Il numero uno, the number one. In Italy, Diede Lemey (25) has been named the best goalkeeper of the Serie A. At Sassuolo she is one of the stars every week, but at the Red Flames the goalkeeper has strangely enough been waiting for a real chance for eight years. “I have learned to deal with setbacks and choices.”
The goalkeeper of the Italian national women’s team plays at AC Milan. And champion Juventus has the title holder of France between the posts. But look, it is the Belgian Diede Lemey who today crowned the Serie A as the best goalkeeper of the competition.
No one to question that in the boot. Lemey reached a particularly high level this season for Sassuolo, who finished fourth. The Belgian match winner was regularly one-on-one through a crucial save or a stopped penalty.
Her numbers in Serie A: all 22 matches played, 9 clean sheets and a save rate of 74.2%.
“Personally, this was probably the best year of my career”, the goalkeeper beams between two training sessions. “I have taken steps forward – including playing soccer and my presence. That I am now awarded a prize for this is of course very nice.”
The Italian dream
Despite her impressive performances abroad, Lemey is still unknown to the broad Belgian football audience. In terms of name recognition, she is not in the line of a Tessa Wullaert or Janice Cayman.
Partly because she moved from Anderlecht to Italy at a young age. A friendly match with the national team against Le Azzurre put her on the radar of Serie A clubs.
After finishing her studies as a kindergarten teacher, she took the plunge with a transfer to Verona. “However, I hesitated for a long time,” she admits. “But my environment convinced me that I had to seize the opportunity or else I would regret it.”
We train here twice a day in the same facilities as the men.
Five years later, Lemey does not regret her choice at all. “I have grown as a football player and person here,” says the goalkeeper, who notices that people work much more professionally in Italy than in our women’s football.
“In Belgium hardly anyone is a professional, here all the players are. We train here twice a day in the same facilities as the men. In Anderlecht it was at eight o’clock in the evening, after all the rest… The difference is huge. From next year we will also be officially pro with various benefits such as pension savings.”
Waiting for an opportunity at Flames
The fact that Lemey is not an established name has another reason. At the Red Flames, the goalkeeper barely has 7 caps despite 53 selections.
National coach Ives Serneels has always preferred Justien Odeurs (Anderlecht) and Nicky Evrard (KAA Gent) in recent years. Recently, Lemey showed herself at the Pinatar Cup, but she never got a real chance as number one.
It is a decision that many connoisseurs in the world question.
Isn’t Lemey missing some recognition in his own country? She takes a deep breath when asked, “I’d be lying if I said no – every athlete lives to play for his or her country. The national coach knows that I am disappointed, but it is a sporting choice and there is only one spot.”
Physically and mentally I want to be ready, so that it is not a foregone conclusion in advance who will be number one.
“Over the years I have learned to deal better with such setbacks and choices. I don’t discuss it with the trainer, but I always ask what I should do to improve.”
Lemey does not want to make any big statements about the upcoming European Championship in England. “I hope to complete a good preparation first, so that I am sure of my selection. It will be another long and intense month and a half. Physically and mentally I want to be ready, so that it is not a foregone conclusion in advance who will be number one.”
The prize won can already count as an extra argument.
Lemey has been with the Red Flames for 8 years, but barely has 7 caps.
Watch a compilation with saves from Lemey below
