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Eli Junior Kroupi: Lorient’s Teenage Talent
Club: Lorient Nationality: France Position: SS, ST, AM, LW Preferred Foot: Right Height: 5’10”/179cm Age: 17 Strengths: instincts, finishing, IQ, creativity, pressing, acceleration, ball-striking, ball-manipulation Areas for Development: weak-foot It has been nothing short of a catastrophic season for Lorient. One year after finishing 10th in the Ligue 1 table, Lorient find themselves in…
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Why Everyone is Talking About Pierre Lees-Melou: The Modest and Current Star of Brest
Stade Brestois have thrilled and excited in Ligue1 this season, miraculously as we approach the business end of the season their European dream is still alive and kicking. In recent weeks, figureheads from UFEA have made their feelings clear regarding the prospect of Brest hosting European nights next season. In March, the football governing…
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Tiago Santos: The Portuguese Fullback Imposing Himself at Lille
Baller Review – Tiago Santos Club: LOSC Lille Nationality: Portugal Position(s): RB Preferred Foot: Right Height: 5’9”/175cm Age: 21 Strengths: press resistance, ball progression, dribbling, crossing, passing, security, tackling, ball striking Areas for Development: aerial duels From Rafael Leão to Renato Sanches, from José Fonte to Tiago Djaló, we’ve seen quite a few Portuguese…
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Leonardo Balerdi: The Argentine Defender Emerging as Marseille’s Man Mountain
Leonardo Balerdi is someone who has learnt to smile in the face of the uncertainty. At just 14 years old, he made the decision to move 700km away from his hometown, Villa Mercedes, and go to play for the academy of his dream club, Boca Juniors. At 19, he was on the move again,…
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Tactical Analysis: Eric Roy’s Brest
When Eric Roy took charge of Stade Brestois 29 on January 3, 2023, the French club were battling relegation. Today, they are on track to qualify for European football for the first time in club history, sitting second in the Ligue 1 table, 10 points behind Paris Saint-Germain, one above Monaco and four above Lille,…
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From Reading to Pas-De-calais: The Formidable Rise of Austria’s Kevin Danso
The story of Kevin Danso is one of grit and determination – from his early years in Austria and Milton Keynes to the present day in France, the powerful defender has overcome much adversity in scaling the professional football ranks and becoming a regular name for Ralf Rangnick’s impressive Austrian national team. As a…
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Tactical Analysis: Paulo Fonseca’s Lille
It has been three years since Lille edged Paris Saint-Germain to the Ligue 1 title on the final day of the season, claiming their first championship in a decade under Christophe Galtier. They did so on the basis of a French-Portuguese connection, with sporting director Luis Campos crafting a young squad featuring Portuguese players like…
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Eli Junior Kroupi: Introducing Lorient’s Next Gem
Eli Junior Kroupi is Lorient’s new golden boy. Born and raised in Brittany, he is Lorient through and through – and that is in no part down to his father, Eli Senior, having plied his trade for Les Merlus for four years in the early 2000s. Eli Junior worked his way through the youth…
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How Angel Gomes is Embracing His New Environment at Lille
Manchester United have long been synonymous with nurturing underage talent to great success. But, in recent times, there has been a seismic shift in their approach. United have shown many fledgling stars the exit door rather than holding onto precocious talents on the fringes of the first-team squad and honing their skills with patience. …
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Guillaume Restes: The 18-year-old Goalkeeper Making Waves at Toulouse
Name: Guillaume Restes Club: Toulouse Nationality: France Position(s): GK Preferred Foot: Left Height: 6’1”/186cm Age: 18 Strengths: reflexes, speed, maturity, distribution, communication, focus Areas for Development: consistency, experience After long-time France captain Hugo Lloris retired in the wake of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final, there is a potential vacancy at the goalkeeper position…
