Austria's Verena Hanshaw: 'FIFA's Money-Making is Too Extreme for Me'

Verena Hanshaw, a recent addition to Austria Vienna's women's team, reflects on her journey from leaving Vienna at 16 to playing professionally abroad and now returning to her hometown club.

"That wasn't imaginable back then," Hanshaw said, recalling her youth. "My brother used to play for Austria, and I attended many of his games. Looking back, I find it a shame, especially because I was so persistent and thought it was so cool that he could play there. It's all the more beautiful to be here now and see this development. It feels like coming home."

This season marks a significant step for Austrian women's football, with all ten Bundesliga clubs now associated with men's teams. Hanshaw views this as a long-overdue development, essential for the survival of clubs. She observes that the connection with the men's teams at Austria Vienna is closer than what she experienced in Frankfurt, emphasizing the importance of men's interest in the women's game.

Comparing conditions across Europe, Hanshaw notes the biggest difference, particularly with England, where players often have minimal off-field responsibilities. "In England, you don't have to worry about almost anything. Not breakfast, lunch, supplements, or medication. Everything is provided there," she explained. While training facilities in Austria are comparable, the financial aspect remains a challenge.

Hanshaw acknowledges that while salaries in Austria are improving, they are still lower than the base salaries in Italy, England, or Germany. "It's going in the right direction in Austria, but it's a challenge when you have to take care of things on the side or go to work," she said, noting that many Bundesliga players cannot make ends meet solely from football. She is currently completing her training as a life coach and plans to enter the workforce, seeing it as a way to manage the transition.