Official: Liverpool Women Announce Marie Höbinger Extension
Today at 12:37 PM
The Austrian international midfielder was key to the Reds' success last season and will remain an important part of LFCW's attempts to get back on track.
It has been a difficult season for Liverpool Women, as the Lady Reds have followed up an outstanding 2023-24 that saw them finish fourth and retool over the summer with an eye to finishing top three and qualifying for the Champions League in 2024-24.
Instead, the Reds sit Eighth in the 12 team Women's Super League, just five points clear of last-place Crystal Palace and a full 12 back of Manchester United, current holders of the fourth place position the Reds finished in last year. Increasingly, the focus is turning to preparing for next season and a chance to return to the top end of the table.
To that end, today the club announced a contract extension for standout midfielder Marie Höbinger, key to that fourth place finish last season after signing from FC Zürich in 2023 and by all accounts key to any hopes of returning there in short order.
"I think I've always said that from day one I felt really welcomed here from everyone," the 23-year-old Austrian international said of her decision to extend despite the struggles of the current season. "For me it's really important to feel good somewhere and feel good in myself.
"I think Liverpool allow me to express myself on and off the pitch. I feel challenged every day but still could really settle. I think we all know there's also a chance to make the next step. I think we've had a good reset over the break now and we have such good energy."
With 12 more games to play this season the top three and European qualification might realistically be out of reach, but there's plenty of time left for this side to rediscover the kind of form that made 2023-24 so special and to set themselves up for next year.
"I'm really optimistic that we're going to smash it in the second part of the season," Höbinger added. "We have everything it takes and we just have to maybe adapt a few things and then things are going to go our way as well."
