5 Successful players from the Le Havre Academy in Europe

DBasia.news – Europe became one of the owners of the best football academies such as La Masia, Southampton academies, Ajax Amsterdam, Arsenal, and Olympique Lyonnais. However, there is one academy that is under-highlighted but has fairly good graduates is Le Havre.

The spotlight on club academies from Le Havre, Normandy, France is not as big as the other top clubs. Understandably, currently Le Havre plays in Ligue 2 and does not have a good record in terms of trophy achievement.

But make no mistake, the club nicknamed le club doyen, founded in 1872, also has a slick record of producing talented talents. Some of the Le Havre academy alumni names are even now stars in Europe – one of which you would surely recognize.

Following BolaSkor.com here are the five names of Le Havre’s academy products whose names are popular in Europe:

1. Paul Pogba

Was at Le Havre academy in mid 2007-2009 and then to Manchester United academy (2009-2011). Paul Pogba is better known as a United academy product, but Le Havre will never forget that they have produced the talent who won the World Cup.

Pogba (27 years) was successful when playing at Juventus in mid 2012-2016 with four Scudetto, two Coppa Italia and two Italian Super Cups. His name is now associated with Real Madrid.

Pogba’s ability as a central midfielder is very complete which can help the team defend, win the ball, penetrate from the center into the penalty box, pass the ball and score. His worth is now 100 million euros.

2. Dimitri Payet

The player has collected 38 caps and eight goals with the French national team. His name was popular when strengthening Olympique Marseille (two periods) and two years defending West Ham United (2015-2017). Dimitri Payet’s position (33 years) is an attacking midfielder.

Sequin is also able to play wide as a wing attacker and typically plays a regulator of modern attacks – not fixed in one position. Sequin was also a product of the Le Havre academy from 1999 to 2003 and moved to the US Excelsior academy in 2003-04.

3. Riyad Mahrez

Riyad Mahrez was not famous when he strengthened the Le Havre youth team (2010-2013) and played in the first team in mid 2011-2014. His new name became a widely mentioned in the 2015-16 season helping Leicester City coached by Claudio Ranieri win the Premier League.

Playing as a wing attacker, the Algerian is an inverted winger who moves from the side of the wing and penetrates into the penalty box with his left-foot. Mahrez is currently defending Man City, who recruited him in 2018 from Leicester for £ 60 million.

4. Steve Mandanda

The Marseille legend which has packed more than 300 matches in the first period (2007-2016), had a chance to play at Crystal Palace (2016-17), and returned to Marseille. Steve Mandanda also has 32 caps with the French national team.

The Kinshasa-born goalkeeper, Zaire, on March 28, 1985 was at Le Havre academy for five years (2000-2005) and played in the first team until 2008. Mandanda is an experienced goalkeeper at the age of 35 and has good quality guarding the goal.

5. Lassana Diarra

Former Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) player. Lassana Diarra is often compared to French legend, Claude Makelele for playing in the same position (defensive midfielder) and small in stature.

Lassana Diarra has 34 caps with the French national team and last played in 2019 with PSG. Although known as a defensive midfielder, Diarra is also able to be placed as an emergency defender. He was at the Le Havre academy in mid-2003-04..