Lieke Martens announced the end of her football career on Monday. The Limburgse goes down in history as an icon of women’s football at home and abroad. “Girls want to be Lieke Martens.”
The news from Martens did not come as a thunderbolt in clear sky. The 32-year-old attacker had an expiring contract with Paris Saint-Germain and already hinted that her priorities have changed since the birth of her son Lowen in February.
The Dutch football icon had already closed its international career and now definitely hangs the football boots on the willows. “It’s a shame for football that you no longer have such a talented player on the field,” says former coach Andries Jonker to Nu.nl.
“But it is extremely wise that she stops the moment she feels and finds that other things get priority in her life. I think that is very good of her.”
“It is all very good to imagine, but a legend is lost,” says football analyst Leonne Stentler, who played with Martens with Oranje. “For me she is really the face of the success of Orange. And she has always remained the face. There are still people named Lieke Martens on their backs.”
Martens was suddenly figurehead
Martens will no longer look up when she is described as an icon of Dutch women’s football, but in 2017 it was different. When Oranje won the European Championship in his own country, Martens suddenly became the global face of women’s football.
She stole the hearts of football fans around the world with her frivolous dribbles over the left flank. In addition to the European title with Orange, it also earned her the election for best player of the tournament.
A few weeks later she was on a stage next to Cristiano Ronaldo to receive the prize for European football player of the year. A few months later, FIFA even called her the best player in the world. In the meantime, Martens had made a dream transfer from the Swedish FC Rosengard to FC Barcelona.
Jonker calls Martens and Vivianne Miedema the best players with whom he has worked. “But Lieke made the goals and the actions at the European Championship and that fell enormously of course. She made the transfer to Barcelona at the time. She was paramount in the rise of women’s football. She had a very big meaning in that.”
Suddenly Martens was the figurehead of Dutch women’s football, which with the European title was given a huge boost. Stentler: “She was a model for the mass acceptance of the Dutch women’s team. 2017 was the turn and she was the face.”
Roger Reijners also sees that, who was the national coach when Martens debuted in the Orange in 2011. “She has meant a lot for women’s football. There were opportunities for young girls in one go to also dream of a life as a professional football player. You saw that girls wanted to be Lieke Martens.” Similarly Esmee Brugts, who now has 49 international matches behind her name.
‘Full of or nothing’
Martens’ road to the top was far from flawless. She dared to leave the familiar Limburg at a young age to play football throughout the Netherlands. “For example, she went to the CTO in Amsterdam, while she had never seen a tram in her life,” says Stentler.
“That step was not always easy,” says Reijners. “Lieke was someone who fell back on family and friends. She left her familiar environment, but she had a lot of perseverance.”
Stentler also saw that drive when Martens went to work at Standard Liège at the age of nineteen and then at FCR 2001 Duisburg. “There was so much hassle with those clubs financially. I don’t remember exactly, but I remember that I thought every day: how do you keep it up?” Says Stentler.
Through the Swedish clubs BK Häcken and Rosengard, Martens finally ended up at FC Barcelona in 2017. “She had to work hard to finally be a full -time top athlete. Many people don’t think about it. She really had an absurd road to the top,” says Stentler.
“That she has kicked it that far is a matter of talent, but also of institution,” says Jonker. “She constantly set the bar for herself and the others. Of all the players I worked with, she was the most demanding.”
“That means something, because there are a number of the Dutch national team who are demanding, but if it was 5-0 it should have been 6-0. And if Lieke had scored three goals herself, she would have had to make four goals,” says the former Fond coach. “In that sense, she was incredibly ambitious. That she stops now draws her: it is either full, or nothing. There is nothing in between.”
Lieke Martens Announced the End of Her Football Career On Monday. The Limburg Native Will Go Down in History As An Icon Of Women’s Football at Home and Abroad. “Girls Want to Be Lieke Martens.”
The news of Martens did not come as a complete surprise. The 32-Year-Old Attacker had an expiring contract with Paris Saint-Germain and had Previously Hinted that her Priorities Had Changed Since the Birth of Her Son Lowen in February.
The Dutch Football Icon had PreviOutly ended her international career and is now definitely hanging up her boots. “It’s a Pity for Football That You No Longer Have Such A Talented Player On The Field,” Former National Coach Andries Jonker Told Nu.nl.
“But it is extremely wise that she stops when she feels and believes that other things take priority in her life. I think that’s very good of her.”
“It’s all very easy to imagine, but still a legend is lost,” Says Football Analyst Leonne Stentler, Who Played with Martens in the Orange Squad. “For me, she is really the face of orange’s success. And she has always remained the face. There are still people with the name Lieke Martens on Their Backs.”
Martens was Suddenly A Figurehead
Martens will no longer be surprised when she is described as an icon or Dutch Women’s Football, but in 2017 it was different. When Orange won the European Championship in Their Own Country, Martens Suddenly Became the Global Face of Women’s Football.
With her Frivolous dribbles over The Left Flank, She Stole the Hearts of Football Fans All Over The World. In Addition to the European Title with Orange, it also earned her the Election for Best Player of the Tournament.
A few week later, She Stood on a Podium Next to Cristiano Ronaldo to Receive the Award for European Footballer of the Year. A Few Months later, FIFA Even Named Her the Best Player in the World. Meanwhile, Martens had Made A Dream Transfer from Swedish FC Rosengard to FC Barcelona.
Jonker Calls Martens and Vivianne Miedema the best players he has worked with. “But Lieke Made the Goals and the Actions at the European Championship and That was very noticable of course. She made the transfer to barcelona at that time. She was at the forefront of the rise of Women’s Football.
Suddenly Martens was the Figurehead of Dutch Women’s Football, which receded a huge boost with the European Title. Stentler: “She was a model for the massive acceptance of the Dutch Women’s team. 2017 was the Turning Point and She was the face.”
Roger Reijners, WHO was National Coach When Martens Made Her Debut in Orange in 2011, also Sees This. “She Has Meant a Lot to Women’s Football. Suddenly There Were Opportunities for Young Girls to Dream of a Life As A Professional Footballer. You saw that girls Wanted to Be Lieke Martens.” So Did Esmee Brugts, who now has 49 International matches to her name.
‘Full Throttle or Nothing’
Martens’ Road to the Top was Far From Flawless. She Dared to Leave Her familiar Limburg at A Young Age To Play Football Throughhout The Netherlands. “For Example, she went to the cto in Amsterdam, just though She never had a tram in her life,” Says Stentler.
“That Step was not always easy,” Says Reijners. “Lieke was some who relied on family and friends. She Left Her familiar Environment, but she had a lot of perseverance.”
Stentler also saw that drive when Martens started playing for Standard Liège at the age of nineteen and then for FCR 2001 Duisburg. “There was so much financial trouble with those clubs. I don’t remember Exactly, but I do remember thinking every day: How do you keep it up?”, Says Stentler.
Via The Swedish Clubs BK Häcken and Rosengard, Martens Finally ended up at FC Barcelona in 2017. “She had to work very hard to be able to be a full-time top athlete. Many people don’t do it.
“The fact that she has made it so far is a matter of talent, but also or attitude,” Says Jonker. “She Constantly Set the Bar Incredible High For Herself and the Others. Of all the players I have worked with, She was the most demanding.”
“That says something, because there are a number of demanding players in the Dutch National Team, but if it was 5-0 it should have leg 6-0. And if lieke Herself had scored three goals, she should have the Four Goals,” Say’s Four Goals. “In that sense, She was Incredible Ambitious. The fact that she is now stopping also characterizes her: it is either full throttle or nothing. There is Nothing in Between.”