Martens: My life altered after a EURO

• Named EURO 2017 Player of a Tournament
• On shortlist for The Best FIFA Women’s Player award
• Left Rosengard for FC Barcelona in June

As a youngster, she used to watch videos of Ronaldinho’s flashiest moves and attempted to duplicate her idol’s “incredible dribbling”. Now a shoe is on a other foot, with determined players pouring over footage of her skills, seeking to obey a Dutch star.

Lieke Martens, who helped a Netherlands win UEFA Women’s EURO 2017 in August, has been nominated as one of a 3 finalists for The Best FIFA Women’s Player, along with Carli Lloyd and Deyna Castellanos.

Barcelona’s summer signing common her thoughts on final deteriorate in an disdainful talk with FIFA.com, and is unequivocally many looking brazen to a aforementioned eventuality on 23 Oct in London. “It’s an honour to be nominated alongside these extraordinary players,” Mertens said. “It won’t be easy to win this prize, though usually removing this distant is extraordinary adequate for me. And this time I’ll have to make certain I’m prepared, usually in case,” she pronounced grinning, alluding to when she found herself mislaid for difference on theatre after being handed her endowment for UEFA Women’s Player of a Year a few weeks ago.

• Who have been ‘The Best’ people in your career?
  “My parents, no doubt about it. Both of them have played an successful purpose in my career. Without them we wouldn’t have got this far. They used to spend so prolonged on a road, holding me to games, and did their pinnacle so that I’d have a possibility to play football. They have been with me all a way, and they’ve sacrificed a lot. I’m happy to be means to share moments like these with them. It’s unequivocally relocating for them, and they’re enjoying it a lot”.

A DREAM HAS COME TRUE! pic.twitter.com/hClKt3udMY

— Lieke Martens (@liekemartens1) August 7, 2017

 “My life totally altered this summer after a EURO,” Mertens admitted. Helping a Dutch women’s group to win their first-ever prize is by distant her biggest feat yet, and valid to be value all a sacrifice. “It was a many critical month of my life,” she said. “I felt unequivocally good being a partial of a squad. We had a illusory contest and I’m happy to have played an critical purpose in a team. Playing and scoring in a final was usually unforgettable,” she added.

The bequest of a EURO
“I’m assured that a women’s diversion in my nation has altered forever. Before a contest expectations were high, though during it they skyrocketed,” settled Mertens. “We had good backing, not usually in a stadiums though from people examination during home on TV, all opposite a country. It’s extraordinary to see a observation total for a final and all a courtesy we got in a press. we consider we’ve converted many people to women’s football. We can be unapproachable of ourselves,” she said.

Personal information

• Date of birth: 16 Dec 1992
• Place of birth: Nieuw-Bergen, a Netherlands.
• Position: left-sided executive midfielder
• Clubs: SC Heerenveen and VVV Venlo (the Netherlands), Standard Liege (Belgium), Duisburg (Germany), Kopparbergs/Goteborg FC and Rosengard (Sweden) and FC Barcelona (Spain)

In Jul this year, Martens sealed for Barcelona. She juggles her personification commitments for a bar with study Spanish and holding a Masters in Sport Management during a Johan Cruyff Institute. Coming off a behind of a marvellous year, a midfield star has already set her sights on bigger things, since “as a player, we always wish more, you’re never satisfied”.

I’ve always dreamed of winning a Champions League, personification in a World Cup and holding partial in an Olympic Games.

Lieke Martens

Still usually 24, Mertens knows that there’s room for alleviation in her game, and she doesn’t bashful divided from self-criticism. we could offer some-more in a final third, by scoring some-more goals and providing some-more assists,” she admitted.

And because does a Netherlands inhabitant group manager Sarina Wiegman – who is also a finalist – merit The Best award?
“She’s been operative with a patrol for a prolonged time. She knows a players well, that is crucial. She fills a group with confidence. She’s good during assisting us gait ourselves in tournaments so that we preserve a energy. She’s unequivocally calm, and a good personality too. She knows what we’re able of as a team, and gets a best out of us. She keeps all on an even keel. There’s no doubt about it, she’s a cornerstone of a success,” she concluded.

Article source: http://www.fifa.com/the-best-fifa-football-awards/news/y=2017/m=10/news=martens-my-life-changed-after-the-euro-2914174.html