1. Overview
Babett Peter (born 12 May 1988) is a German former professional footballer and is currently serving as an assistant general manager for the National Women's Soccer League club Chicago Red Stars. Throughout her distinguished playing career, Peter primarily played as a defender for prominent clubs such as 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam, VfL Wolfsburg, and Real Madrid Femenino. She was also a long-standing member of the Germany women's national football team, achieving significant success on the international stage. Her career highlights include winning multiple Bundesliga titles, the UEFA Women's Champions League, a FIFA Women's World Cup, a UEFA Women's Championship, and an Olympic gold medal.
2. Early Life and Education
Babett Peter's early life was marked by her developing passion for football and her commitment to academic and personal challenges, including a notable health issue that she overcame through surgery.
2.1. Childhood and Early Football Development
Babett Peter was born on 12 May 1988, in Oschatz, East Germany. Her engagement with football began during her time in primary school. At the age of nine, her parents introduced her to the local football club, FSV Oschatz, where she started her organized play. Later, she moved to 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig, continuing her development. Her talent was recognized early, leading to her selection for German national teams at the junior level, signaling her potential as a future professional player.
2.2. Academic and Personal Health
Peter demonstrated dedication beyond the football pitch, successfully graduating from the Potsdam Sports Gymnasium in June 2007, where she earned her Abitur diploma. In October 2007, she became a member of the sports support group of the German Armed Forces (BundeswehrBundeswehrGerman), a program designed to support elite athletes. Personally, Peter has managed a condition of facial nerve paralysis since the age of five. At 15, she underwent an operation that significantly improved her condition, showcasing her resilience both on and off the field.
3. Playing Career
Babett Peter's playing career spanned nearly two decades, marked by significant club and international achievements, establishing her as one of Germany's most successful female footballers.
3.1. Club Career
Peter's professional club journey saw her play for several top-tier German clubs before moving to Spain, accumulating numerous titles and accolades.
3.1.1. Youth and Early Professional Career
After starting with FSV Oschatz and then joining 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig at the youth level, Peter made her early professional appearances with the latter club. During her time at 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig, she played 30 matches and scored 4 goals from 2004 to 2005. Her performances at this stage quickly attracted attention from larger clubs.
3.1.2. 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam
Peter moved to 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam during the winter break of the 2005-06 season, a pivotal moment in her career. In her very first season with Potsdam, she helped the team win the Bundesliga title and the German Cup. In September 2007, her contributions were individually recognized when she received the Fritz Walter Medal in gold, an award for the best young female player in Germany. The following month, she scored her first Bundesliga goal for Potsdam from a penalty against SG Essen-Schönebeck.
Between 2009 and 2011, Peter was an integral part of the Turbine Potsdam squad that secured three consecutive Bundesliga titles. In the 2009-10 UEFA Women's Champions League season, Potsdam made history by claiming the inaugural UEFA Women's Champions League title, with Peter notably scoring during the decisive penalty shoot-out in the final. One year later, Potsdam again reached the final of the competition but was defeated by Olympique Lyonnais. During her impactful tenure from 2006 to 2012, Peter played 138 matches and scored 17 goals for Turbine Potsdam.
3.1.3. 1. FFC Frankfurt
On 29 February 2012, Peter signed a three-year contract to join 1. FFC Frankfurt, a move that officially took effect on 1 July 2012. With 1. FFC Frankfurt, she continued her success, winning the DFB-Pokal Frauen in the 2013-14 season. She made 26 appearances and scored 1 goal for the club during her two-year spell from 2012 to 2014.
3.1.4. VfL Wolfsburg
In March 2014, Peter transitioned to VfL Wolfsburg, where she enjoyed another highly successful period. During her time with Wolfsburg, she contributed to winning three consecutive Frauen-Bundesliga titles in the 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2018-19 seasons. Furthermore, she was a key player in Wolfsburg's dominance in the DFB-Pokal Frauen, securing the title five times consecutively from 2014-15 to 2018-19. Peter played 95 matches and scored 8 goals for VfL Wolfsburg between 2014 and 2019.
