# Inka Grings

Inka Grings (born 31 October 1978) is a German former international footballer who played as a striker. She played sixteen years for FCR 2001 Duisburg before joining FC Zürich Frauen. She also played for the Germany national team. Grings is the second all-time leading goalscorer in Germany's top division, the Frauen-Bundesliga, with 195 goals and claimed the league's top-scorer award for a record six seasons. Playing for Germany, she was the top-scorer at two UEFA European Championships. Grings was named Women's Footballer of the Year (Germany) in 1999, 2009 and 2010.
She is currently the manager of Club Brugge after previously coached FC Zürich and Switzerland national team

## Early life

As a child, Grings wanted to be a tennis player. However, after no tennis club had accepted her, she instead started playing football at TSV Eller 04 in 1984. She later played for Garather SV.

## Club career
### Duisburg, 1995–2011

Grings signed with FCR 2001 Duisburg in 1995. She quickly became an important player for the club and in the following years one of the most successful goalscorers in Germany. In 1998, Grings won the German Cup, her first major title. She scored three goals in the final against FSV Frankfurt. The following year in the 1998–99 season she became the Bundesliga's top-scorer for the first time. Grings was named Women's Footballer of the Year (Germany) in 1999 by the country's sports journalists.
Over the next decade, Grings became the Bundesliga all-time leading goalscorer, hitting the mark of 350 goals in January 2011. She won the Bundesliga title with Duisburg in the 1999–00 season; that year she also set the all-time record for goals in a Bundesliga season by scoring 38 goals. She won the German Cup on two more occasions in 2009 and 2010, and lifted the UEFA Women's Cup in the 2008–09 season. Grings was the Bundesliga top-scorer for three years in a row from 2008 to 2010 and was again voted Women's Footballer of the Year (Germany) in 2009 and 2010.

### FC Zürich, 2011–13

She ended her contract at Duisburg one year early in an agreement with the club and announced transferring to an international club. On 1 September 2011 she joined Swiss side FC Zürich Frauen. In the first season she won the championship as well as the cup.

### Chicago Red Stars, 2013

In May 2013, Grings signed with the Chicago Red Stars for the inaugural season of the National Women's Soccer League in the United States alongside Sonja Fuss. On 4 August 2013, she scored a brace against Seattle Reign FC helping the Red Stars win 3–1. Grings was on the starting lineup in 14 of the 16 games in which she played for the Red Stars and scored three goals on the season. The Red Stars finished the 2013 season sixth in the standings with an 8–6–8 record.
She was waived by the Red Stars in September 2013.

## International career

Grings made her debut for the Germany national team in May 1996 against Finland. She appeared for Germany at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, scoring three goals. However, Germany was eliminated in the quarter-final. At the 2000 Summer Olympics, she won the bronze medal with the German team, scoring once against Australia in the group stage. Grings' career, particularly at international level, has repeatedly been affected by injuries. She missed the 2001 European Championship on home soil and the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup due to injury. When she tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee shortly before the 2004 Summer Olympics, Grings initially announce to end her career. However, she changed her mind during physical therapy.
With four goals, Grings was the top-scorer at the 2005 European Championship, when Germany claimed its sixth European title. At the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2008 Summer Olympics, Grings was not part of the German squad, because of disagreements with head coach Silvia Neid. She returned for Germany at the 2009 European Championship, claiming her second European title. With six goals Grings again was the tournament's top-scorer. She has been called up for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Grings has scored 64 international goals and is ranked third behind Birgit Prinz (128) and Heidi Mohr (83) for Germany's all-time top goalscorers. During 93 appearances, she has averaged 0.69 goals per games, which makes her the team's second most prolific scorer.

## Personal life

Grings is openly bisexual, she had a well publicized relationship with women's team colleague Linda Bresonik, and also dated male Holger Fach, former head coach of VfL Wolfsburg.

