Anthony Moris seen by his wife before his 200th match with the Union: “The criticism is difficult to endure for me and his loved ones, not for him”

The one who remains very discreet in the media agreed to reveal to us this shadowy role that is so important in the career of a high-level athlete. By being a thousand miles from the stereotype of the footballer’s wife.

How would you describe Anthony as a goalkeeper and as a man?

“On the field, he has this die-hard side which gives him a personality that you like or don’t like. In everyday life, he is much less surly and is on the contrary, quite calm. Whether in private or professional life, he always has the same desire to give his all to succeed in what he does.”

Not everything was easy during his career: what role did you play alongside him during these complicated times?

“He first experienced unemployment after his time at Standard. Then, when he found a club, in Mechelen, he was so happy that he did not look at the salary: he was paid 1000 euros gross per month when we had just bought an apartment and had to pay our loan. His injuries were very difficult to live with; I felt his mind was elsewhere. We had to put a bed downstairs because he couldn’t climb stairs. I was so stressed that he would make a wrong move and aggravate his injury that I couldn’t sleep at night. I arrived with incredible dark circles at work in the morning… All this had an impact on the general atmosphere but these steps strengthened his character and the solidity of our relationship.”

Does it bother you to be seen more often as Anthony Moris’ wife than as Magali Delvaux?

“No, on the contrary, I am proud to be Anthony’s wife but it bothers me to be seen as a footballer’s wife in general with all the stereotypes that that engenders. For many, footballers’ wives are extroverted influencers who are in it for the money I also don’t like the image of the woman maintained by her footballer husband Personally, I studied and worked for many years. always had this objective of to flourish personally and to be able to be professionally and financially independent.”

Have you ever had to put your career on hold for Anthony’s?

“Yes, but it was obvious because he was the one who made his passion a dream. When he played in Mechelen, I drove four hours a day to go to work in Herstal. Then, I stopped working shortly after. time before I became pregnant with our first child. When the Union started playing in Europe, I had just given birth to our second child and returning to work full time was becoming complicated. I wasn’t going to ask Anthony to take part-time at the Union (smile). The fact that a football career is short keeps us going: when it’s over, my career will take over.”

Do you think he could have had such a great career without you?

“I don’t want to come across as pretentious because that’s really not my type. But Anthony and other members of our entourage often told me that I was the foundation of our family. And that he owed his career in part to me, to everything I gave him and what I continue to give him today. But the main actor in his success is himself, it is thanks to his determination. ‘he has this great career and I still admire him. incredible mindset even at 34 (smile). The fact that I was not with him for his football side also helped to have a healthy foundation. He could do a completely different job and it wouldn’t change anything for me.”

What is the most difficult thing to deal with when you share the life of a professional footballer?

“You have to make a lot of sacrifices. He has missed many events like weddings or important birthdays. At Christmas, I know he will drink water and not touch the meal because there is a game in the stride… Not enjoying weekends with family is also burdensome but these are habits to adopt. I know, for example, that he will sleep after ten minutes when we start a film in the evening because he needs it. to go to sleep early.”

Can he easily cut football when he comes home?

“After a defeat, it takes an evening to digest. After losing the title against Bruges in the last minutes, a year and a half ago, it was something else again: I remember leaving my place in the stadium to bring my daughter near the field at the final whistle… and the Union then conceded a goal. I cried because Anthony wanted this title so much. For several days, he was completely absent. shaken to make him understand that his family was more important than any football match.”

How is he with his children?

“He will manage to ignore football very quickly. He will put his phone on the table and no longer look at it to give his full attention to his two children. It is sometimes frustrating because he becomes the messiah in their eyes and it It’s as if I no longer exist (smile). Our second child loves football and wants to see all of his father’s matches. When he wakes up, he asks to watch a match over lunch. I have to show her the delayed images of the last Union match while my daughter would prefer to have lunch with a cartoon (smile).”

During the last playoffs, he was the target of a lot of criticism: how did he experience these moments?

“He really doesn’t read what is said about him. It’s especially difficult for me and his loved ones. Fortunately our children are not yet old enough to read all this. Sometimes I feel like he’s always the one being singled out because he has a strong personality and takes his responsibilities to heart as captain. At the start of the playoffs, I was so disgusted and sad to read the negative comments. I couldn’t understand how anyone could be so mean to someone. Everything I read didn’t describe the man I knew… At one point, he told me to stop reading the reviews because it was eating me up and that’s all I talked to him about.”

Is it easy to manage the notoriety side?

“It doesn’t bother me when it’s nice. Anthony will always stop to chat briefly and take a photo because he knows it’s part of his job. But it’s sometimes disturbing when we’re with family and someone ‘one holds him for fifteen minutes… Some forget that there is a man behind the player who wants to enjoy moments with his children We want to normalize Anthony’s job as much as possible so that he is not just seen as the goalkeeper. the Union but simply like Anthony.”

Would you be ready for him to go back for 200 games?

“That would mean about four years? That’s a long time anyway (smile). If he stops in two years, I will be very happy but of course I will follow him if he wants to leave for four or five years. Sometimes I dream of his post-career and the new life that will open up to us. We could, for example, work together; him, in coaching and me, in nutrition. It will also be the time to enjoy gourmet restaurants or take city trips. We are also two wine enthusiasts; so why not have a vineyard in a sunny region, in Italy or Spain. But I know it won’t be tomorrow because he still wants to play football too much. (smile).“