Lucie Esnault and Manon Bruno: “We’re all giving it our all for the team!”

The first, Lucie Esnault, is a goalkeeper aiming for a professional career; the second, Manon Bruno, is a midfielder. Both are truly passionate about soccer and truly appreciate the “very friendly atmosphere” of this college team. “During this competition, we had a lot of fun off the field, but on the field we all gave it our all,” says Lucie. It’s a formula that works, as the Montpellier team, led by coaches Frédéric Dumazert and Laurent Mortel, won the French university championship and finished^fourth at the European Championship this summer in Madrid.

"I loved the ball right away."

For Manon, 24, her love of soccer began around the age of 12. “I used to play all the time in the street with my friends, so I asked my mom to sign me up for a club, and she said yes. ” Montpellier Hérault, ASPTT Montpellier, two years in Nîmes—where she made the round trip by train after school and on weekends—then back to ASPTT. For Manon, things are clear : “I love everything about soccer; I couldn’t do anything else. ” It’s a passion she’s applied to her studies, as Manon has just completed her bachelor’s degree in sports coaching atthe UFR STAPS in Montpellier.

As for Lucie, 19, originally from Charentes-Maritimes, she started playing goalkeeper at the age of six. “We used to go watch my dad play every weekend. I fell in love with the ball right away!” A player for MHSC in the first division and Division d’Honneur for the past year, she has elite athlete status, which allows her to complete her three hours of daily training without her sports science studies suffering too much. “It keeps me from being penalized when I miss class, but I have to find the time to catch up, and that’s not always easy, ” she admits.

"So many emotions on the field"

Both athletes display unwavering determination, emphasizing the values of “self-sacrifice and dedication”— which are essential in sports—but also, and above all , “team spirit and the desire to give it our all because our team becomes a bit like our family. We experience so many emotions on the field,” says Manon Bruno.

Both of them recall, with a touch of amusement, the comments they sometimes had to put up with. “All through my childhood, people told me I was a tomboy because I played soccer, but honestly, I didn’t care,” recalls Lucie Esnault. So when the World Cup finally put the spotlight on the women’s version of this beloved sport, they didn’t miss a thing: “It’s great to see the public taking an interest, and I’m sure this will be a real springboard for all the girls who want to play soccer,” hopes Manon.

A travel enthusiast, she also sees soccer as a great way “to broaden one’s horizons and meet people from all over the world. “In Madrid this summer, I made friends from Russia and Germany.” It’s an experience she’d like to carry over into her professional life—by becoming a coach abroad, for example. Lucie shares this desire, even though she states it loud and clear: “What I want is to be a professional soccer player!”

UM 's athletes are at the top of their game!

The University of Montpellier honors its medalists from the World, European, and French University Championships during an annual ceremony organized by SUAPS. Read the profiles of these champions who juggle the demanding dual life of being both a student and an athlete. Read all the profiles…