1. Early life and education
Nadine Keßler was born on 4 April 1988, in Landstuhl, West Germany. She spent her formative years in the nearby town of Weselberg, where she attended both kindergarten and primary school. Her early football career began by playing for boys' clubs, including SV Herschberg, SV Hermersberg, and SC Weselberg, a common path for talented young female footballers in Germany at the time.
At the age of 16, in 2004, Keßler made the transition to women's football, joining the female team of 1. FC Saarbrücken in the second division. Her talent was immediately apparent, and she quickly became a leading scorer for the team from 2006 to 2007.
Following her high school graduation in 2007, Keßler commenced basic training with the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) in October of the same year. She was assigned to a sports promotion group at the Bundeswehr Sports School in Warendorf, holding the rank of Corporal, which allowed her to balance her military duties with her athletic career. Simultaneously, Keßler pursued higher education at the German University for Prevention and Health Management (DHfPG). She successfully completed her studies in 2012, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Health Economics. Demonstrating her commitment to continuous learning and professional development, she further enrolled in the MBA program at DHfPG in 2014.
2. Club career
Nadine Keßler's professional club career was marked by significant success and a collection of major titles across Germany's top divisions and European competitions. She was instrumental in her teams' achievements, showcasing her versatility and impact as a midfielder.
2.1. 1. FC Saarbrücken
Nadine Keßler joined the female team of 1. FC Saarbrücken in 2004 at the age of 16, beginning her journey in the second division of German women's football. During her tenure, she played a crucial role in the club's success, contributing to two 2. Frauen-Bundesliga titles in the 2006-07 and 2008-09 seasons, which saw the team promoted to the top flight. Her individual performance was particularly notable in the 2005-06 2. Frauen-Bundesliga season, where she emerged as the top scorer, netting an impressive 36 goals. Keßler also helped lead 1. FC Saarbrücken to the final of the DFB-Pokal in the 2007-08 season, where they finished as runners-up.
2.2. 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam
In 2009, at the age of 21, Keßler made a significant move to 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam, a prominent club in the top-tier Frauen-Bundesliga. Her arrival coincided with a period of remarkable success for the team. In her debut 2009-10 season, she contributed 11 goals as Potsdam finished at the top of the league table with a strong record of 19 wins, 1 loss, and 2 draws.
The highlight of her time at Potsdam came in the 2009-10 season when the team clinched the UEFA Women's Champions League title. They triumphed over the formidable Olympique Lyonnais in a tense final decided by penalty kicks. Keßler also helped Potsdam secure consecutive Frauen-Bundesliga championships in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons, solidifying her reputation as a formidable presence in German women's football. Additionally, she celebrated a DFB-Hallenpokal victory with the club in 2010.
2.3. VfL Wolfsburg
Nadine Keßler transferred to VfL Wolfsburg in 2011, a move that would define the most successful period of her club career. In the 2011-12 Frauen-Bundesliga season, Wolfsburg finished second with a record of 18 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws, with Keßler contributing 11 goals, tying for fourth in the league's top scorers.
The 2012-13 season was historic for VfL Wolfsburg under Keßler's captaincy. She scored eight goals in the Frauen-Bundesliga, leading the team to their first league title with a record of 17 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws. That same season, she captained Wolfsburg to their first UEFA Women's Champions League triumph, defeating Olympique Lyonnais 1-0 in the final. This marked the end of Lyon's dominant reign in European club football. Wolfsburg also secured the DFB-Pokal in 2012-13, completing a historic treble.
Keßler continued to lead Wolfsburg to unprecedented success in 2014, securing another Frauen-Bundesliga title and a second consecutive UEFA Women's Champions League trophy. Wolfsburg became the first German women's team in history to win the treble of Frauen-Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal Frauen, and the UEFA Women's Champions League (which had been renamed from the UEFA Women's Cup).
Her exceptional performances and leadership during this period earned her significant individual recognition. In 2014, Keßler was awarded the prestigious UEFA Best Women's Player in Europe Award. Her most significant individual accolade came in January 2015 when she was named the FIFA World Player of the Year at the 2014 FIFA Ballon d'Or. She received 17.52% of the vote, surpassing established stars such as Marta (14.16%) and Abby Wambach (13.33%). Upon receiving the award, Keßler humbly stated, "It's a reward for hard work, good performances and a good development track. I know it's a trophy for individuals, but I'd never have won it without my teammates."
On 12 May 2015, Keßler signed a new one-year contract with VfL Wolfsburg, extending her commitment to the club.
