PROFILE | Local hero Matthieu Udol overcomes adversity to assert himself at Metz | OneFootball

That Matthieu Udol is still playing professional football – let alone featuring regularly in the top flight, captaining his team and featuring in the GFFN100 – is a testament to his positive attitude, work ethic and love for the game.

Now 27, Udol has fought back from four cruciate ligament injuries (as well as undergoing an operation on his meniscus) and few can begrudge him the prolonged injury-free run that he is now enjoying.

A Messin born and bred, Udol came through the club’s youth ranks before making his professional debut at Metz’s Belgian sister club FC Seraing, where he spent half a season on loan, before being recalled and breaking into the Metz team two days before his 20th birthday.

All set to make the left back position his own, the proceeding four seasons were all but ruined by his injury woes – even when finally fit for the second half of the 2019-2020 campaign, his match-time was curtailed by Covid-19 causing the early end to the season. A return of 25 Ligue 1 matches in 2020-2021 was by far Udol’s best season in terms of appearances before 2021-2022 was cut short again by his fourth ligament tear, the club vice-captain forced to watch from the sidelines as Metz were relegated.

Udol extends Metz stay

Udol came back stronger than ever however and, now promoted to club captain, Udol has enjoyed 18 injury-free months, allowing him to help Metz to promotion from Ligue 2 last season (his third promotion with the club – to go with two relegations) and a reasonably positive Ligue 1 return thus far.

He featured for all but nine minutes of last season and in the 2023 half of the campaign contributed five assists – including one in the 3-2 victory over Bastia on the last day, which secured Metz second place and promotion.

Udol has been a fixture for Metz this season, contributing three assists which have directly helped secure a draw and two wins. His goal this week against PSG proved in vain but was another indication of his will to fight to overcome the odds, whether from his left-back berth or filling in at centre-back to help the team out.

Udol signed a contract extension in August and one has to ask if he’ll play for Metz his entire career; he replies that it’s too early to say but that this love story will continue for a little while longer at least. Considering what Udol has had to overcome, that is already a great achievement.

GFFN | Jeremy Smith