1. Early life and career beginnings
Viktoria Schnaderbeck's football journey began at a young age in her native Graz, Styria, Austria, before she transitioned into professional club football.
1.1. Youth career and DFC LUV Graz
Schnaderbeck began playing football at the age of seven at a local club, TSV Kirchberg an der Raab. At just 15 years old, she moved to DFC LUV Graz, a team that competed in the Austrian Frauenliga, marking the beginning of her professional club activity. For DFC LUV Graz, she made an unspecified number of appearances, scoring 2 goals. During her time with DFC LUV Graz, the team reached the finals of the Austrian Frauenliga and the Austrian Ladies Cup in the 2006-07 season, finishing as runner-up in both competitions.
1.2. Move to Germany and FC Bayern Munich II
At the age of 16, Schnaderbeck made a significant move to German football, joining FC Bayern Munich alongside her teammate Carina Wenninger. Initially, she played for FC Bayern Munich's second team from 2007 to 2010. While with the second team, her specific appearances and goals were not recorded. This period with the second team served as a developmental phase, preparing her for the demands of top-tier football in Germany.
2. Professional club career
Schnaderbeck established herself as a versatile and influential player across various major European clubs.
2.1. FC Bayern Munich
Schnaderbeck officially joined FC Bayern Munich in 2007, initially playing for their second team before making her debut for the senior team in 2010. She quickly developed into a key player for the top team, making 131 appearances and scoring 7 goals for the club's senior side during her tenure until 2018. During her tenure, she helped the club secure back-to-back German Bundesliga titles in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. She also contributed to their victory in the DFB-Pokal in the 2011-12 season and the Bundesliga Cup in 2011. Schnaderbeck made five appearances in the UEFA Women's Champions League across the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. On April 18, 2016, she extended her contract with Bayern Munich until 2018. Her contract with the German side expired before her subsequent move to England. She also was part of the squad that finished as DFB-Pokal runner-up in 2017-18.
2.2. Arsenal and loan to Tottenham Hotspur
After her contract with FC Bayern Munich concluded, Schnaderbeck signed with Arsenal in the FA WSL in May 2018. During her time with Arsenal, she made 18 appearances as of November 6, 2020, adding another major club honour to her name, winning the FA WSL title in the 2018-19 season. In January 2022, it was announced that Schnaderbeck had joined Tottenham Hotspur on loan for the remainder of the 2021-22 season. Arsenal was her last professional club before her retirement.
3. International career
Viktoria Schnaderbeck had a distinguished international career, representing the Austrian women's national team for many years and serving as its captain. She made 77 appearances and scored 2 goals for the senior national team as of October 27, 2020.
She began playing for the Austrian U19 national team at the age of 16. In 2007, she received her first call-up to the senior Austrian women's national team. Her debut came in a UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualification match against Poland, which Austria lost 0-1.
In 2013, Schnaderbeck was appointed captain of the Austrian national team, a role she held for many years, leading her team through significant campaigns. She was a key player in the squad that successfully navigated the qualification rounds for the UEFA Women's Euro 2017. At the final tournament, held in the Netherlands from July 16 to August 6, 2017, Schnaderbeck played in every match. Austria achieved a remarkable performance, reaching the semi-finals, ultimately finishing in third place in the competition. She was also part of the Austrian squad that participated in the UEFA Women's Euro 2022.
4. Personal life
Viktoria Schnaderbeck is publicly known to be the cousin of Sebastian Prödl, a former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. She stands 69 in (174 cm) tall. She is also in a relationship with a girlfriend from Norway, who relocated to London.
5. Retirement
Viktoria Schnaderbeck announced her retirement from professional football on August 10, 2022. The announcement was made during a joint press conference with her national teammate Lisa Makas, who also retired at the same time.
6. Honours
Viktoria Schnaderbeck achieved several significant titles and recognitions throughout her club and international career.
- DFC LUV Graz
- Austrian Frauenliga Runner-up: 2006-07
- Austrian Ladies Cup Runner-up: 2006-07
- FC Bayern Munich
- Bundesliga: 2014-15, 2015-16
- DFB-Pokal: 2011-12
- Bundesliga Cup: 2011
- DFB-Pokal Runner-up: 2017-18
- Arsenal
- FA WSL: 2018-19
- Austria
- Cyprus Cup: 2016
- UEFA Women's Euro Third Place: 2017