Jena, March 22, 2026 – Prominent visit to the Jenaer Paradies: Former national coach and successful footballer Martina Voss-Tecklenburg returned to her former place of work. In the ad hoc arena, she recalled her short but memorable time as a coach on the Saale.
- Who: Martina Voss-Tecklenburg (former national football coach)
- What: Guest appearance and review of her coaching career
- Where: ad hoc arena in the Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld, Jena
- Local connection: Head coach of USV Jena 15 years ago
Return to the Sidelines of Memory
Fifteen years ago, Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, one of the most influential and successful figures in German women’s football, came to the Lichtstadt Jena. Her goal at the time: to take over the sporting management of the women’s Bundesliga club USV Jena and further develop the team.
Even though her commitment on the Saale was of relatively short duration back then, the station left its mark on her career. After about six months in Thüringen, she accepted an offer as head coach of the Swiss women’s national team and left the club. Nevertheless, as she emphasized during her current visit to the ad hoc arena, the city of Jena remains a vivid and positive memory for her to this day.
Background: Women’s Football in the Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld
The ad hoc arena in the Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld is not only the home of the men’s team of FC Carl Zeiss Jena but also a historically important location for German women’s football. USV Jena (later FF USV Jena), once coached by Voss-Tecklenburg, was a permanent fixture in the first women’s Bundesliga for many years and produced numerous future national players. Meanwhile, the professional women’s football structures have been integrated into FC Carl Zeiss Jena, whose first women’s team also plays its home matches in the stadium area on the edge of the Paradiespark.
The Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld itself has changed massively since Voss-Tecklenburg’s tenure: In recent years, it has been extensively rebuilt while matches continued, transforming from a wide athletics stadium into a modern, compact football arena without a running track, which today offers space for over 15,000 spectators.
Source:
Stellar Moments – Martina Voss-Tecklenburg visits ad hoc arena
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.