FR
EN
28 April 2018
Maren Meinert, the win as an obsession
Men or women teams, it doesn't matter, Germany are used to win and win again in football. Symbol of this culture, Marein Meinert, former famous Mannschaft's player and now head coach of the U20 Germany team, which will play the Sud Ladies Cup from 5th to 10th June.
We often say that we learn alongside the best. German young players would not refute that. What's better for a U20 squad to be trained by someone who won everything ? The German Federation understood it. When they named Maren Meinert as the U20 women head coach, they knew their young players would be in good hands. Thirteen years later, hard to say they were wrong.
Before evoking the overwhelming records of the coach, it is first her longevity which amazes. In times when coaches' lifespan is decreasing and decreasing, staying thirteen years in charge and keep winning is a rare achievement. Maren Meinert managed to thanks to her obsession for the win she has since her player career.
She played for Duisburg, Brauweiler Pulheim or Boston, but it was especially with the national squad that she made history by winning all the possible trophies. Her hit list is incredibly long : world champion on 2003, world vice-champion on 1995, Europe champion on 1995, 1997 and 2001, bronze medal of Sydney Olympic Games on 2000. All on 92 calls-up and 33 goals with Germany. She is also the top scorer in the USA women league history with 81 goals. She was crowned as well 2000 Germany champion with Duisburg.
All those sucesses followed her in her manager career she started on 2005. After she led U19 Germany to the European title twice in a row on 2006 and 2007, she offered to the U20 squad two of their three World Cups on 2010 and 2014. In the meantime, she also clinched the third place of the 2008 World Cup, the best manager of the year award on 2010, another U19 European championship on 2011 and a World Cup final on 2012. As a manager, Maren Meinert counts 25 wins on 32 U20 World Cup games on six different editions. She will take part to her seventh in August in France. But before that, German will make a detour by the Sud Ladies Cup in June. An opportunity for Meiner to add another line to her outstanding records ?
Mathieu Lauricella
Credits photo : DFB.de
