Interview with Marouane Fellaini

(www.TheAtlasLions.com/11 Nov 2005) Here's an exclusive interview with Standard de Liege defender Marouane Fellaini, 18 years old and 1m94 tall. He just signed his pro contract with Standard till June 2007.

1.Tell us who is Marouane Fellaini?

-My name is Marouane Fellaini, I was born on 22 November 1987 in Etterbeek (Belgium) from Moroccan parents.

2.Tell us about your football career?

-I started playing football at age of 7 at Anderlecht. I played there till age of 10. And from age of 10 till 13 I played for the club of Mons and from age of 13 till 16 I played for Francs Borains.

From age of 16 till 17 I played for Sporting de Charleroi and now I signed a two-year professional contract with Standard de Liege.

3.What are your impressions after signing your first professional contract with Standard?

-I am very happy to have signed a professional contract with Standard.

4.Did you receive offers from other clubs?

-I have received offers from some clubs from Italy and France.

5.Your ambitions with Standard?

-My dream is breakthrough and play with the first squad of Standard.

6.Do you have contacts with other Moroccans in Belgium?

-Yes, I have contacts with some Moroccan players.

7.What are the reasons, according to you, behind the failure of the Atlas Lions to qualify to the World Cup 2006?

-That was due a tactical error of former national coach Badou Zaki and the problems with some players.

8.What do you think of new national coach Philippe Troussier?

-He knows African football very well and has lots of experience. I hope that with his experience he will bring a lot to the team.

9.Where are you originaly from in Morocco?

-I am from Tanger.

10.Do you follow the Moroccan league?

-No. I don't follow it, but my father played for Raja Casablanca in 1970 and Hassania Agadir in 1971.

I have seen some photos of my father with big players like Azhar who played for Reims and with Copa, Fontaine etc.

11.Your idols?

-I have many idols but the one I prefer the most is Zinedine Zidane.

12.Your goals?

-I would like to play with the biggest clubs in Europe.

13.A last word for the visitors of our site www.TheAtlasLions.com in particular and to the fans of the Atlas Lions in general?

-I hope they continue supporting the Atlas Lions who I hope they go far in the African Cup of Nations 2006.

I am very happy to have answered your questions and thank you.

And from our part, TheAtlasLions.com crew, we thank Fallaini and his club Standard for making this interview happen and we wish him good luck in his career and a brilliant future and maybe we see him soon in the Moroccan shirt!