“I thought it was better that way”

One of Romania's future defenders, Emanuel Marincău, has just extended his commitment with the U23 team of Mainz 05. A footballer also courted by two great forces of the Super League, Craiova University and Dinamo, he has advanced from the German U19 team and has just finished a very good season.

He played in 29 matches for Mainz's first youth team in the Regionalliga Südwest (fourth league) and scored one goal. The Romanian U20 international, who also has German citizenship, grew step by step in the red-white formation. He was also part of the UEFA Youth League squad under head coach Benni Hoffmann in the 2023/24 season.

Emanuel is developing exactly as we hope from a player from our own youth academy. We are convinced that he can take additional steps in his development with us. That's why we decided together to extend his contract earlier, to continuously prepare him for the next challenges

– Meikel Schönweitz, technical director of the Mainz 05 team

Emanuel Marincău knows why he wants to continue at Mainz: “It's the biggest motivation”

A central defender by trade, Emanuel comes from a family with a footballing tradition. His father, Raul, played for teams such as FC Argeș, FCM Reșița, Universitatea Cluj and UTA Arad, but also in the lower leagues in Germany.

Immediately after initialing the new commitment with Mainz, Emanuel Marincău gave an interview to Gazeta Sporturilor in which he talked about his future plans. He appreciates the interest he has attracted in the Superliga, but wants to build his career further in Germany.

– Emanuel, what motivates you every day at Mainz?
– I have many examples here of young players from the academy who ended up playing in the first team and I think that is the biggest motivation.

– How hard (or how easy) is it to be at such a level?
– The life of a professional footballer means a lot of sacrifices, training with the team, individual training, lack of free time sometimes, but I think it's all worth it… Because after all, you get paid to do what you like the most – play football.

Emanuel Marincău is already training with Mainz's first team: why Germany is the first choice in front of Craiova and Dinamo

– How do you see your ascension in the future?
– For the moment, I have extended at Mainz until 2029, which means that the group trusts that I can continue to grow and I will have to repay the trust by progressing. I've already started training sometimes with the first team and that motivates me even more.

– There was talk of the interest of some Romanian teams for you, Craiova University and Dinamo. Are you interested in a return to Romania?
– Both my father and my representative, Lucian Novăcescu, were in contact with big clubs in Romania, which I appreciate a lot and I am happy that they are following me. For the moment, however, I thought I had to continue my development as a player at Mainz, because I still have work to do to improve my level. Basically, in football you never know what's going to happen, so why not, I see myself playing in Romania at some point during my career.

– Would it be more interesting to fight for trophies in Romania or do you prefer the Bundesliga, even if not at a top team?
– At the moment I'm not in either situation, I have time to think about trophies after I manage to play more pro level and increase my level.

10is the place occupied by Mainz 05 in the last edition of the championship

Emanuel Marincău has a solid goal: he wants to surpass his father, his role model as a footballer

– What is the role model you follow in your career?
– The closest to me is my father, whom I hope I can surpass (laughs).

– What do you appreciate most about Mainz?
– People's openness and their professionalism, we all feel like a big family at the club.

– Who do you think will win the World Championship and why? Which footballer would you like to shine?
– If Romania is not there, unfortunately, I will stick with Germany, my “adoptive” country even without being a supporter of a specific player.