The world of football is not only the pride of heaven, but also the grassroots counterattacks like Vardy and Kante, which inspire the hearts of countless people at the bottom.
Seven years ago, he was terminated by The Ligue 1 team Cherbourg, and had no choice but to receive unemployment benefits.
Seven years later, Chelsea goalkeeper Eduard Mendy won the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the African Cup of Nations in 10 months, while winning the FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year, UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year and the African Cup of Champions.
He will also follow Chelsea in the final title races of the Club World Cup and the English League Cup, heading for their 4th and 5th trophies in the last year.
Debuted at the best goalkeeper academy in France:
He almost retired at the age of 23
Debuted in le Havre's youth: he regarded the Brighton goalkeeper as an idol
Born in Normandy, France, his mother was a businessman from Guinea-Bissau, and his mother was born in Normandy, France, and he wanted to be a good goalkeeper from an early age.
However, his idols are not Buffon and Neuer, but Ronaldo Nazario, who once played for Brighton in england's lower league. Because of the brightening trip organized by the school when he was 11 years old, the goalkeeper shirt he got was the first shirt of his life.
Football began in the youth academy of Le Havre in his hometown, which is also recognized as the cradle of France's top goalkeepers, and the national goalkeeper Mandanda was one of Mendy's previous masterpieces.
However, after losing the competition with Zachary Boucher, who later played in Ligue 1, Mendy was sacked by the team and left Le Havre lonely.
When he came home that day, Mendy saw that his parents were very sad, so he said to himself in his heart: "This is not okay, I must kick out a look and make my parents happy." If not in Le Havre, then change places, I must succeed! ”
After three trials, Mendy was taken in by Ligue 1 side Cherbourg, and at the age of 19 he signed his first professional contract to appear in the French third division.
The 19 to 23-year-old was so poignant: Mendy almost chose to retire
Things always didn't go as smoothly as expected, and at the time at Ligue 1, struggling every day with fears about whether he would be relegated, Cherbourg gave Mendy only 10 appearances in the next 3 years.
An even bigger misfortune followed, the team was really relegated after 3 years, they freed themselves to go to Mendy, who once again began to try everywhere.
But this time the job wasn't so easy to find, and Mendy never got a professional contract. With no income after losing his job, Mendy once wanted to consider retiring, but his family persuaded him to persevere. Earn your living on unemployment benefits.
He then returned to his parent team Le Havre and found an unpaid job (similar to sparring, but without a salary) and was given the opportunity to "rub" training.
Things gradually developed in a good direction, successfully trying out the Marseille second team, getting the opportunity to play in the 4th division, and even being arranged to train with the first team of Marseille, which made Mendy strengthen his determination to play football.
At the end of the season, The second team of Marseille was disbanded, and Mendy, who failed to advance to the first team, did not have to face the problem of unemployment again, because he had already been invited by Ligue 2 side Reims before that.
After being reborn in Ligue 2: Mendy made a name for himself in Ligue 1
Reciprocate your Bó Lè with the best performances: Mendy has established himself in Ligue 1
Mendy is still not the main force when he first entered The Ligue 2, but after getting the opportunity, he made three consecutive clean sheets to let the coaching staff see his potential. In the second half of his first year, he gradually won the starting position.
The following year in the Ligue 2, the 26-year-old Mendy played 34 games and completed 18 clean sheets, helping the team win the Ligue 2 title and successfully stepped onto the stage of Ligue 1.
In his first year of the top flight, Mendy once again delivered a wonderful performance of 15 games without conceding a goal, allowing promoted Marance to take root in Ligue 1. Meanwhile, Senegal took notice of him and Mendy made his debut for the national team.
Talking about his counterattack, Mendy is also full of pride: "Who dares to say that they are a role model, I am not better than others." But it wasn't easy for me along the way. If you really have the determination to succeed, you can go all out to fight for the goal, and you will eventually get a good result.
My experience may still inspire some people, there are too many young people who can't follow the standard path to the professional arena, maybe everything I have experienced can make them a little more confident. ”
Reward your Bó Lè with the best performance:
Mendy has a strong foothold in Ligue 1
Because of Lance's promotion to Ligue 1, Mendy's monthly salary rose to 5,000 euros at one point. For him, this is a "huge amount of money".
