Prolific striker Mandy Islacker has agreed a contract extension with 1. FFC Frankfurt, where she’s been playing her club football since 2014. The new deal will see the Germany international remain with them until 2018.
Following in the footsteps of both her father Frank and grandfather Franz, Mandy plays in the heart of attack and has been terrorising defences in the Frauen-Bundesliga since 2004 during her first stint with FCR Duisburg.
From Duisburg, Islacker moved to her home team SGS Essen for the 2006-2007 season before moving on to Bayern Munich in 2007. Between 2007 and 2010, Islacker found the back of the net 17 times over 31 appearances, but having failed to win any silverware she opted to move back to Duisburg.
Even though the Löwinnen were going through turbulent times off of the pitch, Islacker continued to roar for her club, netting over 30 goals during her three-year stint. Islacker chose to leave Duisburg before their inevitable collapse and absorption by MSV Duisburg, when she moved to BV Cloppenburg for the 2013-14 season.
Once again, she was on a song for her club, scoring 13 goals in 22 outings, but her proficiency in front of goal wasn’t enough as Cloppenburg were relegated that season and once again Islacker was left looking for a new club. Then Frankfurt coach Colin Bell snatched up the striker, taking her to her new home at Frankfurt.
Champions League glory
Now in her second season with Frankfurt, the much-travelled striker has finally collected silverware in the much converted UEFA Women’s Champions League. Although a substitute for most of Frankfurt’s 2014-15 UWCL campaign, Islacker had one of the most significant touches in the entire competition as she came off of the bench in the final to net an injury-time winner.
Frankfurt are still alive in this season’s UWCL too. They have taken their last two knock-out games to penalties and Islacker has been reliable from the spot in both shoot-outs; notably scoring the winning spot-kick against Lillestrøm SK in the round of 16. Frankfurt’s next test will come over two legs in the semi-finals in an all-German affair against VfL Wolfsburg, but current head-coach Matt Ross will know he can depend on Islacker.
Speaking to Frankfurt's official website on the new deal, Islacker said: “I look forward to two more years at Frankfurt where we’re aiming for more successes in the future. I’m very happy to be part of this team.”
Firing for Club and Country
Not long after her 27th birthday, Islacker was called up to the German national squad having been over-looked in previous years. She was enlisted to help Die Nationalelf through their qualifiers for the 2017 European Championships.
Two goals in two starts (in three days) against Russia then Turkey saw her called up first for the team that faced England in a friendly in Duisburg, then with the squad that travelled to the SheBelieves Cup. Despite being unable to add to her tally in one start and two substitute appearances there, Islacker looks set to a regular name on the German teamsheet for years to come.