## Career statistics
### Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Duisburg | 1995-96 | Frauen-Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Duisburg | 1996-97 | Frauen-Bundesliga | 17 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 12 |
| Duisburg | 1997-98 | Frauen-Bundesliga | 14 | 13 | 1+ | 3+ | 0 | 0 | 15+ | 16+ |
| Duisburg | 1998-99 | Frauen-Bundesliga | 19 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 25 |
| Duisburg | 1999-00 | Frauen-Bundesliga | 21 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 38 |
| Duisburg | 2000-01 | Frauen-Bundesliga | 15 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 16 |
| Duisburg | 2001-02 | Frauen-Bundesliga | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 11 |
| Duisburg | 2002-03 | Frauen-Bundesliga | 19 | 20 | 3+ | 2+ | 0 | 0 | 21+ | 22+ |
| Duisburg | 2003-04 | Frauen-Bundesliga | 9 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 11 |
| Duisburg | 2004-05 | Frauen-Bundesliga | 15 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 25 |
| Duisburg | 2005-06 | Frauen-Bundesliga | 17 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 27 |
| Duisburg | 2006-07 | Frauen-Bundesliga | 14 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 22 |
| Duisburg | 2007-08 | Frauen-Bundesliga | 20 | 27 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 35 |
| Duisburg | 2008-09 | Frauen-Bundesliga | 19 | 29 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 29 | 43 |
| Duisburg | 2009-10 | Frauen-Bundesliga | 21 | 28 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 32 | 42 |
| Duisburg | 2010-11 | Frauen-Bundesliga | 19 | 23 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 29 | 39 |
| Duisburg | Total | Total | 250 | 327 | 16+ | 25+ | 24 | 32 | 290+ | 384+ |
| Zürich | 2011-12 | Swiss Women's Super League | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Zürich | 2012-13 | Swiss Women's Super League | 0 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2+ | 39 |
| Zürich | Total | Total | 31 | 55 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 33+ | 56+ |
| Chicago Red Stars | 2013 | National Women's Soccer League | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 3 |
| Chicago Red Stars | Total | Total | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 3 |
| FC Köln | 2013-14 | 2. Frauen-Bundesliga | 19 | 23 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 25 |
| FC Köln | Total | Total | 19 | 23 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 25 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 300 | 397 | 19+ | 27+ | 24 | 32 | 359+ | 467+ |

