Edouard Mendy: The unemployed outcast who became one of world’s best at Chelsea

Edouard Mendy is a watchmaker from France who, for two decades, made watches in the garages of his wife’s family. He had no formal training but was determined to raise his craft and became one of the best watchmakers around. His story is an inspiring example that anyone can succeed through determination and hard work even when they have been labeled as “unemployable.”

“Edouard Mendy: The unemployed outcast who became one of world’s best at Chelsea” is a biography about Edouard Mendy. The author, Daniel Taylor, tells the story of how Mendy went from being an unemployed and unappreciated man in France to becoming one of the most highly paid players in world football.

Edouard Mendy has preserved more clean sheets (25) than he has surrendered goals in 2021. (24)

When Edouard Mendy came to Chelsea in September 2020 as competition for the world’s most expensive goalkeeper, he had a low profile.

Some even saw the Senegal international as a temporary replacement for the erratic Kepa Arrizabalaga, with his £22 million transfer from Rennes a fraction of the £71 million spent on the Spaniard.

Mendy, on the other hand, owns a Champions League winner’s medal and is the man in charge of the Premier League’s meanest defense a little more than a year later.

And his performance has won him a significant raise. external-link in the most recent Fifa22 ratings update

So, how did Mendy rise from multiple relegations and many months of unemployment early in his career to become, perhaps, the finest goalkeeper in the world?

Mean Mendy is setting the bar high.

So far this season, Mendy has preserved nine clean sheets in all competitions and made a number of crucial stops to keep Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea top of the Premier League with the best defensive record in the league.

Since the start of 2021, he has kept 25 clean sheets in all competitions, which is more than the amount of goals he has allowed (24) in the same time span.

It’s easy to understand why he’s been compared to Alisson at Liverpool and Ederson at Manchester City, who both arrived in England and helped their respective teams win Premier League championships.

“If you’re going to win a championship, there are going to be situations when you don’t play well, you don’t deserve to win the game, but your goalkeeper produces two or three world-class saves,” former Manchester United defender and commentator Gary Neville said on Sky Sports.

“He’s the one who’s made a difference.” When Frank [Lampard] was in charge of Chelsea, Kepa in goal was a major issue – they were surrendering far too many goals.

“It’s much more difficult to score against Chelsea, not just because of the changes Tuchel made to the back five, but also because of the goalie.”

Mendy’s authoritative presence was shown in Chelsea’s recent Champions League victory against Malmo, when he admonished teammate Hakim Ziyech for giving an opponent the chance to generate an opportunity.

Pat Nevin, a Radio 5 Live analyst and former Chelsea and Scotland winger, said: “There have been very few occasions he has had to do that but he is gaining in stature.”

“He’s in the same situation as everyone else because Kepa has progressed, so he’ll realize he has to be on his game.”

“As a shot-stopper, he’s outstanding; his reflexes are quick, and he’s fearless.” At first, he had considerable difficulty making decisions. He has been more hesitant to come out, but he has wonderful people working with him, from Petr Cech on down, and his feet have improved.

“He is addressing all of the questions that have been raised. In every aspect of his game, you can see him improving. He is in command of his box.”

Mendyexternal-link is described as a goalkeeper who “instills confidence in a backline” by fellow commentator Rio Ferdinand, and as one of Chelsea’s “best-ever acquisitions” by former Chelsea attacker Tony Cascarino.

How does he stack up against Europe’s best?

Mendy’s excellent statistics match well with the most recognized number ones in European football, in addition to being the Premier League’s in-form goalkeeper.

In Germany, the 29-year-old boasts a greater save percentage than Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer (70 percent ).

He also has a significant lead over Thibaut Courtois (71%) of Real Madrid, Gianluigi Donnarumma (69%) of Paris Saint-Germain, and Jan Oblak of Atletico Madrid (54 percent ).

The only surprise, both within and outside the Chelsea campexternal-link, seems to be that Mendy was not one of the five Blues players included to the elite Ballon d’Or 30-man list.

Tuchel was asked whether his goalkeeper deserved to be included following a standout performance against Brentford in October, and he said, “Yes.” But don’t get me wrong: I’m content. And it’s more essential for him to perform like this than it is for him to be on any list.

“I hope it doesn’t affect him too much, since it doesn’t bother me. That hasn’t had much of an effect on him. We won the challenge as a team, thus I believe we might be on that list as a whole.”

I’m out of work and ready to call it a day.

Mendy’s ascension to the top has not been simple.

The 29-year-old, who was born in the French city of Le Havre, started his professional career in 2011 with third-tier Cherbourg, where he was relegated three times before his contract expired.

He was out of work at the age of 22 after waiting for an agent to fulfill an offer from an English League One team that never materialized, and he registered with France’s unemployment department while he seriously evaluated his future in the game.

After a year without a job, Mendy was handed a one-year amateur contract with Marseille in 2015 as fourth choice on a low pay, and he did well enough in the few games he played to earn another year.

After that, he moved to Ligue 2 Reims, where he helped them achieve promotion before joining Rennes in 2019. After that, the rest is history.

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