When Lucie Ehrmann (27) signed her contract with Oranje-Red at the beginning of May, she could not stop crying in the car. Finally the Dream of the French wife came out. The first choice is in the best competition in the world. ‘I give you everything. You get my whole heart. ‘
‘When I look at Formula 1, I sometimes get angry. They say: there are only twenty places to give away for a driver. Then I think: be happy that you are not a keeper. In the Premier League you only have twelve. ‘
Was signed: Lucie Ehrmann. The goalkeeper who took the gamble six years ago, only 21 years old, and left for the Netherlands. Via HGC (second goalkeeper), Groen-Geel (Second Division) and three seasons behind Josine Koning in Den Bosch, she finally finished as the first goalkeeper at Belgian Royal Antwerp. Until Oranje-Rood called her six months ago. Then her dream came true.
From the second division to the main class
Ehrmann will tell her story in Kampong on Sunday afternoon. She just won 3-0 against HDM in the preparation tournament. With two black spots under her eyes – to prevent sparkle from sunlight and for an intimidating appearance – she talks about how happy she is. “I am an emotional person. I don’t care which team I play, but I give you everything. You get my whole heart, “she says in Dutch, with occasional English sentences in between.
Photo: Ewout Pahud
“I am so incredibly happy that I managed to make it in the main class,” she shines. “I had to work so hard for it. It was really not easy as a foreign keeper. I have heard in the past: ‘I think you are better than the other keepers, but because you are French, I am not going to choose you, “she says. On the side of her helmet the text: Hard work pays off For a reason. ‘I get the confidence of Oranje-Rood. They dare to do it with me. When I signed my contract, I cried completely back. From Eindhoven to Antwerp. Tears of happiness. ‘
I have heard in the past: I think you are better than the other keepers, but because you are French, I am not going to choose you. Lucie Ehrmann
Her mother doesn’t like tattoos
Ehrmann believes that things happen for a reason. Stams make her stronger. It is not for nothing that her Instagram account is called “Happy Lucie”. Few can take the same path. Always look from the dugout. Dealing with disappointments. But keep telling yourself that your moment will come. She is proud of herself. And then looks at her left forearm. There is a large, colorful tattoo of the Olympic rings. The summer of 2024, with the Olympic Games in Paris, was a reward for her years of hard work. A moment to never be forgotten. “My mother doesn’t really like tattoos,” she laughs. Yet that is not the only decoration on her arms. She cherishes important moments in her own way. Whether her mother likes it or not.
Photo: Ewout Pahud
She left her familiar environment in Bordeaux six years ago for a field hockey adventure. She almost never sees her mother -who has since moved a little further south in France -. Only at Christmas. “Or sometimes in the summer, when it suits the French national team,” she says. Last summer she could see her family for two days. She had a Ram-Pack schedule with the Nations Cup II and the European Championships. ‘I do it for those moments. How difficult do I find that sometimes, “she says. A smile appears on her face. ‘I have also been an aunt for a few months. My brother had a baby. I try to use that as a motivation. I have to make sure that I get everything out of it, so it’s all worth it. ‘
I wanted to learn about the culture. To understand why they are always the best. Then I thought of myself that I had to understand the language. Lucie Ehrmann
She wants to prove herself in the big league. Enjoy her first weeks back in the Netherlands. “Last year I played in Belgium. We mainly spoke English there, so I have to get used to the language again, “she says. ‘When I was with Den Bosch, I started to practice very well. I wanted to get to know the culture. Understand why they are always the best. Then I thought of myself that I had to understand the language, “she explains. Last week she started another language course.
The superstition of the Dutch
‘I think it’s funny that many things are the same with Orange-Red as with Den Bosch. I walked into the dressing room for the first time and knew I couldn’t sit anywhere, “she laughed. ‘Your Dutch people are so superstitious. Everyone is in a fixed place. Even at the line -up. I just asked Juul (van der Velden, the new captain of Eindhoven) where I should stand. The same is true on the scream. My place in the Huddle comes down to the centimeter. ‘
She slowly found her place in Eindhoven. “I have a good character,” she says. She refers to her presence. Ehrmann is constantly told screaming and screaming. She is not silent. And cheer her lungs when her teammates score. “That’s who I am. I’m glad they accept it. I feel safe.
Photo: Ewout Pahud
To prevent them from getting used to everything, she chose to hire her old apartment in Den Bosch again. ‘I have had my driver’s license since February, so I can go back and forth to Eindhoven by car. Fortunately, because taking the train with all that stuff is not an option. ‘In the Brabant capital, she will now work part-time as a barista. ‘I still have to go to my Latte artalthough. I don’t get much further than a small heart, “she laughs. Further focus goes to field hockey. ‘Of course I now play in the big league. I’m going to take that very seriously. ‘
Another new tattoo?
Her prediction? ‘I saw somewhere on Instagram that we were chosen by AI number four. That would be something. And then the play-offs against Den Bosch. Nothing is impossible anyway, “she grins. But she strives for the left row. Then her first season in Eindhoven will be more than successful. And then of course there is still a question. Will there be a tattoo?
‘I actually wanted to get one during my time with HGC, but I didn’t. I am 27 years old. Who knows, maybe I could end my career in the big league. I think there will be one, maybe referring to Oranje-Rood. Sorry, Mom.
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