Morgan Schneiderlin: My hometown

Morgan Schneiderlin moved to England when we was still a teenager but the Manchester United midfielder has strong roots in Alsace, the French region where he was born and brought up. In the latest interview in our hometown series, Morgan discusses his native part of north-east France...

You were born in Zellwiller – can you tell us a little bit about it?
It is a small town of 800-1,000 inhabitants where my grandparents and my parents live. My father was born there. He took my mother there and they built their home there. It is a charming little town next to Obernai and Barr. I have family ties there as my parents still live there, even though I did not stay long because I went to play to Strasbourg when I was still very young.

Does your surname have German roots and do you speak much German, or any Alsatian?
My parents told me my family name was not of German extraction; my grandad said it was actually Austrian. I do not speak any German or Alsatian, but I understand a little Alsatian as my grandmother used to talk to me in the Alsatian language when she looked after me until I was three. So I can still understand a few words or a conversation, but I cannot speak Alsatian.

How did you get into football in Zellwiller?
My mum and dad used to play football. My grandad was the president of our local club – he founded it. So I grew up surrounded by football and I used to play football with my friends in the street, just like today’s kids. I loved it more and more; my parents even say I was born with a football that I always kept next to me!

You mentioned you still have family there – how often do you go back?
My grandmother and my parents still live there. My sister also moved there, so I often go there in the summer to say hello and have family dinners. I like to stay at my parents’ house and it is always a pleasure for them to have their boy back home for a few days.

What are your favourite places in the Alsace region - the famous castles perhaps?
I do not know much about the Alsatian castles, but I love Strasbourg. I think it is a beautiful city; the cathedral is magnificent. There are many lovely places to see. This is quite a diverse region and visitors would be amazed because there are many things to do there. As for the local people, they are hard-working and have a sense of family values.

The stork is a symbol associated with Alsace – can you tell us a little about that?
I do not know where the symbol of the stork comes from but it is indeed the emblem of Strasbourg and we can see some storks sometimes in Alsace. It is a lovely creature.

Is football the biggest sport in the region? Which other sports are popular?
Football is the number one sport in Alsace. RC Strasbourg have just been promoted to the Second Division and they are still a big club with many followers. The second sport may be basketball, with SIG fighting for the first places in Pro A (French elite division) and playing a European semi-final this season. So football and basketball are the biggest sports in Alsace.

Is there any typical Alsace food or drink that you’d recommend to tourists?
Alsace is also renowned for its wine – especially for its very good white wine, though Alsatian red wine is quite tasty too. There is sweet white wine, late harvest wine... beer is also typical. As for food, there is sauerkraut. If you want to gain weight, just go to Strasbourg!