when the Greek national team was crowned European Champion in 2004).

But he was extremely unlucky as injuries prevented him from developing his talent