Ex de Malherbe. For his retraining, Etienne Mendy chose hyperactivity
Through Quentin Lemoine
Published on
Big fan of jazz, the former striker of the SM Caen (Calvados) Etienne Mendy played his life according to several scores. “The foot remains my first passion but I have always wanted my mind to remain open to the outside. “
He first became an agent alongside Pape Diouf whom he would follow at Olympique de Marseille when he joined the board. “I didn’t think I was capable of being an agent, but Pope often told me that I had all the qualities. I knew how to be a big brother to my younger teammates. I advised them to mix with different personalities, to connect with reality and not stay locked in their bubble. “
Then, about fifteen years ago, he created, with his brothers, his construction company, MB Real Estate, which in Dakar, is well established. “Real estate is an area that has always pleased and interested me. With Bafétimbi Gomis [ancien international français, ndlr], we are planning to open an orphanage. “
Last year, with the Etoile Lusitania, he had already opened his academy which should soon have a brand new sports complex built on five hectares of land.
“It was I who brought Bruno [Metsu, ndlr] in Senegal. We were very good friends. He had seen me play in the street and allowed me to sign for AS Beauvais. I wanted to give him back everything he gave me. “
Two seasons and forty-three meetings with SM Caen
Back in the First Division in 1996, SM Caen made the surprising choice to part with his prolific pair of attackers. Farewell Samuel Michel and Franck Priou; hello Anthony Bancarel and Etienne Mendy who come from FC Sochaux. “The previous year, I had already had contact with SM Caen but, at the time, FC Sochaux had just been relegated to the second division and had not released any of its players. Even though everything did not go as planned, I have fond memories of Stade Malherbe. “
Three questions to Étienne Mendy
– Etienne, what are the best memories you have of your two seasons at SM Caen?
All the meetings that I made there and which enriched me. SM Caen remains a very good part of my career.
– Who are the most talented players that you met there?
William Gallas, David Sommeil, Jérôme Rothen who had a superb left paw. He is the one who will control all my goal balls.
– Do you continue to follow the club’s news?
I was sent a press article when Alexandre Mendy scored his triple against Rodez Aveyron Football. I smiled and thought that a Mendy was succeeding another Mendy.
In difficulty all season, he is, in fact, logically demoted at the end of the championship. “Our group was young, small and we were not spared from injuries. We have locked ourselves in a spiral of doubt from which we have never been able to escape. “
Club’s top scorer
The start of the next exercise is just as disastrous. Halfway through the race, Argentinian coach Gaby Calderon was sacked and replaced by Pascal Théault. Young promising elements enrich the workforce. William Gallas, David Sommeil, Jérôme Rothen in particular. Quarter-finalist of the Coupe de France, SM Caen fails in ninth place in the standings after having long believed in the podium
Etienne Mendy chooses exile in Nîmes Olympique. “Pascale [Théault, ndlr] able to make play his young which were pushing. What I understand today but what I do not understand then. “
Top scorer of the club (14 goals) with, in particular, a triple against FC Martigues, Etienne Mendy will have to wait twenty years and Jessy Deminguet to see his performance equal.
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