Katja Schroffenegger has regained her smile.

Katja Schroffenegger: When fate strikes

She has been one of the great figureheads of South Tyrolean women's football for years. But recently, things have been quiet for Katja Schroffenegger. Very quiet, in fact. As the Como goalkeeper now explained, there was a tragic reason for this.

June 06, 2025

From: det

Katja Schroffenegger is well-versed in injuries. A broken wrist, torn cruciate ligament, problems with the patellar tendon, and most recently a torn Achilles tendon—the goalkeeper from Karneid has had to endure quite a few things in her career. Today, the 34-year-old can only smile about these injuries, because they're nothing compared to what she's been through in recent months.

Schroffenegger suffered a collapsed lung at the beginning of the year, which can sometimes be fatal. In a detailed interview with the renowned Republic The Como goalkeeper spoke for the first time about this difficult time.

Suddenly she couldn't breathe

"On January 16," begins the former Bayern and Inter player, "I completed my second training session after tearing my Achilles tendon. It was a very relaxed session. But then I suddenly couldn't breathe. I had chest pains. I went to the weight room with my rehab coach Enrico, but it didn't get any better. Finally, he took me to the first aid room," says Schroffenegger.

"The doctor told me, 'Your lung has collapsed.'" Katja Schroffenegger

"At the hospital, I immediately said, 'I'm having a heart attack.' The doctors examined me and assured me that everything was fine with my heart. Further checks followed, and finally, a doctor explained to me, 'Your lung has collapsed.'" It was a shock for Schroffenegger, who realized, "I have a pneumothorax." A pneumothorax is a medical emergency in which air enters the space between the lung and the chest wall. This can cause the lung to contract, or collapse.

Schroffenegger has had a great career.

What followed was a painful procedure: "The doctors cut open my armpit and let out the air through a tube. It really hurt. Because I had a severe case, I had to undergo another operation four days later to attach the lung to the chest wall."

Sleeping while sitting

Even though doctors assured her she would recover completely and be able to play soccer again, a difficult time began for Schroffenegger. "I was in pain, especially when lying down; I couldn't turn over in bed for a month and often slept sitting up," said the South Tyrolean, who also struggled with the uncertainty.

Schroffenegger has great power again, as seen here on holiday at home in South Tyrol.

Such a pneumothorax is extremely rare in professional athletes. "If an athlete undergoes meniscus, ankle, or cruciate ligament surgery, they can ask colleagues how long the healing process takes, what it feels like, and what works best. In my case, however, there were hardly any reports," says Schroffenegger.

"My name won't appear on the record books. But I always come back." Katja Schroffenegger

Slowly but surely, the Karneid native has fought her way back into life and is now even playing soccer again. Not only did she play in goal for her club Como at the end of the women's Serie A, but she also participated in a training camp with the Italian national team.

The goalkeeper wants to be back on the attack next season. She also says: "I'm not the player with the most titles, medals, or nominations. My name won't appear on the record books. But I always come back. I'm the last one to give up."