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1/7
Marc Lüthi surprises his players with the announcement of the new sports director.
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2/7
Florence Schelling will take over from Alex Chatelain.
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3/7
Tristan Scherwey would not have expected that: “If you read such a message after a nap, you will be wide-eyed.”
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7/7
In 2014 she won bronze at the Olympic Games as the goalkeeper of the women’s national team.
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In the middle of the Corona crisis, SC Bern is making headlines far beyond the country’s borders. CEO Marc Lüthi is the first hockey boss to put the fate of his sports department in the hands of a woman. Once the world’s best goalkeeper, Florence Schelling (31) becomes sports director. A groundbreaking, brave, but also risky decision. According to the reactions.
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«Only one wrote to me:‹ A woman as SCB sports director? That doesn’t work at all ›», says Lüthi. Many would have congratulated. But there are also critical tones in the anonymity of the Internet. “What herb did Lüthi smoke here?” Asks Hitcher on the SCB pinboard, for example. User jellies find «so ridiculous». But the decision surprised everyone. The team too.
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Some immediately call their teammates. «She is the first sports director in the world. Is that special? Naturally. I would be lying if I said otherwise, ”said striker Thomas Rüfenacht.
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“I made big eyes”
Tristan Scherwey made himself comfortable in front of the television after breakfast on Wednesday morning. «I doze off. When I woke up at 11.25 a.m. and unlocked my cell phone, I saw the message from the SCB that we received by email from the media. I immediately called the BLICK homepage and saw that the message was already online. If you read such a message after a nap, you will be wide-eyed. »
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Many would have asked him about Schelling and wanted to know what he thought about the decision. «I said the same thing to everyone: I made big eyes, but I am convinced that we will all stand behind her. When Lüthi – Äxgüsi, Marc – says he was looking for a young, dynamic and fresh person, it is certainly true of Florence. I don’t know her, but I’ve only heard good things. »
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Bern’s darling of the public also feels proud. «I think it’s cool if I belong to a club that makes such a premiere. One more reason to fully attack next season. » But Scherwey wouldn’t be Scherwey if he didn’t think of Alex Chatelain’s predecessor. “I’m extremely sorry for Alex.”
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Ramon Untersander was also amazed. «I don’t think anyone expected Florence. A courageous step, »says the defender and draws attention to the change in the club. «It’s good too, a new face is coming. Whether this is a woman or a man shouldn’t matter nowadays. Other than that, I’m not the one to jump to conclusions or prejudge someone. Everyone deserves a chance. Anyway: Why shouldn’t Florence be able to do that? »
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The 29-year-old also had no supervisor, but was treated by a masseuse during his time in Biel. «Of course it’s unusual. But everything new is unusual. If the door opens for women now, it will be normal at some point. » Untersander admits: «I never thought about whether a woman could fit. Because I never thought that a woman would be the sports director. It will be shown whether it works. »
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The World Cup silver hero hardly knows Schelling. «We met briefly at the Olympics. And I saw her at the hockey awards. My brother-in-law told me that he once played against her as a novice in Davos. »
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The job is new territory for Schelling
Schelling will need thick skin in Bern. Despite three championship titles in four years, Alex Chatelain was repeatedly exposed to cheap criticism. Before that, Sven Leuenberger’s arrivals were often dismissed as “lottery transfers”. “Florence will be able to deal with the criticism,” supposes Untersander. “Marc Lüthi and Rolf Bachmann will introduce them and support them.”
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The job is new territory for the 31-year-old. «The hockey scene is a family. Contacts are quickly established, »says Lüthi. Rüfenacht mentions Schelling’s master’s degree in business administration. «It’s also about budget loyalty. You have to run this shop and be able to deal with people. Of course, it will have to attract players to Bern. Whether it succeeds depends on our performance. »
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Rüfenacht suspects: “It is probably not easy for women in management positions in every business. You have to get respect first. I wish Florence the best. Nothing is given to her either. It will have to break through barriers. A challenge. But ambitious people like challenges. » Rüfenacht draws comparisons to the game. “It’s like being promoted from the fourth to the first line. You have to be ready when you get the chance. »
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The 35-year-old recently extended his contract by two years. He doubts that he will have much contact with Schelling. Because: «I didn’t have much contact with Alex either. I am not looking for that, nor do I call my agent when things are going badly. » For Rüfenacht it is clear: «Many men will now be jealous. Because many want such a job. It’s a great job. »
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Schelling takes him on Tuesday, initially working 50 percent after her skiing accident in which she broke her sixth cervical vertebra last year. The team is still on vacation.
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No cowardly reasoning—
Commentary by ice hockey reporter Nicole Vandenbrouck
A woman gets a chance if you give it to her. Sounds disrespectful – but it is like that in a male domain like ice hockey. Respect that Florence Schelling has the courage to take on the job of the SCB sports director.
After over 25 years In business – in no comparable role – as a hockey reporter I still have an idea of what she is confronted with: skepticism, bias, mistrust, criticism, cliché thinking. Even though she is an ex-player.
Unfounded criticism was the worst thing for me personally when I started. If a man makes a mistake, it is a mistake. But with a woman everything else: ignorance, stupidity, inability – a woman. A cowardly argument for me. And so frustrating because I – hey, surprise! – can’t change that I’m a woman.
With factual criticism a woman, on the other hand, can and will handle her performance well. We can learn from it, improve ourselves, bite into it, develop further. So that we are not only tolerated and accepted in this male domain – but respected.
That’s why I wish Florence that they are treated with impartiality. The players, the agents, their colleagues. So every woman in a male domain has a chance to prove herself.
A woman in (also fascinating for us) Being a hockey business is not a disadvantage, not an advantage, not an excuse or an excuse. But it can be a strength. Because we have another perspective in addition to the sporty one.
As a sports director told me this season: This look behind the athlete on people is just as important today as that on their skills.
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