Maren Meinert

Maren Meinert ( was born 5 August 1973) is a German football coach and former player who played as a midfielder and striker. She was most recently the head coach of Germany women's national under-20 football team.

As a player, Meinert played for German clubs FCR Duisburg and FFC Brauweiler Pulheim, as well as Boston Breakers in the United States. She also represented the Germany women's national football team.

Club career
Meinert was the first player inducted into Boston Breakers' "Pillars of Excellence" during a ceremony held at half-time of the 17 May 2009 game between the Breakers and Washington Freedom.

International career
Meinert played for the German national team between 1991 and 2003, making appearances at three FIFA Women's World Cup finals and the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Germany won the 2003 World Cup. She scored the first goal in the final against Sweden.

Management career
Meinert coached various German youth national teams for the German Football Association (DFB) from 2005 to 2019. In 2018, the DFB asked Meinert to become head coach of the Germany women's national football team after dismissing Steffi Jones, but she turned down the opportunity for personal reasons. Less than a year later, the DFB surprisingly chose not to extend Meinert's contract.

After her departure from the DFB, Meinert was linked to many high-profile positions, including the head coach position at the Irish national team and the assistant position at the United States national team.

Playing honours
FC Rumeln-Kaldenhausen
 * Hallenmasters: 1995

FCR Duisburg
 * Frauen-Bundesliga runners-up: 1997
 * DFB-Pokal Frauen: 1998

Germany
 * FIFA Women's World Cup
 * Winners: 2003
 * Runners-up: 1995
 * Olympic Games bronze medal: 2000
 * UEFA Women's Euro: 1995, 1997, 2001

Individual
 * Women's United Soccer Association Most Valuable Player: 2003

Managerial honours
Germany
 * FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
 * Winners: 2010, 2014
 * Runners-up: 2012
 * UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship: 2006, 2007, 2011

Individual
 * Felix Coach of the Year: 2010

General honours

 * Order of Merit of North Rhine-Westphalia