Janina Leitzig: 'With Leicester I had a good feeling from the first moment'

Alice Wright caught up with Bayern Munich loanee, Janina Leitzig, for the Leicester City Women Supporter's Club.

(Photo by Christian Hofer - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

It was a windy Friday morning as Janina Leitzig sat down in her student accommodation-like flat in Leicester. With a big smile on her face she explained her favourite moment in a City shirt so far and described what goes through her head in a penalty situation.

After growing up in Heidelberg, in South-West Germany, the 24-year-old goalkeeper found her love of football by playing in the street with her neighbour.

"My parents didn’t play football, they like athletics and playing volleyball," Leitzig explains. "I started to play football with my neighbour on the street and I just really enjoyed it, so my parents took me to join a football team."

Leitzig began her youth career with TuS Mingolsheim before moving to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in 2013. Following eight successful years in the Baden-Württemberg area the young keeper caught the eye of FC Bayern Munich.

Football has been the 24-year-old's passion throughout her life, football means everything to her and she just enjoys it that much it doesn't even feel like a job.

"For me, it's still a hobby. I just love to play football," she said. "I have a lot of fun and there is no day where it feels like work."

The German shot-stopper has adjusted well to life in England and has taken time to explore Leicester and Leicestershire. Although she is cramped up her tiny flat, Leitzig takes time to go out on walks, noting how much she liked Bradgate Park in Newtown Linford.

"My apartment here is like in a student accommodation because I’m on loan, so I don’t need to pick an apartment," she explains. " I have discovered Leicester a bit, my family was here a few weeks ago and we walked through the city and tried some new restaurants. I also went to Bradgate Park that was really nice. I would say my favourite thing is the New Walk with all the cafes and shops.

"I like the people here everyone is really friendly, kind and open minded. I also love playing football with the team, everyone works so hard and it’s a lot of fun to play with these girls."

Following little game time at Bayern Munich, Leitzig decided to join the Foxes on loan. A phone call from Willie Kirk, at Christmas, was all it took to convince the young goalkeeper to join the East Midlands club.

"I wanted game-time because I didn’t play much for Bayern Munich in the first half of the season, that was the main reason to go on loan. With Leicester I had a good feeling from the first moment," she said. "I had a call with Willie Kirk and it felt really good. I also liked the idea of a new club and a new country. After Christmas I rang my agent and said yeh I want to do this."

Leitzig made her debut in the Foxes' first WSL game of 2023, a 3-0 win at the King Power Stadium against Brighton. She has gone on to impress all season and made some notable saves. Most recently when Leicester faced Arsenal at Meadow Park. After just seven minutes played, City conceded a penalty, but luckily the 24-year-old went the right way to deny Katie McCabe an early lead for the Gunners.

"My first thought was ‘oh no! that’s too early’ because it was after 4 minutes and of course we analysed it with the goalkeeper coach," the Bayern Munich loanee said. "I had a feeling which way she would go and with the analysation and my feeling I decided to go to that corner and I was happy that it was the right decision."

Although Janina Leitzig has only been with Leicester for just four months she explained what her favourite moment had been in a City shirt so far.

"The late goal against Reading, that was a big moment when we scored in extra-time. In my opinion it was an incredible team performance, we never gave up. I think you could also feel it in the stands, but on the pitch it was like everyone was fighting that hard.

"We had so many chances, but we went again and again and again. I think it was so deserved, it was such an important three points."

Leitzig faces a tough battle in the last two games. Since joining Leicester she has helped the side to turn their season around. The no. 33, is confident City have what it takes to survive in the WSL for another season.

"We know we are still in the relegation battle and that’s what we’re focusing on. The 6-0 loss (against Chelsea) was really disappointing. We stay confident, we know it was a 6-0 loss, but we are still confident to get points against West Ham. We are really excited for the games and I think you can see that on the pitch. Everyone wants to give 100% and more."

They always say don't fall in love with a loan player, but with Leitzig's joyful smile, beaming personality and outstanding saves she makes it hard not to.

"At the moment, I think its good to not think too far into the future, the focus is on now because we have two really important games and the most important thing is that Leicester stays in the league. I can say that I like it here, but nothing is decided yet."

Finally, Leitzig had a message for the fans:

"I want to say thank you to every single Leicester fan because we can feel the support of every single one and we can hear you in the stadium. How you stick to the team, no matter if we lose of win, we are so thankful for that and I just want to say we hear you and we appreciate that."