3. International career
Nadine Keßler represented Germany at various levels throughout her international career, progressing from youth teams to become a key player for the senior national squad. Her contributions were vital in Germany's successes in both youth and senior international tournaments.
3.1. Youth national teams
Keßler began her international journey representing Germany at the youth level from 2003 to 2008. She played for the under-15, under-17, under-19, and under-20 national teams. Her time with the youth squads was marked by significant achievements, including two UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship titles in 2006 and 2007. In 2005, she also celebrated a victory in the U-17 Nordic Cup. Furthermore, she contributed to Germany's third-place finish at the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.
3.2. Senior national team
Nadine Keßler made her debut for the senior national team on 26 February 2010, during the 2010 Algarve Cup in a match against Finland. Coming on as a 46th-minute substitute for Lena Goeßling, she quickly made an impact by scoring her first international goal in the 77th minute of the game.
Keßler played a crucial role as an attacking midfielder for Germany during the UEFA Women's Euro 2013. She was instrumental in the team's success, helping them secure their sixth consecutive European title with a 1-0 victory over Norway.
Despite her integral role, Keßler's international career was impacted by recurring injuries. She was notably absent from the squad for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada due to these fitness issues, a significant blow to both the player and the team.
3.3. International goals
Scores and results list Germany's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Keßler goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 February 2010 | Parchal, Portugal | Finland | 6-0 | 7-0 | 2010 Algarve Cup |
| 2 | 13 February 2013 | Strasbourg, France | France | 2-3 | 3-3 | Friendly |
| 3 | 3-3 | |||||
| 4 | 11 March 2013 | Lagos, Portugal | Norway | 2-0 | 2-0 | 2013 Algarve Cup |
| 5 | 21 September 2013 | Cottbus, Germany | Russia | 2-0 | 9-0 | 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification |
| 6 | 8-0 | |||||
| 7 | 23 November 2013 | Žilina, Slovakia | Slovakia | 1-0 | 6-0 | 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification |
| 8 | 4-0 | |||||
| 9 | 12 March 2014 | Faro, Portugal | Japan | 1-0 | 3-0 | 2014 Algarve Cup |
| 10 | 8 May 2014 | Osnabrück, Germany | Slovakia | 4-0 | 9-1 | 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification |
4. Retirement
Nadine Keßler announced her retirement from professional football on 14 April 2016, at the age of 28. Her decision was primarily driven by recurring injuries, particularly persistent knee problems, which had increasingly hampered her ability to play at the highest level. Despite her immense success and talent, the physical toll of elite football ultimately led her to conclude her playing career prematurely.
5. Post-playing career
Following her retirement from professional football, Nadine Keßler transitioned into a significant administrative role within the sport. She currently serves as UEFA's head of women's football, a position that allows her to continue contributing to the advancement and growth of women's football on a global scale. In this capacity, Keßler applies her deep understanding of the game and her experience as a top player to develop and implement strategies aimed at elevating the women's game. Her work encompasses various aspects, including increasing participation, improving competition structures, and advocating for greater equity and visibility within football. This role underscores her ongoing commitment to the sport beyond her playing days, reflecting a continuous effort to foster progress and expand opportunities for female athletes worldwide.
6. Honours and achievements
Nadine Keßler's career was marked by numerous team titles and individual accolades, underscoring her impact as one of the most decorated players of her generation.
6.1. Club honours
1. FC Saarbrücken
- 2. Frauen-Bundesliga: 2006-07, 2008-09
- German Cup: runner-up 2007-08
1. FFC Turbine Potsdam
- Frauen-Bundesliga: 2009-10, 2010-11
- UEFA Women's Champions League: 2009-10
- DFB-Hallenpokal: 2010
VfL Wolfsburg
- Frauen-Bundesliga: 2012-13, 2013-14
- UEFA Women's Champions League: 2012-13, 2013-14
- DFB-Pokal: 2012-13, 2014-15
6.2. International honours
Germany
- UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship: 2006, 2007
- U-17-Nordic-Cup: 2005
- FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup: Third place 2008
- UEFA Women's Championship: 2013
- Algarve Cup: 2014
6.3. Individual awards
- Fritz Walter Medal: Silver 2006
- UEFA Best Women's Player in Europe Award: 2014
- FIFA World Player of the Year: 2014
- IFFHS World's Women Best Playmaker: 2014
- IFFHS UEFA Woman Team of the Decade: 2011-2020