Maurane Marinucci: from the Champions League to the sand of Alanya

Experience at the highest level. A new challenge with Union Vrede.

A goal in the Champions League. A won cup final in front of more than 9,000 spectators at Sclessin. Maurane Marinucci knows the emotions of major football moments. Now she brings her experience and fighting spirit to Union Vrede, with the World Winners Cup in Alanya as her next challenge.

Her story begins with her father, who watched Serie A every weekend. That sparked a passion that would take her to Standard, Anderlecht, and OH Leuven, among others.

Every club gave her something. Different qualities, new challenges, and lessons that shaped her into the player and the person she is today.

A fighter who dares to take risks, leaves her comfort zone, and gets back up after setbacks.

A new surface, the same drive

During her trips to Italy, Maurane regularly came across beach soccer tournaments. The thought lingered: after her football career, she wanted to step onto the sand herself.

With the help of Perrine and Anaëlle, she found her way to the beach soccer family. This summer followed a European experience with the Belgian national team in Moldavië. There, the team manager invited her to join Union Vrede.

The family atmosphere and connectedness convinced her.

©BelgiumBeachSoccer-CyrilKindt

Experience that can make the team stronger

Beach soccer is new for Maurane. She speaks honestly about it: reading the game feels familiar, but controlling the ball on the sand remains her biggest challenge.

What she does bring is experience with major competitions and the mental and physical demands that come with them.

At Union Vrede she sees a mature, close-knit group. A team that wants to utilize the qualities of every player and together find the right balance.

In Alanya, Maurane wants to develop further and reach as far as possible with the team.

A new pitch. A new challenge. The same will to give everything. Meet Maurane Marinucci.

The full interview with Maurane Marinucci

1. Can you briefly introduce yourself and tell us something about Maurane outside of football?

Maurane Marinucci, 32 years old. I have a degree in physical education. When I am not playing football, I like to travel and discover new places.

2. From your beginnings at JS Molise to Standard: how did your passion for football start?

My father watched Serie A matches every weekend. That inspired me.

3. You have played for several important Belgian clubs, including Standard, Anderlecht, and OH Leuven. Which experiences have touched and shaped you the most into the player you are today?

Every club has given me the opportunity to develop other skills and qualities. Thanks to the wealth of those experiences, I have become the person I am today: a fighter with a warrior mentality, who is not afraid to take risks or leave her comfort zone, and who knows how to get back up and grow after setbacks.

4. Which memory holds a special place in your career, among the titles, the Belgian Cups, and the Champions League? And why?

There are several, but if I have to choose two, I would mention my first goal in the Champions League and the won final of the Belgian Cup in front of more than 9,000 people. The atmosphere in the stadium of Sclessin was incredible…

5. How did you discover beach soccer and what made you want to switch from grass to sand?

I often go to Italy and regularly came across tournaments there. I have always said that after my football career I would like to start playing beach soccer. With the help of Perrine and Anaëlle I came into contact with the beach soccer family.

6. With your experience in field football, what feels most natural in beach soccer, and what is the hardest to master?

Reading the game goes quite easily. Controlling the ball on the sand, on the other hand, remains the biggest difficulty.

7. How did you end up at Union Vrede and what appealed to you about our women's project?

I joined the national team this summer for a European tournament in Moldavië. During that experience, the team manager suggested I join his club, along with other players from the core. Beach soccer stands out for its family atmosphere and conviviality. Those values appealed to me immediately and made me want to commit to this new adventure.

8. Our women's team is still at the beginning of its story. How do you want to use your experience for the group?

Beach soccer is new to me, but I can bring in my experience from major competitions on a mental and physical level.

9. How would you describe the atmosphere in the team and what could be our strength in Alanya?

The team stands out for its great maturity and cohesion. We form a close-knit group where everyone is headed in the same direction, with a common goal. The atmosphere is excellent and is a real asset.

Our strength lies in our ability to recognize our strengths and weaknesses, but also to utilize the qualities of each player and get the best out of them. We know how to adapt to each other to find the best possible balance as a team.

10. What does this new challenge at the World Winners Cup mean to you, after major competitions on grass? What are your personal and collective ambitions?

I am looking forward to taking on this new challenge. After matches against European teams, I now want to measure myself at the international level. My personal goal is to develop further. The collective goal is to get as far as possible in the tournament.

11. What advice would you give to a young player who wants to progress and discover beach soccer?

The first thing is to dare to put your feet on the sand and be patient while continuing to do the technical exercises.

12. What message do you want to give to the supporters of Union Vrede before our departure to Alanya?

We want to thank them very much for their support, which means a lot to us. We are leaving for Alanya with a lot of ambition, determination, and the will to proudly represent the colors of Union Vrede.

We know we can count on them, even from a distance. We hope to return that trust on the pitch by showing the best of ourselves.

We are going to give everything, with the heart and team spirit that characterize us, to let them experience great emotions!

©BelgiumBeachSoccer-CyrilKindt