Talking about this matter, Mendy also smiled and closed his mouth: "I even want to tell President Kayo (President Cayo of Lance) that he has given too much (laughs). This number allows me to save money and prepare my family and for later life. ”
Things went even more smoothly than Mendy had expected, with the century-old Ligue 1 powerhouse Rennes taking him away with a transfer fee of 7 million euros.
In fact, Mendy had brushed shoulders with Wren twice before. The earliest was in the 2009-10 season, when Mendy, who was still training at Le Havre, got the attention of Rennes scouts for his excellent performance in the Normandy Cup.
Unfortunately, the Rennes reserve team already had a small goalkeeper born in 92 at that time, and in the end they did not choose him. At one point, at the age of 18, Mendy was worried: "I thought this was my last chance to get into the professional team. ”
Five years later, the unemployed Mendy was given another chance to try out Rennes, but they still didn't choose him. In the low points of Mendy's life, Rennes always seemed to be on top of the crowd, but eventually joining Rennes became a key step for Mendy to reach the peak of his life.
After just one season at Rennes, Mendy set a record for the fewest goals conceded per game in the club's history. At the same time, he helped Rennes win 3rd in the league and get tickets to the Champions League the following season.
With a height of 1.97 meters and a save success rate of nearly 70%, the praise of the voices came and went, and Mendy was about to step onto a higher stage.
Move to Chelsea and enter the big club stage:
Won 3 titles in 10 months
Chelsea's discernment: kepa was sent to the cold as soon as it came
In the summer of 2020, Mendy is 28 years old and he is looking forward to his first Champions League appearance. As a result, another surprise hit the head, he did appear in the Champions League, but not for Rennes, but for Premier League giants Chelsea.
Because the former Blues goalkeeper Cech was also a Rennes player, the Czech goalkeeper who followed the home team recommended Mendy to his old club Chelsea. Lampard's side was trapped by Kepa's poor performances and the aging Caballero and desperately needed a reliable goalkeeper.
As soon as he joined the team, Mendy used 3 Premier League games without conceding goals and 3 Champions League clean sheets against opponents, more than 500 minutes of innocence, so that Lampard gave up Kepa and let the Blues fans no longer talk about the "Kai coach on the goal line".
Despite Lampard's dismissal in the middle of the season due to poor results, new manager Tuchel still gives Mendy great trust.
The story that followed was seen by everyone, Mendy followed the team all the way through the Champions League, and Atletico, Real Madrid and Manchester City all became the losers.
When the team wins the Champions League, many people will think that it is the peak of Mendy's life, but they do not think that it is the beginning of the follow-up climax.
Just 10 months: 3 championships + 3 individual bests
From champions of the Champions League to champions of the European Super Cup, at the end of 2021, Mendy has won UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year and FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year.
In particular, the victory over Euro 2021 MVP Donalumma and the German goalkeeper Neuer to win the 2021 goalkeeper's top award of the year is a remarkable achievement.
Mendy is very proud of this: "I am proud to have won the award because I made the history of African football. At the same time, I would like to thank my Chelsea team-mates, without whom I would not have won an award. I worked hard and trained every day and now it's finally paying off because every effort was worth it. ”
At this year's Africa Cup of Nations, Mendy followed the team all the way through the game, and in the final match, he saved Racien's penalty to help Senegal win The El Salah-led Egypt in the penalty shootout.
The team finished second at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations and finally reached the dream championship podium three years later. Mendy was also voted the best goalkeeper of the Africa Cup of Nations for his outstanding performance.
Over the next month, Mendy will follow Chelsea on their way to the League Cup and Club World Titles. 5 titles in 12 months? It's Mendy's new goal, but it won't be the end of his career.
The 30-year-old goalkeeper is at his peak, and he will write more new achievements in the days to come. Seven years ago, he was the confused young man who received the money, and seven years later he is already the best goalkeeper in football today.
The secret of success may be summed up in one of his own words: "I will say to myself in 2015: You are really amazing!" In 2021, I will also say to myself in 2015: Congratulations, fortunately, you did not give up at that time! ”