Edouard Osoque Mendy is a Senegalese shot-stopper who recently signed for The Blues in the summer transfer market post the 2019-20 COVID hit season. He moved from French club Stade Rennais FC to Stamford Bridge in a 22 Million Pounds move on 24th September after Chelsea head-coach Frank Lampard saw the Spaniard Kepa Arrizabalaga make a series of howlers between the sticks.
Edouard Mendy is a tall, athletic and smart keeper with fine traits to flush the ball off the penalty box in times of sheer panic and some cat-like reflexes. He has this amazing reputation to be able to collect the ball off crosses pretty efficiently to clear the danger. Chelsea have had serious trouble of keepers since the time club Legend, Petr Cech left the club for cross-town rivals Arsenal before the start of the 15-16 Premier League campaign. The Senegalese comes in at the time when the club were badly needing replacements after not having satisfactory results from either of Kepa Arrizabalaga or Argentinian Willy Caballero. So, here are some facts you probably didn’t know about Chelsea’s new Number 1, Edouard Mendy:
1. France Born Immigrant!
Edouard Mendy was born on 1st March 1992 in the French Municipality of Montivilliers which is a former canton situated in the River Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandy region of Northern France. He is a son to his non-French native parents – his father was a Biassau-Guinean nationality and his mother is a Senelagese citizen. He is one of very few footballers who has such a multi-ethinic background. He has a few siblings but the media has been only able to spot his sister, who Mendy has always been close to. He used to visit his sister who works in London before his move to the English Capital.
2. Le Havre Talent!
Edouard Mendy is another talent of the ever-so famous Le Havre AC Academy which has produced some of the World Footballs most amazing talents including, Mamadou Niang, Paul Pogba, Riyadh Mahrez, Dimitri Payet and now even Benjamin Mendy. Carlos Kameni and current French reserve team keeper Steve Mandanda were also a part of the same talent junction. Edouard Mendy had joined the academy when he was 13 in the youth setup only to be stuck behind Zacharie Boucher in the pecking order to grab Le Havre’s number 1 spot.
After not getting the academy team’s action in his time at Le Havre AC, Mendy moved to the lower levels to play for CS Municipaux Le Havre. The Northern coastal ton of France proved to be a step in the right direction for the Senegalese.
3. Was without a club in 2014!
Edoaurd Mendy then moved to FC Cherbourg in search of professional playing time who were a club in the Championnat National. The Championnat National is the 3rd division of the French football league system. In the three years he stayed with the 3rd division side, he played only 26 times. His move was again termed as a disaster as his contract with the Normandy based club expired in the summer of 2014. He rejected offers from various French clubs in search of regular game time outside of France. His agent promised to look for chances elsewhere but couldn’t find a job for the Goalie. It was during this period between the summer of 2014 and the start of the following year’s season when he remained without a contract. This made him think over his choices to be a footballer and he even thought over the idea to stop playing football altogether.
In an Interview with SoFoot Magazine Edouard was quoted saying:
“For Footballers or anyone else, being jobless is akin to receiving a slap in the face. Strings of failures leave marks that make you doubt whether you should continue with football or not”
4. Short Relief – Marseille
After a disastrous time in the north of France and being without a professional contract for a season, Edouard Mendy turned to Marseille on the south coast to represent the B team in the 2nd division. Even here, he was second in the race to start for the Les Phoceens. He was topped in the order by another French talent Florian Escales. After 8 appearances with Marseille, he moved to Stade de Reims in the Ligue 2. He started in place of a suspended Johan Carrasso, who was sent off in the previous game. He helped the side secure 3 calming clean sheets and this cemented his position as the clubs undisputable number 1. This was time the tides turned for the France-born Senegalese. Reims were promoted to Ligue 1 that season and the French media took notice of Mendy.
5. Has represented two National Teams!
After a successful start to his Reims career, Edouard was called up by the Guinea-Bissau National team who he was qualified to play for because of his Father. His Father at the time was really ill and was about to pass away when Edouard decided to honor his Nation by adorning the Bissau-Guinean colors to face Portuguese clubs Estoril and Belenenses. Later, he got another call up by the Bissau-Guinean national side for the Africa Cup of Nations of 2017. This is when he rejected the call up and decided to pledge his allegiance to the country of his Mother, Senegal. Since then, Edoaurd has played 10 times for the Les Lions de la Teranga (Senegal). This makes him one of the very few players who have actually worn two different national team jerseys as professionals.
6. Rennes – Comparisons to Petr Cech
After amassing 80 appearances in 3 seasons with Reims, Mendy was signed by Stade Rennais in the summer of 2019. It was during this time that the French media started initial comparisons with the ex-Chelsea Man Petr Cech. Eventually, it was the Chelsea icon who helped push for his move to Stamford Bridge after being satisfied by his performances at Roazhon Park. After a start in the EFL cup against Spurs in a 1-1 elimination via penalties, Edoaurd Mendy became the only keeper after Petr Cech in 2004 to keep 5 successive clean sheets for the Londoners.
7. His cousin is Ferland Mendy!
Edoaurd Mendy grew up with one of today’s Galactico – Ferland Mendy. Ferland and Edouard Mendy are cousins and grew up close to each other. Both have been seen to share company and hang out on occasions. Ferland Mendy, also from Le Havre, recently moved to Real Madrid from Olympique Lyonnais. It could be possible to see the brothers in action against each other in the UEFA Champions League this season. Ferland has chosen to represent the French National Team though.
8. “Tall Doorkeeper” – The Spider
Edouard Mendy has a couple of nicknames – one being “The Spider” for his amazing reflexes and long hands and the other being called as a “Tall Doorkeeper” for being 6’6! Goalkeepers are known to be tall but being 6’6 is really tall even in Goalie numbers. The tallest Premier League keeper was Costel Pantilimon (6’8) who played for Sunderland, Watford and Manchester City.
9. Would’ve been a Business Man if not for a footballer.
Edouard Mendy would’ve been a business man if not for a footballer because of his ability to pitch ideas. He has some great interpersonal skills and as a business man, this would’ve definitely helped him sustain a middle class lifestyle. In unfortunate circumstance, should the Senegalese decide to retire from football due to an injury, he should pursue a career in the field.
10. Car – Mercedes Coupe
Edouard Mendy likes to use some of the fast wheels to travel around. He owns a Mercedes Coupe from his time at Stade Rennais. A hefty paycheck together with some bonuses and endorsements mean the Senegalese can afford some of the top European fast cars. Pictured above, the ex-Stade Rennais shot-stopper can be seen leaving the Rennes’ Training complex for the final time before his move to London.
11. Salary and Endorsements
Edouard Mendy is rumored to be earning 112000 Pounds a week at the Stamford Bridge club. This is rumored to be almost 4 times than what he earned during his time at Stade Rennais. Chelsea have an average wage bracket of around 110000 Pounds a week.
Useful Resource – Chelslea Players’ Salary and NetWorth
He is represented by Adidas and is now being considered for promotional campaigns. The Spider almost earned 200 Pounds while you read this article!
