Belgian champion and cup winner with an eye on Alanya

Every team has a captain. At Union Vrede, Tanguy Hanon is also instrumental in the story that this team writes together.

He was present at the birth of the merger from which our current beach soccer team grew. He wears the Belgian national colors. And when he speaks about the strength of Union Vrede, he returns to a simple conviction: give everything.

As our men prepare for the World Winners Cup in Alanya, we introduce our captain through the people, experiences, and values that have shaped his journey.

A ball and a world to discover

“Tanguy, 28 years old and all my teeth left.”

He begins his story with that smile. Behind the captain is someone who cares about others and hopes to experience great human experiences. That connection runs like a common thread through his answers.

The ball has been part of his daily life from an early age. Beach soccer gave him a new surface to live out his passion. The sand, the sun, the public, and the fun around the pitch became the backdrop of a sport that brings together technique, tactics, and physical strength.

His finest memory is founding his own team. A team built on his values, with family, friends, and people who wanted to discover his world. Anyone who reads his story understands how much it means to him to bring a group together.

The encounter that helped shape our team

In 2025, Tanguy played for Z14, while Nikolay Hadzhiev started a first beach soccer season with Union Vrede. Following the championship came the proposal to bring the clubs together.

Tanguy describes that step as an opportunity to further develop his passion with the financial support of Union Vrede. He accepted. That marked the start of a joint project in which he today carries responsibility on the sand and in the decisions within the club.

According to him, the captaincy fits that role and his natural aptitude for leadership. His involvement starts long before kickoff and continues when a match is over.

A successful season and work that continues

The Belgian title and the Belgian Cup are in the bag. Union Vrede has shown this season that it can win together.

Yet our captain also takes an honest look at the road to get there. The international tournaments were a first test for the assembled team. Sometimes there were too many people who wanted to dictate the direction. At the same time, he saw good progress in various players.

That openness fits with what he has learned from his international experience: individual technique alone is not enough to defeat an opponent. Structure and knowledge of the game are essential.

Playing for Belgium gives that responsibility even more weight. For him, the national shirt represents the players and the championship, with their qualities and shortcomings. It also carries the pride of supporters who want to see their country defended.

Giving everything for the team

What makes Union Vrede strong? Tanguy points to players with their hearts in the right place and respect for the pitch. The willingness to give everything is our primary strength to him.

For Alanya, his priority is clear: physical preparedness. His ambition is to be able to physically surpass the competition. His message to the players emphasizes everyone's role and the need to stay focused on that.

As captain, he shares that responsibility. As someone who was at the basis of this project, he wants to see Union Vrede continue to grow and see the club follow its own goals.

From a team built around family and friends to the Belgian national shirt and our next international challenge: Tanguy brings his own story with him when he captains Union Vrede.

In Alanya, that story gets a new chapter. With our captain, our players, and everyone who stands behind the team.

The full interview with Tanguy Hanon

1. Can you briefly introduce yourself and tell us something about yourself?

Tanguy, 28 years old and all my teeth left.
I am someone who cares about others and hopes to experience great human experiences.

2. How did you discover beach soccer and what made you want to practice this sport?

From an early age, the ball has been part of my daily life. This time a new surface to play on. The sand, the beach, the sun, the laughter, the public, the sea, the ocean, the lake… make you enjoy this technical, tactical, and also physical spectacle…
Try it, you'll see.

3. Which teams have you played for during your career?

- LPN
- ESB
- BTCM
- BSZ
- Z14
- Belgium
- UVBS

4. What is your finest personal memory of beach soccer so far?

Founding my own team, based on my values and composed of my family, friends, and people who wanted to discover my world.

5. What does it mean to you to wear the shirt of the Belgian national team?

It represents our players and our championship. Also our qualities and shortcomings. But above all: this time it is for the country. You feel the weight of the supporters and of the people who are proud to see us defend our colors.

6. What has your international experience taught you as a player?

I have noticed that without structure and knowledge it is difficult to defeat countries, even countries that are less strong than us in terms of individual technique.

7. How did you end up at Union Vrede and what convinced you to participate in our project?

As for me: Nikolay played a first season with Union Vrede in 2025, while I was playing for Z14. After the championship, he asked me to bring our clubs together. Broadly speaking: take my passion and finance it through his club. I accepted that.

8. What does it mean to you to be captain of Union Vrede?

It seems logical to me that I am captain, because I am someone who naturally has leadership qualities. Because I was also at the basis of this merger and am part of the decision-making within the club, I think those things fit together. I also think no one minds me taking on that role. 🙏

9. How have you experienced the club's successes this season in Belgium and at the international level?

This year abroad was a first attempt and the result of a merger, where sometimes there were too many people who wanted to dictate the direction. I would say that the team has gotten up to speed at the national level and that we can only get better. Still, we see good progress in some players. As for the Belgian competitions: we won the Cup and the championship, so the season is quite successful. Personally, I attach no importance to material things.

10. In your opinion, what are the most important strengths of our team?

In our core, we largely have players with their hearts in the right place, who respect the pitch. I would say that our primary strength is that we give everything.

11. Union Vrede's official preparation started on September 13. What do you think are the most important elements to get the team ready for the World Winners Cup in Alanya?

The most important thing will be physical fitness.

12. What are your expectations and ambitions for this competition?

Being able to physically surpass the competition.

13. What message do you want to give your teammates as captain before this great adventure?

This tournament will be an exercise for those who might want to… while we ask for nothing. Every part has its role to play and would do well to stay focused on that.

14. Where would you like to see Union Vrede and Belgian beach soccer in the coming years?

I wish Union Vrede that the club continues to grow and continues to follow its path as well as possible with the goals it has set for itself. 🤙

Union Vrede |