Houboulang Mendes (born 4 May 1998) is a professional footballer who plays for Ligue 2 side ES Troyes AC, on loan from Segunda División club UD Almería. Mainly a right back, he can also play as a central defender.[1] Born in France, he plays for the Guinea-Bissau national team.
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 4 May 1998 | ||
| Place of birth | Courcouronnes, France | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Right back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Troyes (on loan from Almería) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Viry-Châtillon | |||
| Juvisy-sur-Orge AF | |||
| 2013–2015 | Laval | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015–2018 | Laval II | 15 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | Laval | 28 | (0) |
| 2018–2022 | Lorient | 77 | (0) |
| 2019 | Lorient II | 2 | (0) |
| 2022– | Almería | 21 | (0) |
| 2024 | → Mirandés (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2024– | → Troyes (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023– | Guinea-Bissau | 4 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 June 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 January 2024 | |||
Club career
editMendes joined Laval' youth setup at the age of 15, after playing for Juvisy-sur-Orge AF and ES Viry-Châtillon.[2] After playing for the reserve team, he made his first team debut on 19 May 2017, coming on as a late substitute for Malik Couturier in a 2–1 Ligue 2 home loss against Nîmes Olympique, as his side was already relegated.
A regular starter in the 2017–18 Championnat National, Mendes left Laval on 24 July 2018, and signed a four-year deal with FC Lorient in the second division.[3] He was regularly used until February 2019, when he suffered a knee injury.[4]
Mendes returned to action in October 2019, playing for the B-side before making three first team appearances as Lorient achieved promotion to Ligue 1. He made his debut in the category on 23 August 2020, starting in a 3–1 home win over RC Strasbourg Alsace.
On 6 July 2022, Mendes moved abroad for the first time in his career, signing a four-year contract with La Liga side UD Almería.[5] Initially a backup to Alejandro Pozo, he was demoted to third-choice after the arrival of Marc Pubill, and was loaned to Segunda División side CD Mirandés on 1 February 2024.[6]
On 27 August 2024, Mendes returned to France after agreeing to a one-year loan deal with ES Troyes AC.[7]
International career
editBorn in Courcouronnes, France, Mendes is of Senegalese and Bissau-Guinean descent.[2] He was called up to the Guinea-Bissau national team for a set of 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches in September 2023.[8]
References
edit- ^ Houboulang Mendes at Soccerway
- ^ a b "À Laval, Houboulang Mendes n'a pas fini de grandir" [In Laval, Houboulang Mendes has not finished growing] (in French). Ouest-France. 27 October 2017.
- ^ "Houboulang Mendes (Laval) signe pour quatre ans à Lorient" [Houboulang Mendes (Laval) signs for four years with Lorient] (in French). L'Équipe. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "Lorient – Lésion du ligament croisé du genou droit pour Houboulang Mendes, qui va être opéré" [Lorient – Anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee of Houboulang Mendes, who will undergo surgery] (in French). MaLigue2. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "UD Almeria strengthen back-line with signing of Houboulang Mendes". Almería. 6 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
- ^ "Mendes, quinto jugador en salir cedido, se va al Mirandés" [Mendes, fifth player to leave on loan, goes to Mirandés] (in Spanish). UD Almería. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
- ^ "Mendes shipped out to French side ESTAC Troyes". UD Almería. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ "Qualificação CAN'2023: BACIRO CANDÉ CHAMA ALAMA, OBLAK E PANOBU". O Democrata GB.
External links
edit- Houboulang Mendes at BDFutbol
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