Every player who is interested in this sport knows about such a football player as Steve Mandanda. Three-time winner of the French League Cup and Super Bowl, world champion in 2018, silver medalist of the European Championship 2016 ... At 33, he has many titles and achievements.
What did Steve start with? How did you build a career? Well, this and much more will now be discussed.
early years
Steve Mandanda was born in the Republic of Congo, in March 28, 1985. After some time, his father moved to France, and his mother, taking the boy, followed him. Then three more children appeared in the family - all boys.
At first the family lived in Evreux, then they moved to Nevers, but then returned back to Normandy. Steve spent all his childhood in the Madeleine area, where he took his first football steps.
Then the teenager began to get involved in boxing. Inspired by Mike Tyson and Mohammed Ali, he was professionally involved in it for 2 years. And he spent two fights, which he won.
But once a young man found himself in a city stadium during a boxing training. Soccer players played there. Hearing instructions from goalkeeper coach Philippe Leclerc, Steve decided to say goodbye to boxing and go in for this sport. He liked this idea, since he was always the goalkeeper in domestic football.
The young man began to train, did not miss a single day. Moreover, he even attended additional classes, which, as a rule, were not attended by more than 2-3 people.
Club career
The first club of football player Steve Mandanda was Le Havre. Although, he chose FC Kan. But after one game he fell ill with appendicitis and while he was being treated, he was found by the scout Le Havre and persuaded him to change the team.
In this club, Steve Mandanda became friends with many - especially with Lassan Diarra, because they lived together in the same room. And later, by the way, they played in one team.
From 2000 to 2008, Steve defended the colors of Le Havre. The debut for the main team took place in 2005, on August 26. Then he did not miss a single ball.
The following season, Steve Mandanda received the award as the best young player of the season in France. Of course, such teams as Olympic, PSG and Aston Villa became interested in him.
Going to a top-level club would be a good career step for Mandanda. And so he moved to Olympic for one year as a rented player. Spent 49 matches there, and the Marseille club bought it completely.
From 2008 to 2016, Steve Mandanda defended the colors of Olympic. He spent 425 matches for him, together with this club became the champion of France, silver and bronze medalist (2 and 1 times respectively), won the Cup three times and twice the Super Bowl.
And then he was rented by Crystal Palace, in which he played 9 meetings. But in 2017, Mandanda returned to Olympic.
In the national team
Steve Mandanda became part of the national team in 2003. At first he played in youth teams, and in 2008 joined the main one.
The first game took place in 2008 on May 27 - it was a friendly meeting with a team from Ecuador. Then France won with a score 2: 0. In the same year, Steve was included in the team for the European Championship. But he remained the whole tournament spare.
But after him, he became the main goalkeeper of the team. Mandanda helped the team break into the final part of the upcoming World Cup, but did not participate in the tournament itself.
Now he is always called to the national team, but he often remains in reserve. For all the time, starting in 2008, he spent only 24 matches. It’s a pity, because Steve is an excellent and cold-blooded goalkeeper with pronounced leadership qualities, who plays well with his feet, and thanks to boxing skills he easily repels strong blows.
Personal life
As mentioned at the very beginning, Steve has three brothers. And all of them are goalkeepers too! Parfait Mandanda now plays for the Belgian Charleroi. Interestingly, he decided not to play for France. Parfait plays in the national team of his historic homeland.
Another brother, Riffy, defends the colors of the French club Boulogne. And the youngest, Ever, plays for Bordeaux.
Interestingly, Steve’s idols are Fabien Barthez and Bernard Lam, former goalkeepers of the French team. He himself is often compared with the latter. And Bernard himself shared in one of the interviews - he was happy that he had inspired such a talented young man, for whose great path it was so pleasant to watch.
Also, many are interested in the wife of Steve Mandanda. With this topic a little more complicated. The goalkeeper does not advertise his personal life at all. There is not a single photograph in the personal Instagram - everything is connected with football. There is no information in other sources either. No need to expect a photo of Steve Mandanda with his wife - he probably does not have it, because the goalkeeper is not in a relationship.