FC Twente takes women football to the next level

For the first time in Dutch history, women football players receive a monthly salary. With this initiative, the club FC Twente leads the female league into the 21st century. Whether other teams will follow the National Champion of the Eredivisie (Premier League), remains to be seen. In an interview session FC Twente chairman Joop Munsterman (JM) and player Anouk Dekker (AD) talk with reporter JOEP DERKSEN about this rather revolutionary development in Dutch women football.

THT: When did FC Twente first think about paying salaries for the women’s team? Was capturing the national championship the final push needed to take this initiative?

JM: “No. The season 2011 – 2012 is the fifth season for Eredivisie Women. Since the beginning, FC Twente has been an active participant and strong proponent of women football. During the past four seasons we have worked hard to help developing the competition and, thus, creating a top sport climate for our players. We have always envisioned to start paying our women players. Because of new agreements within the Stichting Eredivisie Vrouwen (Foundation Premier League Women), this is now possible.”

AD: ‘The initiative to start paying salaries comes from the board. The players already knew that at some point FC Twente would start working with contracts. The club has always been a supporter of further professionalizing women football. After we heard the news that the time had come to receive a salary, of course everybody was happy. It showed that FC Twente has faith in us and takes women football serious. It is fantastic that we receive an income for something we love to do and spend a lot of time for.’

THT: Why did the club decide to pay salaries to the women players?

JM: We want to have a mature competition of high quality. For the further development it is important that our players will increasingly be able to play football. This means that they should receive a corresponding reward system. Women football has a splendid future and for the players from our football academy, receiving a salary means a new step into their dream to become a professional football player.’

THT: Being the first football club in the Netherlands to start paying salaries to women players, does FC Twente hope to attract players from other teams to join the club?

JM: ‘Players should want to play with FC Twente, because we can offer them the best perspective, both for the sport and the individual player. In other countries, women footballers already receive salaries. It could be interesting for some of them to gain experience in a country with a different competition and way of playing.’

THT: As a player, you now receive a salary. Does this mean that you will also stay with the club for a longer period of time?

AD: ‘Throughout the past years, when no salaries were paid out, I have felt comfortable with FC Twente. Of course it gives me confidence that FC Twente takes women football serious and I realise that I cannot be better off with any other football club in the Netherlands.’

THT: Do you hope that new players from other clubs will come to strengthen FC Twente?

AD: ‘This season, we welcomed four new players; two from the United States, one from SC Heerenveen and one from our own youth education. I certainly believe that they can be of added value for the team. Next to that, it is unique for the Netherlands that from our team, not less than ten players have previously played in the girls division of FC Twente’s youth education.’

THT: Should other teams follow the example of FC Twente?

JM: ‘FC Twente wants to be a pioneer for other clubs. However, every club should decide for itself what their possibilities are. We believe that the future of women football lies in paying salaries to the players. We cannot close our eyes for the development of women football, both in quantity and definitely also in quality perspective.’

THT: Mr Munsterman, you are a man with ambition and a vision. What are your further plans for the women team of FC Twente? The national championship has been obtained. Do you have plans to go abroad with the team, thus gaining more international experience as well as promoting the players?

JM: ‘Talks are being held with the KBVB (Women football league for Belgium) over setting up a BeNe Liga (Belgium – Netherlands league). The first outcome is that we will play for the BeNe SuperCup: in this match the champions of the Netherlands and Belgium will play against each other.’

THT: You and your team members have won the national championship trophy: the highest reward in the Dutch league. What other ambitions do the players have?

AD: ‘When obtaining the championship, we can now play in the Champions League. We will do our utmost to realise a good result in that competition. For the 2011 – 2012 league, we naturally strive to become champion again.’

THT: How much do the players earn every month?

JM: ‘We believe that our players are satisfied with the reward system that we have set up.’

THT: With the introduction of a salary system, a new issue arises: equal payment of women and men. Do the FC Twente women receive a financial reward which is equivalent to the FC Twente men?

JM: ‘It is not realistic to compare women football to its male counterpart. Not only in the aspect of sport, but also on a financial level. Therefore it is not possible to have equality in salary payments (yet). Just look at the revenues from, for instance, sponsoring and TV-broadcasting: for men and women football, these revenues are completely different. Women football should first get the chance to develop itself.’

AD: ‘In the field of sports, a lot of emancipation is still needed. Especially when one takes sponsor revenues and media attention into consideration. In those areas, women sport and especially women football is lagging behind. I understand that at this moment in time, we have not reached far enough yet.’

Published in "The Holland Times".