3.1.5. CD Tacón and Real Madrid Femenino
On 17 September 2019, VfL Wolfsburg agreed to a mutual termination of Peter's contract, allowing her to immediately join Spanish Primera División team CD Tacón. She signed a two-year deal with the Madrid-based club. CD Tacón was subsequently rebranded as Real Madrid Femenino in 2020. Peter played 18 matches and scored 1 goal for CD Tacón from 2019 to 2020, and then made 48 appearances for Real Madrid Femenino without scoring from 2020 to 2022. On 2 May 2022, Peter announced her intention to retire from professional football at the conclusion of the season while playing for Real Madrid Femenino.
3.2. International Career
Babett Peter's international career with the Germany women's national football team was extensive and highly decorated, spanning major tournaments and culminating in significant team successes.
3.2.1. Debut and Major Tournaments
Peter made her debut for the German national team in March 2006 in a match against Finland. She was part of Germany's squad that won the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, although she did not feature in any games during that tournament. One year later, she earned a bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where she became a regular starter for Germany in the knockout stage. Peter was also a key member of the German team that won the country's seventh title at the UEFA Women's Euro 2009.
In March 2010, she scored her first goal for the national team during an Algarve Cup match against China. Peter was subsequently called up for Germany's squads for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, and the UEFA Women's Euro 2017. A pinnacle of her international career came at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where Germany secured the gold medal in women's football.
3.2.2. International Goals
Babett Peter scored 8 goals for the German women's national football team during her career. The details of her international goals are as follows:
| Peter - goals for Germany | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Date | Location | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1. | 1 March 2010 | Faro, Portugal | China | 4-0 | 5-0 | 2010 Algarve Cup |
| 2. | 19 November 2011 | Wiesbaden, Germany | Kazakhstan | 13-0 | 17-0 | Euro 2013 qualifying |
| 3. | 14-0 | |||||
| 4. | 17-0 | |||||
| 5. | 6 March 2016 | Nashville, United States | England | 2-1 | 2-1 | 2016 SheBelieves Cup |
| 6. | 21 July 2017 | Breda, Netherlands | Italy | 2-1 | 2-1 | UEFA Women's Euro 2017 |
| 7. | 25 July 2017 | Utrecht, Netherlands | Russia | 1-0 | 2-0 | |
| 8. | 24 October 2017 | Großaspach, Germany | Faroe Islands | 4-0 | 11-0 | 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying |
3.2.3. International Retirement
Babett Peter officially announced her retirement from the German national team on 26 April 2019, concluding an illustrious international career that saw her earn 118 caps and score 8 goals for her country.
4. Retirement from Playing Career
Babett Peter officially concluded her professional playing career at the end of the 2021-22 season. She made her retirement announcement on 2 May 2022, while playing for Real Madrid Femenino, marking the end of her long and successful tenure as a footballer.
5. Executive Career
Following her retirement from playing, Babett Peter transitioned into an executive role within professional football, leveraging her extensive experience.
5.1. Chicago Red Stars
Since 2022, Peter has been working for the National Women's Soccer League club Chicago Red Stars as an assistant general manager. While she has been actively involved in this capacity, the club did not issue a formal public introduction for her role.
6. Personal Life
Babett Peter's personal life reflects a commitment to both her family and her identity. She is in a relationship with American soccer player Ella Masar. In September 2020, Masar gave birth to their baby boy. Peter and Masar were married on 21 July 2022. This aspect of her life has been noted for contributing to increased visibility and representation within the sports community.
7. Honours and Achievements
Babett Peter's career is marked by a substantial collection of titles and individual recognitions at both club and international levels, reflecting her impact as a top-tier defender.
7.1. Club Honours
; 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam
- UEFA Women's Champions League: 2009-10
- Bundesliga: 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12
- DFB-Pokal: 2005-06
; 1. FFC Frankfurt
- DFB-Pokal: 2013-14
; VfL Wolfsburg
- Bundesliga: 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19
- DFB-Pokal: 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19
7.2. International Honours
- FIFA Women's World Cup: Winner 2007
- UEFA Women's Championship: Winner 2009
- Summer Olympic Games: Bronze medal 2008, Gold medal 2016
- Algarve Cup: Winner 2006, 2012, 2014
7.3. Individual Honours
- Fritz Walter Medal: Gold 2007
- Silbernes Lorbeerblatt: 2007, 2016