How Jules Koundé’s Bordeaux debut amid Granville shock launched his career | OneFootball

Jules Koundé’s senior bow for Bordeaux in January 2018 came in a Coupe de France tie at Granville, a chaotic defeat that ended up kick-starting his career. According to L'Équipe, he had been within 48 hours of leaving on loan.

On 7 January at the Louis-Dior Stadium, Granville held Bordeaux 1-1, forced extra time and, after three Bordeaux red cards left them with eight men, won 2-1 before penalties. Rain lashed a poor pitch as 3,000 packed into a ground with only one covered stand.

Koundé, 19, started at centre-back alongside Théo Pellenard with Benoît Costil behind them. He had spent over a year with the first-team group without a minute, and talks had taken place over a loan to Ligue 2 or National 1 as no Ligue 1 side moved.

After the winter break and a camp on Île de Ré, he returned sharper and was handed a start amid suspensions and dips in form. The staff had also worked to broaden his skill set, using him at right-back and focusing on build-up play and crossing, even though he preferred the centre.

He coped without fuss and was seen as Bordeaux’s standout on the night, mature, solid and composed. The match was a fiasco, yet his level rose.

He stayed put and followed that debut with 18 appearances, 17 from the start, for Bordeaux.

Source: L'Équipe