In the space of six years, “a boy” has gone from being unemployed
to potentially becoming Chelsea's No.1 goalkeeper, winning the UEFA CHAMPIONS
LEAGUE, winning FIFA’s “The Best Goalkeeper and currently the Africa Cup of
Nations winner being the hero at the end. At the heart of the story is an
optimist, with a world-class sporting mentality.
Mendy a Normandy-born enjoyed a comfortable and middle-class
upbringing. Mendy idolized Manuel Neuer and Gianluigi Buffon, while Ronaldo Nazario
De Lima was his favourite outfield player.
Mendy’s
career began at local club Le Havre, regarded as one of the top goalkeeping
schools in France. After falling behind Zacharie Boucher, He was to be released
by his club. He spent five years at
local amateur club CS Municipaux Le Havre,winning the Normandy Cup, attracting
interest from professional club AS Cherbourg
Mendy began his career again at Cherbourg in the Championnat National,
the third tier of French football, and remained with the Normandy-based club
until 2014. Cherbourg president Gerard Gohel gave Mendy his opportunity.
"He arrived at the age of 19 and stayed with us for three years,"
Gohel told Goal. "We were in National (the French
third-division). The first year he played but there was competition as we
already had a goalkeeper.
“He played
the next two seasons. Everyone had noticed his qualities, his positive attitude
with his team-mates and the club. We saw his kindness.
“When we were
relegated to CFA (D4), he told us he wanted to play at a better level. But he
did not get [the chance].
“One day, he
called me and said: ‘I have a proposal at FC Fleury 91 in the league above’.
But I answered him: ‘Why are you going to sign there? Honestly, it is not a
challenge for you’. He said to me: ‘So, I'm coming back to Cherbourg’.
"Finally,
after several weeks, he told me that he had a proposal to become the fourth
goalkeeper of Olympique de Marseille.
“I said:
‘Sign with Marseille. It's a great opportunity’. He signed in Marseille and a
season later, the president of Reims, a friend (Jean-Pierre Caillot), called
me.
"He said
to me: ‘Gerard; you had Edouard Mendy. I'm looking for a No.2. What do you
think?’
“I replied:
‘Take him, he will be your future No.1.’
“I was right.
Edouard became No.1. Then, [sporting director] Olivier Letang signed him for
Rennes last year. This is the story. Chelsea have paid a lot of money to sign
him. It's exceptional, but he deserves it.
“When you see
the reaction of the Rennes players and coaches, you understand that his behaviour
was fantastic.
“It was sad
to see this boy, with his qualities, facing a period of unemployment after
leaving Cherbourg."
At age 22
Mendy left Cherbourg, thinking that he was ready for the next step through a
former agent. A move to an unnamed English League One club and other deals all
fell through and Mendy was left unemployed.
Mendy
considered giving up, with an interview with Goal, He
said;"When
one remains unemployed for a year, even with the best will in the world, doubt
sets in," Mendy said. "We think a lot; we try to weigh the
pros and cons, to say to ourselves what is the best solution.
"I was
going to be the father of a family and real questions arose [about my future in
the game]. This is where my entourage played a major role. If I had been badly
surrounded, I would surely have stopped football. I cannot thank my family enough,
my cousins. All the people who didn’t give up on me."
All these
problems didn’t stop there however. Signed by Marseille, Mendy only managed to
play with the B team. A high-profile error with the reserves raised questions
about his career again but Mendy's response to his tough time at the French
giants is inspiring.
"I don't
understand why people say it didn't work," he added. "I went from
unemployment to Marseille. It's still very positive.
“When I got
there, the season had already started. [Goalkeeper] Flo Escales, the club's big
hope, was with me, so in terms of playing time he was the priority.
"But in
my mind, I wanted to go step by step, having a good feeling in training first.
“Out of 30
matches, I played about 10. I found playing time and thanks to that several
Ligue 2 clubs contacted me.
"For me,
the year was very beneficial. I was able to participate in the final of the
Coupe de France, and at the end of the year, the club offered me a two-year
contract. The year couldn't be better."
Following a brief spell at Marseille B without making an appearance, Mendy
in 2016 moved up the footballing pyramid by joining Reims and quickly became
the first choice between the post.
His impressive and consistent performances
for Les Rouges et Blancs resulted in him lifting the first silverware of his
career, conceding just 24 goals, the lowest in the league, when Reims captured
the Ligue 2 title in 2018 and after three years at Reims, Mendy moved on and
ahead of2019/20 season he joined
Rennes. In his first campaign at Roazhon Park, he kept 13 clean sheets and
conceded just 31 goals in 33 games before the season was ended prematurely due
to the coronavirus pandemic.
Rennes qualify for the Champions League for
the first time in 2020, with the French club finishing third in Ligue 1. Mendy
had European club competition experience under his belt already, having
featured in four Europa League games in 2019/20.
Mendy
moved to Chelsea in 2020, in a £22 million ($29m) deal from Ligue 1 club
Rennes. Coach Frank Lampard signed Mendy to compete with club-record
signing Kepa Arrizabalaga, who had struggled for form, and on the
recommendation of club legend Petr Cech. Like Cech, Mendy came from Rennes with
something to prove and yes since his move to Chelsea, his career has been
history, breaking and setting records.
He became the
first goalkeeper in Champions League history to keep nine clean sheets in their
debut season in the competition.
Mendy
featured in 12 of the Blues' 13 Champions League matches this season, conceding
just three goals.
As well as
that, Mendy also became the first shot-stopper since Marc-Andre ter Stegen in
2015 to win the Champions League in their debut campaign in the competition.
International
Although born in France, Mendy opted to
represent Senegal - the country of birth of his mother - at international
level.
Mendy did actually represent Guinea-Bissau in a friendly match against Portugal
in 2016 because his father is of Guinea-Bissau descent. He then declined an
invitation to commit to playing for Guinea-Bissau at the 2017 Africa Cup of
Nations and later made his debut for Senegal in 2018.
By the start of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, he was Senegal's first
choice goalkeeper. However, after playing their first two matches of that
tournament, he missed the rest of their run with injury.
The quest for an international tournament opened this
year which was another opportunity for Mendy.
Senegal were
without the Chelsea stopper in their first match due to his positive test for
Covid-19 but he returned to the line-up and showed his class as he was vital
for his side throughout the tournament.
Senegal got through their group, winning
one and drawing two matches but not conceding throughout the group stages.
In the knockout rounds, Senegal beat Cape Verde and Equatorial
Guinea to set up a semi-final against Burkina Faso, which they won 3-1.
In the final, despite Sadio Mane missing an early penalty, Mendy
produced several fantastic saves to keep his side in it. He went on to prove to
be the hero and won the clash for Senegal.
Mendy stepped up to save Egypt’s fourth penalty, allowing Mane to
get redemption and score the winning penalty for his side.
Mendy is set to link up with his Chelsea teammates now in Abu
Dhabi as they prepare for the Club World Cup semi-final against Al Hilal before
returning to Premier League and Champions League action.
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