Super League Player
Football, Instagram and studies – Eleni Rittmann reconciles everything
22-year-old Eleni Rittmann from Walenstadt is a soccer player at FC Rapperswil-Jona. She also studies and has over 150,000 followers on Instagram.
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Eleni Rittmann (22) plays in the Super League at FC Rapperswil-Jona.
20min/ Ammar Yusufi
She is also a creator on Instagram with over 150,000 followers.
nicokellerfotografie.ch
She is currently studying social work.
20 min/Ammar Yusufi
As a footballer in the Super League, you can’t make a living from football alone.
Instagram/eltacos9
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Eleni Rittmann (22) from Walenstadt SG is a football player, influencer and student.
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Living off women’s football alone is hardly possible in the Super League.
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That’s why Rittmann wants to build a second mainstay with her training and Instagram.
Eleni Rittmann (22) from Walenstadt SG doesn’t just play football at the top. In addition to her football career at FC Rapperswil-Jona in the Super League, she is also one of the best-known Swiss footballers on Instagram with over 150,000 followers. The 22-year-old is also studying social work. Life between football, social media and education is not always easy.
“Women’s football is getting more attention now, but in my opinion it’s still neglected,” Rittmann told 20 Minuten. The student wants to change that with her reach on social media. But she also emphasizes: “Football is clearly the top priority for me. Instagram comes second.”
You can’t make a living from women’s football
According to Rittmann, the path to becoming a professional footballer cannot be compared between the sexes. “Although the competition among women is smaller, we all do the sport with the same passion,” says Rittmann. Therefore, she would wish for more appreciation. “You can’t make a living as a footballer in the Super League,” Rittmann continued.
According to her own statement, the 22-year-old, like all the other players, earns no money at her club in Rapperswil. “I’m aware that men’s football generates more spectators, but I would still like to see fair remuneration,” says Rittmann. That might be the reason why often too Stars like Alisha Lehmann have a second mainstay with their Instagram account.
As a woman, you have to be focused all day. “We are expected to give 100 percent performance both in activities off the field and in training in the evening,” says the footballer. Rittmann still enjoys studying and gives her a good balance to football. “I would do the course regardless of whether I was earning something,” she says.
Between fans and haters
For Rittmann it is important to be a role model for young women and girls and to give them courage. After games, some of them approach Rittmann and want signatures and photos. “It’s a wonderful feeling,” she says.
She also had an idol as a small child, namely Ronaldinho, later it became Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic. “I don’t worry regarding people recognizing me outside. I’m a completely normal person,” says the student.
However, the reach on Instagram also has its downsides. “I get negative comments from time to time, but I see that as motivation,” says Rittmann. Instagram is very superficial and you only see their pictures, but not entire games. “It’s not up to the followers to judge my performance, it’s up to my coach,” says the 22-year-old.
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