### International

    Scores and results list Germany's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Grings goal.
List of international goals scored by Inka Grings :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 28 May 1998 | ? | New Zealand | 2–0 | 8–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 28 May 1998 | ? | New Zealand | 6–0 | 8–0 | Friendly |
| 3 | 28 May 1998 | ? | New Zealand | 8–0 | 8–0 | Friendly |
| 4 | 28 June 1998 | Soldier Field, Chicago, United States | United States | 1–3 | 2–4 | Friendly |
| 5 | 22 April 1999 | Ludwigsparkstadion, Saarbrücken, Germany | Denmark | 1–0 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 6 | 30 May 1999 | Städtisches Sportzentrum Nonnenholz, Weil am Rhein, Germany | France | 1–1 | 4–1 | Friendly |
| 7 | 30 May 1999 | Städtisches Sportzentrum Nonnenholz, Weil am Rhein, Germany | France | 3–1 | 4–1 | Friendly |
| 8 | 3 June 1999 | Stadion Rheinbach im Freizeitpark, Rheinbach, Germany | Netherlands | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 9 | 24 June 1999 | Civic Stadium, Portland, Oregon, United States | Mexico | 1–0 | 6–0 | 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup |
| 10 | 24 June 1999 | Civic Stadium, Portland, Oregon, United States | Mexico | 4–0 | 6–0 | 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup |
| 11 | 24 June 1999 | Civic Stadium, Portland, Oregon, United States | Mexico | 6–0 | 6–0 | 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup |
| 12 | 2 September 1999 | Sternquell Arena, Plauen, Germany | Russia | 3–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 13 | 23 September 1999 | Playmobil-Stadion, Fürth, Germany | Ukraine | 1–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2001 qualifying |
| 14 | 23 September 1999 | Playmobil-Stadion, Fürth, Germany | Ukraine | 2–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2001 qualifying |
| 15 | 14 October 1999 | Marschweg-Stadion, Oldenburg, Germany | Iceland | 1–0 | 5–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2001 qualifying |
| 16 | 11 November 1999 | Stadio Mario Lancellotta, Isernia, Italy | Italy | 2–0 | 4–4 | UEFA Women's Euro 2001 qualifying |
| 17 | 11 November 1999 | Stadio Mario Lancellotta, Isernia, Italy | Italy | 3–1 | 4–4 | UEFA Women's Euro 2001 qualifying |
| 18 | 6 April 2000 | Stadion am Bornheimer Hang, Frankfurt, Germany | Italy | 2–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2001 qualifying |
| 19 | 11 May 2000 | NSC Olimpiyskiy, Kyiv, Ukraine | Ukraine | 4–1 | 6–1 | UEFA Women's Euro 2001 qualifying |
| 20 | 16 July 2000 | Bremer Brücke, Osnabrück, Germany | China | 1–1 | 1–3 | Friendly |
| 21 | 27 August 2000 | Old Tivoli, Aachen, Germany | Denmark | 1–0 | 7–0 | Friendly |
| 22 | 27 August 2000 | Old Tivoli, Aachen, Germany | Denmark | 2–0 | 7–0 | Friendly |
| 23 | 13 September 2000 | Bruce Stadium, Canberra, Australia | Australia | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2000 Summer Olympics |
| 24 | 4 May 2002 | Estádio Adelino Ribeiro Novo, Barcelos, Portugal | Portugal | 7–0 | 8–0 | 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying |
| 25 | 14 November 2002 | Nattenberg Stadion, Lüdenscheid, Germany | Russia | 2–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 26 | 6 March 2003 | Sportzentrum Große Wiese, Arnsberg, Germany | China | 3–0 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 27 | 27 March 2003 | Karl-Liebknecht-Stadion, Potsdam, Germany | Scotland | 2–0 | 5–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying |
| 28 | 27 March 2003 | Karl-Liebknecht-Stadion, Potsdam, Germany | Scotland | 3–0 | 5–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying |
| 29 | 27 March 2003 | Karl-Liebknecht-Stadion, Potsdam, Germany | Scotland | 4–0 | 5–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying |
| 30 | 7 February 2004 | Estádio Municipal de Albufeira, Albufeira, Portugal | Portugal | 3–0 | 11–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying |
| 31 | 7 February 2004 | Estádio Municipal de Albufeira, Albufeira, Portugal | Portugal | 6–0 | 11–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying |
