For most casual football fans, Le Havre is not a club many will be familiar with. However, a more detailed look into French football reveals that the tiny French club has in fact produced some excellent talent from its much-acclaimed youth academy.
While the Normandy club is no La Masia, some very impressive French talent has graduated from the academy, with many of them shaping or primed to shape world football in the future. Note that while Riyad Mahrez did spend three years at Le Havre before moving to Leicester City, he had already turned professional before joining the French side and hence, he cannot be considered as an academy graduate.
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Let us look at 5 amazing Le Havre graduates in recent times:
#5 Carlos Kameni
Kameni first caught the eyes of the world when he helped Cameroon win the Olympic gold medal just aged 16. Snapped up immediately after his stunning performance by Le Havre, Kameni perfected his skills as a premier shot-stopper in the French side’s academy.
Currently playing at Malaga, the 32-year-old is widely seen as one of the most reliable goalkeepers in the world. A full Cameron international since the age of 17, Kameni has plenty of feathers under his cap, including being awarded the best African goalkeeper in 2007 along with a Copa Del Rey triumph with Espanyol in 2006-07.
The Malaga goalkeeper is known for his quick reflexes, shot stopping skills and his command in the penalty box. Although Kameni made his name mostly in La Liga, much of the credit for his successful career goes to the Le Havre academy which fine tuned his skills from 2000-2004.
#4 Steve Mandanda
One of Ligue 1’s most impressive goalkeepers of the last decade, Steve Mandanda has been extremely unlucky to play the bridesmaid to Hugo Lloris in the French national side. Currently playing for Premier League side Crystal Palace, Mandanda made his name as one of the best goalkeepers in France during his stint with Marseille.
The 31-year-old Frenchman graduated from the Le Havre academy in 2005 and after 2 successful seasons, he moved to Ligue 1 giants Marseille where he won a leag uetitle in 2010 as well as three successive Coupe de la Ligues.
Mandanda is well known for making some stunning acrobatic saves and is one of the most dependable goalkeepers in the world. The French international played two seasons for Le Havre, having spent five years in the academy.
#3 Lassana Diarra
One of the most famous names to graduate from the Le Havre academy is undoubtedly former Real Madrid, Chelsea and Arsenal star Lassana Diarra. The combative French midfielder has had a stellar senior career, but he first made his presence felt in the youth teams of Le Havre.
Diarra’s best years were at Real Madrid where he was adept at breaking up play and setting up attacks. Currently playing for Marseille, Diarra has often been compared to countryman Makelele for his amazing positional and tackling skills.
The talented French midfielder played a year for the Le Havre’s academy before becoming a first-team fixture during the 2004-05 season. Aged 31, Diarra still remains a vital part of the Marseille team and fans will be hoping that the former Real Madrid star makes a quick return from injury this season.
#2 Dimitri Payet
While Dimitri Payet’s stock rose exponentially after his performances at West Ham United last season, those who have followed the Frenchman’s career from a young age will not be surprised at all by the impact he has had in the Premier League.
Throughout his spells at various Ligue 1 sides such as Nantes, St Etienne, Lille and Marseille, Payet was easily one of the division's most threatening players. The silky French midfielder played 4 years at the Le Havre academy where he honed his skills and became one of France’s premier attacking midfielders.
Currently one of the best players in the Premier League, it all began for the talented French forward at the academy of tiny French club Le Havre. The rest ,as they say is history.
#1 Paul Pogba
Undoubtedly the most famous graduate from the Le Havre academy is Manchester United star Paul Pogba. The Frenchman made a stunning world-record transfer to Manchester United from Juventus, but before breaking the record books, Paul Pogba’s immense skills were being honed at the Le Havre academy.
Arguably the most famous graduate from the academy, Pogba shocked the French club when he made a famous move to Manchester United’s youth academy. Le Havre were not pleased, as it allegedly had a "non-solicitation agreement" with Pogba, which was agreed to by not only the player but also his parents in 2006.
Despite the controversy, there is no denying the fact that the French side’s academy played a huge role in Pogba’s growth as a player.
Le Havre have produced some astonishing players in the recent past and top European clubs will do well to keep an eye on the excellent talent coming through this amazing academy.
