Past struggles, tremendous rise and not another step backwards: Edouard Mendy's career so far broken down in 9 key facts

Rough early years

• After joining the Le Havre Academy at the age of 13, Edouard Mendy was stuck behind Zacharie Boucher, who was once considered a great talent.
• The goalkeeper eventually had to start his senior career at Cherbourg playing in France's third and fourth tiers.
• In 2014, Marseille took a gamble and signed the shot-stopper; however, he couldn't establish himself even at the club's reserve side, once again stuck behind another talent, home-grown gem Florian Escales.
• Thus, five years ago, Mendy found himself unemployed, queuing at a local job centre without any prospects in football - it was the biggest and the last setback in his career so far.

Gradual but rapid rise

• Mendy never gave up, never stopped working hard, kept looking for a chance - and got one, joining Reims during the 2016/17 Ligue 2 season.
• As a back-up for Johann Carrasso, the Senegalese kept 3 clean sheets in 8 league games in his first campaign at the club.
• In 2017/18, the shot-stopper cemented his role as a starter and led his side to a promotion, conceding just 22 goals and keeping 18 clean sheets in 34 Ligue 2 clashes.
• In 2018/19, Mendy played every single minute in all 38 games of his debut Ligue 1 campaign, conceding 42 goals and keeping 14 clean sheets (third-most); Reims finished 8th, with just four teams conceding fewer goals.
• In August 2019, Edouard signed for Rennes, and went on to concede 31 goals and keep 13 clean sheets in 33 league matches, helping the club qualify for the Champions League with a third-placed finish.