SAFF coaching exchange concludes successfully to enhance development of women’s football in Saudi Arabia
- All-female delegation from the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) spent a week in Germany
- Bundesliga clubs Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig hosted the coaches and officials, taking part in workshops and knowledge exchange sessions
- Focus of the visit was to support the SAFF in the development of women’s football, which continues to thrive in Germany
15 May 2025 – A week-long coaching exchange between the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) and two Bundesliga clubs – Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig – has concluded successfully, further strengthening international cooperation in the development of women’s football.
A delegation of female coaches and officials from Saudi Arabia arrived in Germany on 5 May where they took part in a series of workshops, training observations and strategy discussions hosted by Bundesliga clubs Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig, with a strong focus on best practices in coaching, youth development and club structures within the German women’s game.
The week-long visit aimed to support the ongoing rise of Saudi Arabian women’s football, furthering the national education of Saudi coaches to introduce best practices within the game in the Kingdom. Following the introduction of its women’s national team programme and rapid growth of the women’s domestic game in recent seasons, the coaching exchange serves as part of SAFF’s wider aim to collaborate with international partners to grow the game worldwide and further its national development as a whole. “This week’s coaching exchange in Germany has provided invaluable experience and insights to support the development of our national coaching infrastructure,” said Aalia Al Rasheed, Head of Women’s Football at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.
“For our coaches to witness the attention to detail, planning and strategy that goes into providing young players with a professional environment to continue their development is fundamental to ensuring our national game continues to grow. We thank Eintracht Frankfurt, RB Leipzig and our international partners in Germany for their hospitality and we look forward to further collaboration in the future.”
The visit also included attendance at the Frauen-Bundesliga (Women’s Bundesliga) fixture between RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt, offering the delegation a direct insight into the competitive environment of elite women’s football in Germany. “This exchange reflects the Bundesliga’s ongoing commitment to international cooperation and the global development of the game,” said Peer Naubert, Managing Director and Chief Marketing Officer of Bundesliga International. “By sharing knowledge and experience, we support the growth of football at all levels. It was a pleasure to welcome the Saudi delegation to Germany and to see the positive engagement between the different coaches.”
The initiative forms part of wider strategic collaboration between the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga, Bundesliga International and international football stakeholders, supporting mutual learning and the continued development of the global football ecosystem. Germany has long been one of the most successful nations at all levels when it comes to women’s football, with more than 1 million women and girls registered to play across the country. The German national team won back-to-back FIFA Women’s World Cups in 2003 and 2007, and is the record holder for number of UEFA European Championship titles with eight, winning six straight between 1995 and 2013. Eintracht Frankfurt (formerly 1. FFC Frankfurt) jointly holds the record for Frauen-Bundesliga titles with VfL Wolfsburg (seven each).