Mike Maignan, Jean-Clair Todibo: from Guyana to the French team

For the first time in history, two Guyanese players are summoned simultaneously to the French men’s football team: Mike Maignan (5 caps) and Jean-Clair Todibo. After Raoul Diagne, Bernard Lama and Florent Malouda, a new wave of Yana Dòkò is coming to Les Bleus.

Samuel Piqueur
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Published on March 24, 2023 at 5:44 p.m.,

updated on March 24, 2023 at 5:59 p.m.

After Mike Maignan, now number 1 goalkeeper for the Blues, Jean-Clair Todibo is the new face of Guyana in the France team.

Au beginning of on career professional, Jean–Clair Todibo a very fast impressed. Can–be and little too quickly. Form au Toulouse FC, To l’age of 19 ans, the young Guyanese decided of s’engage au FC Barcelona. The beginning of on crossing of desert. Two seasons in Catalonia, 5 matches play, It ismeshed by two loans. Again, two failures. Schalke 04 in Germany in 2020 (10 games) then Benfica Lisbon in Portugal during the 2020-2021 season (2 games).

Transferred to Nice in January 2021, the native of Cayenne lives again under the sun of the Côte d’Azur. The 23-year-old has finally come of age and seems to have found stability. He looks back on these difficult moments in his career.

“My background, I know it, I had good periods and others not. […] I think my time at Benfica was the most complicated. I only played two games, it was the hardest stage of my (young) career, but it served me a lot in life. I had to question myself, and today I found stability“, he says.

Guyanese defender of Nice Jean-Clair Todibo during the match between OGC Nice and FC Lorient at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice, March 19, 2023.
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©VALERY HACHE / AFP

I was 18, when I arrived in Barcelona, ​​I was on my own to go through all these hardships. Looking back, I realized what had happened to me, and what I wanted to do. Today, I am not revengeful, because the mistakes, I made them alone. No one pushed me to go there (Barcelona FC, editor’s note). I did everything like a big boy, and today that’s what makes me the man I am“, he declares.

Summoned To the last minute pour replace Wesley Breathing, Jean–Clair Todibo sait what ses choice of career his are unfavorable face To the concurrence current in crew of France. After three ans sans play, the Guyanese savor son feedback in grace et on first convocation.

“I’m proud to be there (in the France team, editor’s note), I’ve always dreamed of one day coming to play in the national team. Despite my somewhat complicated background, I have always had this goal of carrying the nation high, which has given so much to my family. Today, I’m in the France team, but it’s not an end in itself. The goal is to stay there now.“

At OGC Nice, Jean-Clair Todibo is another player. The life of the young guyanese is far from the one he had when he was 18 years old. Married, the Cayenne finally seems to have found stability and now dreams of settling permanently in the France team. The one whose model is the Martiniquais Raphaël Varane could well in the near future position himself in front of the penalty area of ​​his compatriot Mike Maignan.

He is the big absentee from the 2022 World Cup. Back in shape, Mike Maignan seems to have the keys to the defense of the French team for many years, if his physique leaves him alone. Workaholic, the native of Cayenne leaves nothing to chance. Propelled number 1 goalkeeper, following the announcement of the international retirements of Hugo Lloris and Steve Mandanda, he becomes the 79ᵉ goalkeeper in the history of the France team.

Goalkeeper Mike Maignan warms up just before the Blues match against Austria in the Nations League on September 22, 2022.
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©FRANCK FIFE / AFP

At 27, the heir to Bernard Lama has never seemed so strong. Solid in the aerial duel and endowed with a good game on foot, the Milanese is the new quiet force of the last 18 meters in France.

Trained at Paris Saint-Germain, it was at LOSC, in Lille, that Mike Maignan began his professional career. Quickly, his qualities and his personality on and off the field allow him to stand out.

Named best goalkeeper in Ligue 1 during the 2018-2019 season, the career of “Magic Mike” will experience a meteoric rise. On May 21, 2019, he was called up for the French team for the first time and had his first selection on October 7, 2020 against Ukraine in a friendly match (7-1 victory).

Transferred in Italy To l’offseason 2021, il discover the Serie A (championship d’Italy of football, Editor’s note) with the Milan AC. Of l’other coast of the Alpes, the Guyanese with do and nom et become a wall impassable chez THE Rossoneri. Of the on first saison, Mike Maignan East sacred champion d’Italy et best guardian of championship.

Recognized par ses pairs, the Cayenne seems to have its path all drawn. More Unfortunately, To l’dawn of the saison 2022, son physique his cheek of the tours. Hurt To and calf, the Guyanese rate d’and souffle the Coops of monde (la France East defeat in finale par l’Argentine 5-3 to shots to goal).

Specialist in penalties and solid on his line, when discussing the succession of Hugo Lloris, only one name came up insistently. In life, nothing is ever acquired, but Mike Maignan and the cages of the France team, it is surely here to stay.

The only weak point that comes to mind when talking about Maignan in the France team remains his lack of international experience. But his inflexible coach Didier Deschamps has absolute confidence in him.

“Mike is ready. And it has already been for a while. It is certain that Hugo (Lloris) took up space, met the requirements and expectations […] But Mike to everything. Unfortunately, he was not with us during the last World Cup. But he’s back even stronger. And I know what he is capable of doing, his qualities as a goalkeeper, mentally too. He has natural leadership and he is ready for the handover. Obviously, the experience and experience of Hugo, he cannot have it by snapping his fingers. But he has everything. And I have no doubt that he has the potential to take over and rise to the highest international level.” he said at a press conference this week.

Already called 36 times in the France team behind the irremovable Hugo Lloris, Mike Maignan’s hour finally seems to have come.