Our special guest is Édouard Mendy — Champions League and AFCON winner, FIFA’s ‘The Best’ and UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year in 2021. From nearly giving up football at a French job centre with a baby on the way, to holding the joint record for most clean sheets in a Champions League season, his rise to the top is one of football’s greatest stories.
Now playing alongside Mahrez, Firmino, and Toney at Al Ahli, Édou is also making his mark as a passionate investor, helping founders build great businesses. As he puts it, ‘it’s not just about football and not just about money.’
We dive into his journey: overcoming challenges, his time at Chelsea, and his mission to develop football in West Africa. A rare insight into the life of a top-tier player—on and off the pitch.
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Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro
(03:45) From Jobcentre Rejection to Chelsea
(11:47) 2 Months Transfer Process
(13:16) Dealing with Pressure Being as a Chelsea Goalkeeper
(14:31) The Nicest Person in Chelsea’s Dressing Room
(15:25) Did Chelsea’s Multinational Squad Drive Its Success?
(16:26) How Sophisticated Are Players About Business & Investing?
(18:24) How Did Things Change When Tuchel Replaced Lampard?
(23:09) Lampard’s Impact on Chelsea’s Success
(24:19) Champions League Final Journey
(28:36) Relationships with the Executives
(32:26) New Owners
(34:58) Seeking For New Opportunities
(37:25) Is Saudi Football About Money Over Career Progression?
(40:01) New Team & New Teammates
(41:09) Is There a Leadership Gap Between Saudi & European Clubs?
(41:52) Has Playing in Saudi Arabia Helped Build Your Off-Pitch Career?
(45:05) What Are the Biggest Financial Mistakes Players Make?
(46:48) How Does Marriage Shift as Wealth Increases?
(48:08) What Does Football Mean to Senegal and Africa?
(51:32) On Nicolas Jackson’s Progress
(54:00) Quick-Fire Round
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On today’s show we discuss:
1. Origins of a Champions League Winner:
How did Mendy get his break in France? What is it like to work your way from the bottom?
What happened when Édou decided to look at a career outside of football because he wasn’t making it in football?
You have to be careful who you put your trust in; when agents promise opportunities that don’t materialise.
The role family and humble beginnings have played in keeping him grounded as success has quickly come to him.
Signing for Reims and then Rennes which paved the way for his move to Chelsea.
2. The Chelsea Story:
From getting a call from goalkeeper coach Christophe Lollichon to eventually signing his contract; the Chelsea transfer story.
How long does it take for clubs to agree to a transfer? What did Marina Granovskaia say was unique about his move?
What role did Frank Lampard play in helping Édou establish himself as Chelsea’s number one keeper?
What happens when a manager changes at a club? From Lampard to Tuchel…
The inside story of Chelsea’s iconic Champions League win in Porto. Why Tuchel wanted to play on Chelsea’s underdog status.
From Champions of Europe and the World to the fringes of the squad; where did it go wrong?
3. Moving to Saudi Arabia and what comes next:
Why this move is not just about football and not just about money; what are the considerations that influence transfers?
‘It is important to feel wanted and I felt that from Al Ahli’. How a conversation with the CEO convinced Édou that this was the club for him.
What is most exciting about the emerging league and how is the country preparing for it’s World Cup hosting duties?
Playing in a dream team with Mahrez, Toney and Firmino and the star power of the Saudi League.
When an athlete becomes an investor; how Édou is building a profile for himself as an investor and what is the value of athletes bringing their expertise to emerging companies?
How establishing football in West Africa and Senegal in particular is and will always be a key part of his focus.
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