JAKARTA - In 2015, Senegalese player Edouard Mendy was in Le Havre, northern France. He is desperate because he never found a professional club. Six years on, Mendy is now the first African goalkeeper to win the Champions League.
Mendy, who has kept 24 clean sheets this season, looked classy when Chelsea beat Manchester City 1-0 in the final which was held at the Estadio do Dragao, Portugal, Sunday, May 29 in the morning.
It was the culmination of a difficult journey for the 29-year-old goalkeeper.
#UCLfinal https://t.co/dVh4sex9ww pic.twitter.com/0AE6UImdQB
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 29, 2021
Born near Le Havre, he became a goalkeeper at the age of 10 in his neighborhood and was quickly spotted by HAC Academy.
"He has a special talent, explosive power, a character that allows him to have a certain presence in goal but also in attitude even as a wise boy," said Michel Courel, his former coach at the HAC Academy.
“He is very diligent. and very serious and is a very motivated kid," he added.
Mendy has been a key player in Chelsea's squad this season, with 16 clean sheets in 31 Premier League games.
The Senegalese goalkeeper really shined in the Champions League. He made sure no shots passed him in 8 of 11 European games.
Mendy followed in the footsteps of Senegal goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar who won the most prestigious trophy in the Blue Continent when he brought Liverpool to glory in 1984. At that time, this competition was still called the Champions Cup.
Mendy's Long JourneyMendy is not really the first choice goalkeeper at HAC Academy. He spent most of his time on the bench and he struggled to find another club. Repeatedly let down by agents unable to find Mendy a new team in France or in England's third division, as promised.
The phone call that changed everything came in 2015 when he was offered a trial at Marseille to become the south team's fourth-choice goalkeeper. Her pregnant boyfriend lives in Le Havre.
"When I got down to it, it was a case where I absolutely gave everything to get the chance to join that club," Mendy said.
Although he was not the first choice at Marseille, his career was back up and running. He moved to Reims in the French second division in 2016 and then to Rennes in 2019.
After one season, he has done enough to convince Chelsea technical director Petr Cech to bring him to England.
"Now it's up to me to repay their interest in me," Mendy continued.
Uncertain appearance of Kepa Arrizabalaga. Mendy's presence under the Chelsea rule made the Blues defenders appear more comfortable.
The proof, Manchester City was made immobile when Thomas Tuchel's troops managed to win their second Champions League trophy in history.
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