Q&A

Express yourself

Effervescent Wolfsburg forward Shanice van de Sanden talks photography, fashion and the power of being an individual

INTERVIEW Mathieu Cauquil | PHOTOGRAPHY Thomas Eisenhuth
Issue 09

What do you think of the changes made to the Women’s Champions League this season?

It’s cool that it’s similar to the men’s in that you have a [group stage] and you play against teams twice. I love the Champions League, so even more games in the Champions League? I love that.

What’s your favourite moment in the competition?

I won it three times with Lyon, but the first one was amazing. I came on in the final, we were 1-0 down and I got three assists. That was a crazy one. When you step onto the field and you start playing a Champions League game, it’s just different; it’s different to a cup game or a game in the league. It’s the excitement; it’s everything around it. And then, when the stadium is full, it also gives you some extra energy. So yeah, a Champions League game? You can always wake me up for that, even when it’s in the middle of the night.

"Just be yourself" says Wolfsburg star Shanice van de Sanden

That final happened to be against your current club Wolfsburg, who opened the scoring in extra time before Lyon scored four to win 4-1. What was it like to lift the trophy?

I was so emotional. When the referee stopped the match, I was crying. You have a goal together with the team and when you reach that goal, all the emotions just come out of your body. And all the messages I got from my family, from friends, everyone… The people you love have got your back and when you win the trophy, you also want to celebrate it with them. That was amazing.

Away from the football you love to express yourself in the clothes you wear…

Yeah, I love fashion. Sometimes I wear some expensive clothes but I also combine it with cheap clothes. It doesn’t have to be expensive. You just have to wear what you feel and what you really like. I don’t really have someone who inspires me. I love to combine stuff by myself, and that’s always what I hear from other people: “Oh Shanice, your style is so different compared to others.” That’s because I just wear what I love, and I hope other people around the world will do the same. That’s the most important thing – just be yourself. People have to accept who you are.

What do you think of the changes made to the Women’s Champions League this season?

It’s cool that it’s similar to the men’s in that you have a [group stage] and you play against teams twice. I love the Champions League, so even more games in the Champions League? I love that.

What’s your favourite moment in the competition?

I won it three times with Lyon, but the first one was amazing. I came on in the final, we were 1-0 down and I got three assists. That was a crazy one. When you step onto the field and you start playing a Champions League game, it’s just different; it’s different to a cup game or a game in the league. It’s the excitement; it’s everything around it. And then, when the stadium is full, it also gives you some extra energy. So yeah, a Champions League game? You can always wake me up for that, even when it’s in the middle of the night.

"Just be yourself" says Wolfsburg star Shanice van de Sanden

That final happened to be against your current club Wolfsburg, who opened the scoring in extra time before Lyon scored four to win 4-1. What was it like to lift the trophy?

I was so emotional. When the referee stopped the match, I was crying. You have a goal together with the team and when you reach that goal, all the emotions just come out of your body. And all the messages I got from my family, from friends, everyone… The people you love have got your back and when you win the trophy, you also want to celebrate it with them. That was amazing.

Away from the football you love to express yourself in the clothes you wear…

Yeah, I love fashion. Sometimes I wear some expensive clothes but I also combine it with cheap clothes. It doesn’t have to be expensive. You just have to wear what you feel and what you really like. I don’t really have someone who inspires me. I love to combine stuff by myself, and that’s always what I hear from other people: “Oh Shanice, your style is so different compared to others.” That’s because I just wear what I love, and I hope other people around the world will do the same. That’s the most important thing – just be yourself. People have to accept who you are.

Read the full story
Sign up now to get access to this and every premium feature on Champions Journal. You will also get access to member-only competitions and offers. And you get all of that completely free!

What’s a perfect day for Shanice van de Sanden?

It depends on how I feel. When I’m really tired, like now with loads of games, when I have a day off I love to lay on my sofa and watch some Netflix. Otherwise I love to go out, take some pictures of nature, just walk around a little bit and, of course, go shopping.

Talking about pictures, you’ve got an old film camera. Can you tell us a little bit about it?

I love that vibe, the vintage, old-fashioned vibe. I love to take pictures of everything. You don’t really have to think; it’s just taking pictures and you’ll see how it ends up when you get home. “Oh, this pic is even nicer than I thought when I took it!” You know what I mean? So, yeah, taking pictures, going shopping, just walking around or biking. But I also love to think about the future. I want my own brand, stuff like that.

“a Champions League game? You can always wake me up for that, even if it’s in the middle of the night”


Your own clothing brand?

