Westhoffen. Small Alsatian town of more than 1000 inhabitants. Located 26 kilometers from Strasbourg, Westhoffen is also the early city of Joanna Schwartz. From the beginning she tells: "I started football thanks to my brother. He was playing club so I was always going to watch him play and I always had a ball with me to hit it. My mother and I always went to see my brother play at the game. We also played in the street with friends. My father had made a goal for us in our garden and we were doing kinds of qualifying. Since I enrolled, my mother always took me away and was my first supporter. "

Not far from Westhoffen, it's at the Ballbronn club in the Chicks category that the young Joanna continues her discovery of football. Matthieu Griess, one of his educators at the time remembers: "Joanna started football. I played in the club and we were looking for coaches so we proposed myself with a friend of the club to train. We were 20 years old. His father at the same time and also my cousin. I do not have all the details anymore, it's been a long time. But when she was playing, she was already above the boys. She played attacking and scored a lot of goals.

After Ballbronn, she will join Mutzig where she will evolve in Benjamins, Schiltigheim in 16 years and then arrive at Mars Bischheim also with the 16 years before arriving at the national level. Apart from a one-season freelance at Henin-Beamont much later, Joanna remains attached to her area.

She made her debut in D2 during the 2006-2007 season when she moved to Monteux. The then 14-year-old Schwartz returns in the 58th minute. A few weeks later she scored her first national goal against Blanc Mesnil. A D2 debut that coach Céline Fontenay recalls: "Joanna is a very active player, very attentive. She is passionate, very young and her technical skills were superior to her peers. She has a very interesting template and has the sense of purpose. She is a hard-working, generous girl who fits easily into a group. I allowed her to play very young in D2 because she deserved to have a chance in view of these benefits at the lower level. Joanna breathes football with ease and puts herself at the service of the collective. Before each training, she took a ball and juggled. Two seasons where she will play 23 games for 7 goals scored.

In 2008, she left Bischheim to join the FC Vendenheim, first division team. A club she never really left. 17 games and 2 goals scored for this first season in D1. Joanna is then 16 years old.

Witness of his qualities and craftsman of his come to Vendenheim, Dominique Steinberger arrived at "Venden" like trainer and who will know the D1 with the Alsatian club recalls: "When I started my first year in Vendenheim, Joanna was in Bischheim. We had played against them, she had marked me as a player. She was present and powerful. I was interested in her coming. A player full of talent but a very sensitive girl. A memory really comes back to me. It was 4-0 in Montpellier, I shook it because it was not a good match. She wanted to go out but I did not want to. Joanna gave me a great second half and I congratulated him at the end of the match in front of the group. I had very good relationships with her and I was very happy to work with her. "

Joanna settles in the team. Alternate the D2 and D1 with "Venden" and refines its qualities as a good finisher. 10 goals in 2011 in D2 and 10 goals in 2012 in D1. This season will open the doors of the France B team with two selections in the key against Japan U20. A good progression for the one who had known the team of France U17 and U19. Two selections recalls Jean-François Niemezcki the coach of the France B team: "Joanna had the qualities of percussion and the sense of purpose that I think is still the case today." She had made two good matches in the selection. with us".

Unlike all these embellishments, Joanna also experiences disappointments. Downhill as in D2 in 2013 with Vendenheim but also moments of doubt as in Hénin-Beaumont where she does not register any goal in D1.

She only stays one year at Hénin-Beaumont and returns to the region she knows best: Alsace. Vendenheim is then in D2 and Joanna returns in this club where she never really left. We are in 2014. Vendenheim finished in 3rd place in group A. Joanna regains confidence with 4 goals scored.

2015-2016 season. With the new rule introduced by the French Football Federation, 6 clubs per group will come down in June. Vendenheim is currently ranked 4th. But Joanna finds all her feelings in front of the goal. Before the 12th day, Joanna played 11 games for 7 goals scored. What makes her the best scorer of her training and certainly one of the best players of her training.

Cynthia Duteil, who has been working with her for several seasons and captain of the Alsatian team, paints Joanna's portrait: "A person with a big heart, very helpful, very kind, she knows it. Always there to mess, it's a real clown when she starts. Much more than just a teammate, I'm proud to count her among my friends. As for the footballer, she is a technical player, very comfortable ball and with a great protection of the ball. When we find it on the field, we know that something will happen, unfortunately, for the opponents. She knew more than once we unlock games and even if I know she will say that it is not that but the team, it is still an asset to have it on our side field ".

Lionel Mack, who coaches Vendenheim since this season, says: "Joanna is one of the top players of this season because she is our top scorer at the moment and in addition I awarded her the palm of the best joke. Thanks to her for her enthusiasm and her joie de vivre, and on top of that she is a very good football player. I will end up telling her that she must not change and continue to be as valuable to the group and the club as they are in football and human life. "

Playful with multiple qualities as well on the ground as outside, Joanna is now 23 years old. A boss who does not leave indifferent. Native of Strasbourg, Joanna is the image of his career an eternal Alsatian.

Joanna concludes: "I say a big thank you to my family especially to my parents because it is thanks to them that I have been able to practice this passion. I also add a word of thanks to the coaches, friends, teammates, my co-workers and all the people who have supported me and still support me today. "

Photo Credit: DNA.fr and fcvendenheim.fr