'Très déterminé': from Lyon to Les Bleus via Epinal, Lepaul never gave up | OneFootball

Estéban Lepaul has been a born goalscorer and tireless worker since childhood. According to Le Progres, those who knew him before his breakthrough are surprised to see him reach Les Bleus at 26, but not by the outcome.

At Lyon he was the instinctive forward who shot from anywhere, quick and true at any range. Coaches nicknamed him Lucky Luke and credited an intelligent reader of play who found the right positions.

Laurent Solohub, who coached him near Colmar, still sees the same attitude, touch and bite. Above all he highlights Lepaul's timing of runs, which he regards as innate.

Guided early by his father Fabrice, Lepaul drew resolve from tragedy when his father died in 2020, the year he also left Lyon without a deal. He arrived at Épinal weeks later, resilient rather than broken, team-mates recalling notable mental strength.

They also remember extra work after training, the repetitions and finishing drills. Then Épinal goalkeeper Jérôme Idir recalls a heavy strike, first-time finishing and a full goalscorer's repertoire that made him hard to read, habits he has kept.

The path was not straight, taking him to Orléans in National before a 2023 return to the Vosges without a contract. A blistering half-season opened the door to Ligue 2, and ex-coach Armand Garrido says he never envisaged such a path, yet credits talent and mindset for the leap from Ligue 1 top scorer to a France call-up.

Source: Le Progres

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”