Yeah, my own brand of clothes. I love wearing suits, so hopefully I can bring some suits out soon.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Always believe in yourself, no matter what. Even when things get hard, never give up. It’s easy to say but it’s really true. I’ve had some tough moments in my life and I really wanted to give up, like, “I don’t want to play football anymore.” But there’s always one day when you think, “OK, I started playing football because I loved it.” You have to think about those moments, then you’ll be really thankful.

You were a EURO winner with the Netherlands in 2017. How much are you looking forward to the EURO in England next summer?

I can’t wait to play in England at the EURO and represent my country. Also, Sarina Wiegman left us [to coach England], so I can’t wait to play against England and just show how good we are in the Netherlands. She knows already, but you want to show her again.

What do you think of the changes made to the Women’s Champions League this season?

It’s cool that it’s similar to the men’s in that you have a [group stage] and you play against teams twice. I love the Champions League, so even more games in the Champions League? I love that.

What’s your favourite moment in the competition?

I won it three times with Lyon, but the first one was amazing. I came on in the final, we were 1-0 down and I got three assists. That was a crazy one. When you step onto the field and you start playing a Champions League game, it’s just different; it’s different to a cup game or a game in the league. It’s the excitement; it’s everything around it. And then, when the stadium is full, it also gives you some extra energy. So yeah, a Champions League game? You can always wake me up for that, even when it’s in the middle of the night.

"Just be yourself" says Wolfsburg star Shanice van de Sanden

That final happened to be against your current club Wolfsburg, who opened the scoring in extra time before Lyon scored four to win 4-1. What was it like to lift the trophy?

I was so emotional. When the referee stopped the match, I was crying. You have a goal together with the team and when you reach that goal, all the emotions just come out of your body. And all the messages I got from my family, from friends, everyone… The people you love have got your back and when you win the trophy, you also want to celebrate it with them. That was amazing.

Away from the football you love to express yourself in the clothes you wear…

Yeah, I love fashion. Sometimes I wear some expensive clothes but I also combine it with cheap clothes. It doesn’t have to be expensive. You just have to wear what you feel and what you really like. I don’t really have someone who inspires me. I love to combine stuff by myself, and that’s always what I hear from other people: “Oh Shanice, your style is so different compared to others.” That’s because I just wear what I love, and I hope other people around the world will do the same. That’s the most important thing – just be yourself. People have to accept who you are.

Q&A

Express yourself

Effervescent Wolfsburg forward Shanice van de Sanden talks photography, fashion and the power of being an individual

INTERVIEW Mathieu Cauquil | PHOTOGRAPHY Thomas Eisenhuth

Text Link

What do you think of the changes made to the Women’s Champions League this season?

It’s cool that it’s similar to the men’s in that you have a [group stage] and you play against teams twice. I love the Champions League, so even more games in the Champions League? I love that.

What’s your favourite moment in the competition?

I won it three times with Lyon, but the first one was amazing. I came on in the final, we were 1-0 down and I got three assists. That was a crazy one. When you step onto the field and you start playing a Champions League game, it’s just different; it’s different to a cup game or a game in the league. It’s the excitement; it’s everything around it. And then, when the stadium is full, it also gives you some extra energy. So yeah, a Champions League game? You can always wake me up for that, even when it’s in the middle of the night.

"Just be yourself" says Wolfsburg star Shanice van de Sanden

That final happened to be against your current club Wolfsburg, who opened the scoring in extra time before Lyon scored four to win 4-1. What was it like to lift the trophy?

I was so emotional. When the referee stopped the match, I was crying. You have a goal together with the team and when you reach that goal, all the emotions just come out of your body. And all the messages I got from my family, from friends, everyone… The people you love have got your back and when you win the trophy, you also want to celebrate it with them. That was amazing.

Away from the football you love to express yourself in the clothes you wear…

Yeah, I love fashion. Sometimes I wear some expensive clothes but I also combine it with cheap clothes. It doesn’t have to be expensive. You just have to wear what you feel and what you really like. I don’t really have someone who inspires me. I love to combine stuff by myself, and that’s always what I hear from other people: “Oh Shanice, your style is so different compared to others.” That’s because I just wear what I love, and I hope other people around the world will do the same. That’s the most important thing – just be yourself. People have to accept who you are.

What do you think of the changes made to the Women’s Champions League this season?

It’s cool that it’s similar to the men’s in that you have a [group stage] and you play against teams twice. I love the Champions League, so even more games in the Champions League? I love that.

What’s your favourite moment in the competition?

