From last-ditch tackles to detailed scout reports: Magda Eriksson’s evolving role at Bayern Munich

Magda Eriksson is shaping Bayern Munich’s football future in more ways than one. Anchoring the defence of the women’s team by day, the Swedish international has moved into a pioneering scouting role by night.

It is an unconventional dual position, yet one that speaks to the value she brings to the German giants.

“Almost a year ago, I received an email from someone at the club. I didn’t know who it was but apparently it was [the club’s] chief scout [Christoph Kresse] who asked if I was interested in starting to work in the scouting department,” she explained to broadcaster Viaplay.

“That’s how it has been. I’ve grown into the role, and now that I’ve become comfortable in it, I’ve been given the responsibility of taking over the South American market.”

While other players often go into punditry or coaching after they retire, Eriksson is setting herself up to follow a different kind of path.

It is a fitting route for a player who has continually used her place in the sport to break barriers on and off the pitch.

Whether it is being part of the ‘Common Goal’ project, a network of footballers who donate a portion of their salaries, or supporting the LGBTQ+ community across the sport, the position of advocate comes naturally to the defender.

“As a footballer, you have a platform,” she explained to the club website.

“And with that, responsibility too. We can show how the world should be or at least, how we hope it could be.”

That philosophy is something she not only carries with her mentally, but also as art etched onto her arm, where a small tattoo that reads: “Don’t criticise what you can’t understand.”

The words are lyrics from Bob Dylan’s song The Times They Are A-Changin'. They are also a message that resonates with the 32-year-old.

“You should always inform yourself about everything before you judge it – about people, about cultures, about things you maybe don’t immediately understand,” she said.

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Magda Eriksson: At the heart of the defence

On the pitch, one phrase you may hear Eriksson repeat over and over again is "weiter, weiter", which translates as "continue". It is the 32-year-old's favourite command, spurring her teammates on while she anchors a resolute defence.

You may think a player with so many commitments off the pitch could be distracted when it comes to playing, but the Swede is a consummate professional. This season, she has been part of a defensive cohort that has not lost a single league game.

Having drawn only once, the side has won 20 of their 21 fixtures in the Frauen-Bundesliga. With five games remaining, they are also all but certain to win a third successive league title.

Bayern’s hopes are still very much alive in the UEFA Women’s Champions League as well, as the team prepares for the semi-finals in their hunt for their first piece of European silverware.

The dual workload is rather an extension of how she sees the game: a process of learning, leading, and pushing boundaries.

As the club chases another domestic title and a European breakthrough, Eriksson’s influence is being felt in every corner of the Allianz Arena. Whether it is on the pitch or in the stands, she is using her skill set to help define the next era for Bayern.

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