Bio
TOUGH-TACKLING LEADER…
German defender Rebecca Knaak joined Manchester City on New Year’s Day in 2025 after a trophy-laden period with Swedish outfit Rosengard.
A commanding backline enforcer, Knaak is equally as sophisticated on the ball and such attributes saw her collect two Damallsvenskan titles in Sweden as well as the 2022 Svenska Cupen.
Born in Adenau, Germany – a small medieval town in southwestern Germany - Rebecca joined SC 07 Bad Neuenahr as a teenager and progressing through their ranks.
A four-year spell at Bayer Leverkusen followed in 2013, ahead of a switch to Freiburg where she spent a further four campaigns until 2021.
In January 2022, Knaak ventured out of her homeland for the first time when joining Rosengard, and was quickly described by now City Director of Football Therese Sjogran as ‘a leader who is needed on and off the field’.
She helped them to the league and cup double in 2022, as well as a 14th Damallsvenskan title in her final campaign.
What’s more, she was named the division’s Defender of the Year award at the end of the term, scoring 12 times across the season.
Knaak’s eye for goal was obvious from the get-go at City, with the defender scoring in successive matches against Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium and Old Trafford, as well as a brace on the final day of the 2024/25 campaign against Everton.
Her exploits also earned international recognition, with the defender called up to represent Germany for the first time in February 2025, and making their Euro 2025 squad that summer.
She’d feature in all of Germany’s matches at the tournament, reaching the semi-finals.
Knaak has also continued her academic career off the field, studying for a PhD in Sport Psychology.
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