I won it three times with Lyon, but the first one was amazing. I came on in the final, we were 1-0 down and I got three assists. That was a crazy one. When you step onto the field and you start playing a Champions League game, it’s just different; it’s different to a cup game or a game in the league. It’s the excitement; it’s everything around it. And then, when the stadium is full, it also gives you some extra energy. So yeah, a Champions League game? You can always wake me up for that, even when it’s in the middle of the night.

"Just be yourself" says Wolfsburg star Shanice van de Sanden

That final happened to be against your current club Wolfsburg, who opened the scoring in extra time before Lyon scored four to win 4-1. What was it like to lift the trophy?

I was so emotional. When the referee stopped the match, I was crying. You have a goal together with the team and when you reach that goal, all the emotions just come out of your body. And all the messages I got from my family, from friends, everyone… The people you love have got your back and when you win the trophy, you also want to celebrate it with them. That was amazing.

Away from the football you love to express yourself in the clothes you wear…

Yeah, I love fashion. Sometimes I wear some expensive clothes but I also combine it with cheap clothes. It doesn’t have to be expensive. You just have to wear what you feel and what you really like. I don’t really have someone who inspires me. I love to combine stuff by myself, and that’s always what I hear from other people: “Oh Shanice, your style is so different compared to others.” That’s because I just wear what I love, and I hope other people around the world will do the same. That’s the most important thing – just be yourself. People have to accept who you are.

Read the full story
Sign up now to get access to this and every premium feature on Champions Journal. You will also get access to member-only competitions and offers. And you get all of that completely free!

What’s a perfect day for Shanice van de Sanden?

It depends on how I feel. When I’m really tired, like now with loads of games, when I have a day off I love to lay on my sofa and watch some Netflix. Otherwise I love to go out, take some pictures of nature, just walk around a little bit and, of course, go shopping.

Talking about pictures, you’ve got an old film camera. Can you tell us a little bit about it?

I love that vibe, the vintage, old-fashioned vibe. I love to take pictures of everything. You don’t really have to think; it’s just taking pictures and you’ll see how it ends up when you get home. “Oh, this pic is even nicer than I thought when I took it!” You know what I mean? So, yeah, taking pictures, going shopping, just walking around or biking. But I also love to think about the future. I want my own brand, stuff like that.

“a Champions League game? You can always wake me up for that, even if it’s in the middle of the night”


Your own clothing brand?

Yeah, my own brand of clothes. I love wearing suits, so hopefully I can bring some suits out soon.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Always believe in yourself, no matter what. Even when things get hard, never give up. It’s easy to say but it’s really true. I’ve had some tough moments in my life and I really wanted to give up, like, “I don’t want to play football anymore.” But there’s always one day when you think, “OK, I started playing football because I loved it.” You have to think about those moments, then you’ll be really thankful.

You were a EURO winner with the Netherlands in 2017. How much are you looking forward to the EURO in England next summer?

I can’t wait to play in England at the EURO and represent my country. Also, Sarina Wiegman left us [to coach England], so I can’t wait to play against England and just show how good we are in the Netherlands. She knows already, but you want to show her again.

What do you think of the changes made to the Women’s Champions League this season?

It’s cool that it’s similar to the men’s in that you have a [group stage] and you play against teams twice. I love the Champions League, so even more games in the Champions League? I love that.

What’s your favourite moment in the competition?

I won it three times with Lyon, but the first one was amazing. I came on in the final, we were 1-0 down and I got three assists. That was a crazy one. When you step onto the field and you start playing a Champions League game, it’s just different; it’s different to a cup game or a game in the league. It’s the excitement; it’s everything around it. And then, when the stadium is full, it also gives you some extra energy. So yeah, a Champions League game? You can always wake me up for that, even when it’s in the middle of the night.

"Just be yourself" says Wolfsburg star Shanice van de Sanden

That final happened to be against your current club Wolfsburg, who opened the scoring in extra time before Lyon scored four to win 4-1. What was it like to lift the trophy?

I was so emotional. When the referee stopped the match, I was crying. You have a goal together with the team and when you reach that goal, all the emotions just come out of your body. And all the messages I got from my family, from friends, everyone… The people you love have got your back and when you win the trophy, you also want to celebrate it with them. That was amazing.

Away from the football you love to express yourself in the clothes you wear…

Yeah, I love fashion. Sometimes I wear some expensive clothes but I also combine it with cheap clothes. It doesn’t have to be expensive. You just have to wear what you feel and what you really like. I don’t really have someone who inspires me. I love to combine stuff by myself, and that’s always what I hear from other people: “Oh Shanice, your style is so different compared to others.” That’s because I just wear what I love, and I hope other people around the world will do the same. That’s the most important thing – just be yourself. People have to accept who you are.

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