Mike Maignan

Written by Luke Entwistle for Get French Football News:

Mike Maignan has long been waiting in the wings but it is now his time. For well over a decade, Hugo Lloris was immovable between the sticks for France. The former Tottenham goalkeeper is Les Bleus' most capped player of all time with 145 appearances. However, in the wake of France's World Cup final defeat in 2022, Lloris hung up his international gloves. Maignan, who came through the ranks at PSG before moving to Lille and then Milan, was the heir apparent and there was no surprise when he inherited the No 1 jersey. Having kept clean sheets in his first four games, he now prepares for his first major tournament as France's go-to man in goal. Has been racially abused on several occasions during his time in Serie A and in January he posted a statement in three different languages asking whether enough was being done to prevent such incidents from recurring. “I am not a ‘victim’ of racism. I am Mike, standing up, black and proud. As long as we will be able to raise our voice and make a difference, we’ll do it,” he wrote.