WIf she weren’t such a happy and fighter nature at the same time – no chance. No chance of passing these toughest tests. No chance for her passion for football to defeat her time of suffering because of football. The fact that Theresa Panfil plays Bundesliga football for Eintracht Frankfurt and runs a lot in midfield, dribbles nimbly and fits smartly borders on a small miracle. “The moment when I really wanted to give up and give up didn’t exist. At no time, ”says the 25-year-old with a firm voice.
The archives are full of stories of athletes who have overcome a serious injury because their athletic life has given them a special form of bite, ambition and resilience. Theresa Panfil’s story does not fall into this familiar pattern. Her story is riddled with so many bitter health setbacks, high hopes, and then again bitter setbacks that there is something unique about her. And a prime example of this is the power that (competitive) sport can develop, even if, as in your case, hardly any money is at stake.
Theresa Panfil was injured in her right knee for an unbelievable five years: at the age of 19, in September 2015, she suffered her first cruciate ligament tear, another cruciate ligament tear and two meniscus tears later, she made her starting eleven comeback in the Bundesliga in summer 2020. She was 24 years old then. She found this moment “overwhelming”. Especially since she plays directly as if energy accumulated over five years and five knee operations is discharging: In the home win over SC Sand, she achieved a strong performance including an assist. One of those milestones, some of which Theresa Panfil’s story has in store.
Lots of talent and assertiveness
Which sentence did you hear most about her enormously long absence? In addition to “How are you?” And “When can you play again?” It was: “It’s great that you haven’t lost your smile.” Theresa Panfil moves out early, away from her home in Fulda, towards a football career. Shortly after her 17th birthday, the highly talented debut in the Bundesliga team of 1. FFC Frankfurt. “That was the first big step towards realizing the dream I always had,” she says. There was no telling that the fulfillment of her dream only resulted in nightmarish twists and turns. It was the time when the FFC still had an international star ensemble and the prospect of enough playing time for someone like them was slim.
Optimistic in the hospital: Theresa Panfil was injured often and for a long time.
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Photo: Private
Theresa Panfil moved to Bayer Leverkusen, became U-20 world champion – and returned to the FFC after two years as a mature first division player. In training in Frankfurt, it was a Tuesday, then the serious injury. Without the influence of an opponent. The East Hessin can still tell about it as if it happened the day before yesterday and not almost exactly 1900 days ago. It was one of those tight turns with the ball on her foot, which are formative for the game of the 1.58 meter small whirlwind, when her knee buckles outwards. “For a moment it felt as if the upper and lower legs were no longer connected. A GAU, a huge shock for me, ”says Theresa Panfil. She struggles through rehab – and is back on the training ground seven months later under full stress. Early. Too early. She is young, she wants to play, have fun, start over.
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