| 32 | 7 February 2004 | Estádio Municipal de Albufeira, Albufeira, Portugal | Portugal | 7–0 | 11–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying |
| 33 | 7 February 2004 | Estádio Municipal de Albufeira, Albufeira, Portugal | Portugal | 8–0 | 11–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying |
| 34 | 7 February 2004 | Estádio Municipal de Albufeira, Albufeira, Portugal | Portugal | 9–0 | 11–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying |
| 35 | 21 April 2005 | Stadion an der Bremer Brücke, Osnabrück, Germany | Canada | 3–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 36 | 9 June 2005 | Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington, England | France | 1–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2005 |
| 37 | 15 June 2005 | Deepdale, Preston, England | Finland | 1–0 | 4–1 | UEFA Women's Euro 2005 |
| 38 | 15 June 2005 | Deepdale, Preston, England | Finland | 3–0 | 4–1 | UEFA Women's Euro 2005 |
| 39 | 19 June 2005 | Ewood Park, Blackburn, England | Norway | 1–0 | 3–1 | UEFA Women's Euro 2005 |
| 40 | 25 September 2005 | Leimbachstadion, Siegen, Germany | Russia | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying |
| 41 | 20 October 2005 | Hans-Walter-Wild-Stadion, Bayreuth, Germany | Scotland | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying |
| 42 | 25 February 2009 | Bielefelder Alm, Bielefeld, Germany | China | 1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 43 | 9 March 2009 | Estádio Algarve, Faro, Portugal | Sweden | 1–3 | 2–3 | 2009 Algarve Cup |
| 44 | 25 July 2009 | Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim, Germany | Netherlands | 2–0 | 6–0 | Friendly |
| 45 | 27 August 2009 | Ratina Stadium, Tampere, Finland | France | 1–0 | 5–1 | UEFA Women's Euro 2009 |
| 46 | 30 August 2009 | Ratina Stadium, Tampere, Finland | Iceland | 1–0 | 1–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2009 |
| 47 | 4 September 2009 | Lahti Stadium, Lahti, Finland | Italy | 1–0 | 2–1 | UEFA Women's Euro 2009 |
| 48 | 4 September 2009 | Lahti Stadium, Lahti, Finland | Italy | 2–0 | 2–1 | UEFA Women's Euro 2009 |
| 49 | 10 September 2009 | Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland | England | 4–2 | 6–2 | UEFA Women's Euro 2009 |
| 50 | 10 September 2009 | Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland | England | 5–2 | 6–2 | UEFA Women's Euro 2009 |
| 51 | 24 February 2010 | Complexo Desportivo Belavista, Parchal, Portugal | Denmark | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2010 Algarve Cup |
| 52 | 24 February 2010 | Complexo Desportivo Belavista, Parchal, Portugal | Denmark | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2010 Algarve Cup |
| 53 | 28 February 2010 | Complexo Desportivo Belavista, Parchal, Portugal | Finland | 1–0 | 7–0 | 2010 Algarve Cup |
| 54 | 28 February 2010 | Complexo Desportivo Belavista, Parchal, Portugal | Finland | 3–0 | 7–0 | 2010 Algarve Cup |
| 55 | 28 February 2010 | Complexo Desportivo Belavista, Parchal, Portugal | Finland | 5–0 | 7–0 | 2010 Algarve Cup |
| 56 | 3 March 2010 | Estádio Algarve, Faro, Portugal | United States | 1–2 | 2–3 | 2010 Algarve Cup |
| 57 | 3 March 2010 | Estádio Algarve, Faro, Portugal | United States | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2010 Algarve Cup |
| 58 | 15 September 2010 | Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion, Dresden, Germany | Canada | 1–0 | 5–0 | Friendly |
| 59 | 28 October 2010 | Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg, Germany | Australia | 1–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 60 | 25 November 2010 | BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany | Nigeria | 1–0 | 8–0 | Friendly |
| 61 | 25 November 2010 | BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany | Nigeria | 3–0 | 8–0 | Friendly |
| 62 | 7 June 2011 | New Tivoli, Aachen, Germany | Netherlands | 5–0 | 5–0 | Friendly |
| 63 | 5 July 2011 | Borussia-Park, Mönchengladbach, Germany | France | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup |
| 64 | 5 July 2011 | Borussia-Park, Mönchengladbach, Germany | France | 3–1 | 4–2 | 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup |

