Jules Koundé: the Granville cup shock that launched his Bordeaux career | OneFootball

At 19, Jules Koundé finally stepped into senior football for Bordeaux in January 2018, and a shock cup defeat proved the spark for his rise. According to L'Équipe, he had spent over a year with the first team without playing and was on the verge of a loan before that night.

On 7 January 2018, rain lashed the Stade Louis-Dior as 3,000 packed in for a febrile Coupe de France last 64 tie. US Granville held Bordeaux 1-1, forced extra time, then the visitors unravelled. Reduced to eight players after three dismissals, the six-time French champions conceded and lost 2-1 after extra time, before a shootout.

Koundé made his professional debut that night at centre-back alongside Théo Pellenard, shielding Benoît Costil. He had been lined up for a loan until the end of the season, with talks held with Ligue 2 and National 1 clubs, after no Ligue 1 side advanced.

After the winter break and talks with his representatives, he came back sharper, which led coach Jocelyn Gourvennec to start him amid suspensions and poor form. Staff had been refining him, even at right-back, on build-up play and crossing, stressing versatility despite his preference for the centre.

He handled the occasion without fuss and, despite the chaos around him, was regarded internally as Bordeaux’s standout performer. The tie was a nadir for the team, but a turning point for him. After that cup match, he played 18 times for Bordeaux, starting 17.

Source: L'Équipe