### Goals by competition

| Competition | Goals | Matches |
| Friendlies/Algarve Cup | 30 | 50 |
| FIFA World Cup | 5 | 8 |
| UEFA Women's Euro | 10 | 11 |
| World Cup qualifiers | 3 | 9 |
| Euro qualifiers | 15 | 13 |
| Olympics | 1 | 5 |
| Total | 64 | 96 |

### Matches and goals scored at World Cup and Olympic tournaments

Inka Grings competed in two FIFA Women's World Cup: USA 1999, and Germany 2011; one Olympics: Sydney 2000; played in 13 matches and scored 6 goals. Along with her Germany team, Grings is a bronze medalist from Sydney 2000.
Key (expand for notes on "world cup and olympic goals") :
| Location | Geographic location of the venue where the competition occurred |
| Lineup | Start – played entire match on minute (off player) – substituted on at the minute indicated, and player was substituted off at the same time off minute (on player) – substituted off at the minute indicated, and player was substituted on at the same time (c) – captain |
| Min | The minute in the match the goal was scored. For list that include caps, blank indicates played in the match but did not score a goal. |
| Assist/pass | The ball was passed by the player, which assisted in scoring the goal. This column depends on the availability and source of this information. |
| penalty or pk | Goal scored on penalty-kick which was awarded due to foul by opponent. (Goals scored in penalty-shoot-out, at the end of a tied match after extra-time, are not included.) |
| Score | The match score after the goal was scored. |
| Result | The final score. W – match was won L – match was lost to opponent D – match was drawn (W) – penalty-shoot-out was won after a drawn match (L) – penalty-shoot-out was lost after a drawn match |
| aet | The score at the end of extra-time; the match was tied at the end of 90' regulation |
| pso | Penalty-shoot-out score shown in parentheses; the match was tied at the end of extra-time |
| | Orange background color – Olympic women's football tournament |
| | Blue background color – FIFA women's world cup final tournament |
| Goal | Match | Date | Location | Opponent | Lineup | Min | Score | Result | Competition |
| USA 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup ||||||||||
| | 1 | 1999-06-20 | Los Angeles | Italy | Start | | | 1–1 D | Group match |
| 1 | 2 | 1999-06-24 | Portland | Mexico | Start | 10 | 1–0 | 6–0 W | Group match |
| 2 | 2 | 1999-06-24 | Portland | Mexico | Start | 57 | 4–0 | 6–0 W | Group match |
| 3 | 2 | 1999-06-24 | Portland | Mexico | Start | 90+2 | 6–0 | 6–0 W | Group match |
| | 3 | 1999-06-27 | Washington | Brazil | 89. off 89' (on Meyer) | | | 3–3 D | Group match |
| | 4 | 1999-07-01 | Washington | United States | {{{4}}}. off 92' (on Hoffmann) | | | 2–3 L | Quarter-final |
| Sydney 2000 Olympic Women's Football Tournament ||||||||||
| 4 | 5 | 2000-09-13 | Canberra | Australia | Start | 35 | 1–0 | 3–0 W | Group match |
| | 6 | 2000-09-16 | Canberra | Brazil | Start | | | 2–1 W | Group match |
| | 7 | 2000-09-19 | Melbourne | Sweden | {{{4}}}. off 45' (on Mueller) | | | 1–0 W | Group match |
| | 8 | 2000-09-24 | Sydney | Norway | Start | | | 0–1 L | Semifinal |
| | 9 | 2000-09-28 | Sydney | Brazil | {{{4}}}. off +94' (on Goette) | | | 2–0 W | Bronze medal match |
| Germany 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup ||||||||||
| | 10 | 2011-06-26 | Berlin | Canada | {{{4}}}. on 65' (off Mbabi) | | | 2–1 W | Group match |
| | 11 | 2011-06-30 | Frankfurt | Nigeria | {{{4}}}. on 53' (off Prinz) | | | 1–0 W | Group match |
| 5 | 12 | 2011-07-05 | Moenchengladbach | France | Start | 32 | 2–0 | 4–2 W | Group match |
| 6 | 12 | 2011-07-05 | Moenchengladbach | France | Start | 68 pk | 3–1 | 4–2 W | Group match |
| | 13 | 2011-07-09 | Wolfsburg | Japan | {{{4}}}. off 102' (on Popp) | | | 0–1 aet L | Quarter-final |

## Honours

FCR 2001 Duisburg
* Bundesliga: 1999–00; runner-up (7) 1996–97, 1998–99, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2009–10
* German Cup: 1997–98, 2008–09, 2009–10; runner-up 1998–99, 2002–03, 2006–07
* UEFA Women's Cup: 2008–09
FC Zürich Frauen
* Nationalliga A: 2012, 2013
* Swiss Women's Cup: 2012, 2013
Germany
* UEFA European Championship: 2005, 2009
* Summer Olympic Games: Bronze medal 2000
Individual
* Women's Footballer of the Year (Germany): 1999, 2009, 2010
* Top-scorer Bundesliga (6): 1998–99, 1999–00, 2002–03, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10
* Top-scorer UEFA Women's Championship: 2005, 2009
* Top-scorer UEFA Women's Champions League: 2010–11