Introduction
Bernard Mendy (born 20 August 1981) is a French footballer who plays for Chennaiyin FC in Indian Super League. He is a right back/right wing-back who is known for his blistering pace and constant overlapping runs.
Career
Born in Évreux, Eure, a great fan of Paris Saint-Germain since his childhood, Mendy achieved his ambitions in 2000 when he joined PSG from SM Caen. Even though he had impressed a lot of people by his qualities during his first two seasons at PSG, he was loaned to Bolton Wanderers of England for a year, where he was appreciated for his offensive and speedy style. The new manager of PSG, Vahid Halilhodzic, decided to give him an opportunity to assert himself by using him as a first choice. That year, Mendy played one of his best seasons and was rewarded by playing his first match with the French national team against Brazil. However, he was not selected for the country's 2006 FIFA World Cup roster. In 2008, he scored the decisive goal in the final of the Coupe de la Ligue against RC Lens in a 2–1 victory, calmly stroking the ball home from the penalty spot.
Mendy had stated his desire to return to England, to play for his favourite football club, Manchester United. Instead, on 20 June 2008, it was reported by BBC Radio Humberside that Hull City had offered Mendy a three-year deal to join the newly promoted English club. He accepted the offer and joined Hull City for training in Italy. Hull manager Phil Brown had been assistant manager at Bolton during Mendy's time there. He scored his first goal for Hull City, a lob against ironically, Manchester United, in a game they lost 4–3. He was released from his contract on 17 May 2010.
On 9 February 2011 Mendy signed a 1 ½ year contract with the Danish club Odense Boldklub (OB) having passed the medical examination. On 25 June 2012, Mendy returned to playing in the French league by signing a 2 years contract for Stade Brestois on a free transfer.
India career
On 21 August 2014, Mendy was a first round pick in the Inaugural ISL International Draft, signing for the Chennaiyin FC. He started in their first match on 15 October, a 2–1 win at FC Goa.
On 12 January 2016, Mendy signed to play for the I-League side East Bengal in the 2015–16 season.
He received the number 45 scoring in his debut against Aizawl FC.
Club statistics
- As of 12 March 2016
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Caen | 1998–99 | Ligue 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | |
| 1999–2000 | Ligue 2 | 30 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 31 | 2 | ||
| Total | 34 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 35 | 2 | |||
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2000–01 | Ligue 1 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| 2001–02 | Ligue 1 | 21 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 27 | 3 | |
| 2003–04 | Ligue 1 | 33 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 38 | 0 | ||
| 2004–05 | Ligue 1 | 29 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 37 | 1 | |
| 2005–06 | Ligue 1 | 36 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 40 | 0 | ||
| 2006–07 | Ligue 1 | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 39 | 2 | |
| 2007–08 | Ligue 1 | 23 | 1 | 8 | 3 | — | 31 | 4 | ||
| Total | 189 | 2 | 26 | 5 | 23 | 3 | 238 | 10 | ||
| Hull City | 2008–09 | Premier League | 28 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | 33 | 2 | |
| 2009–10 | Premier League | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 23 | 0 | ||
| Total | 49 | 2 | 7 | 0 | — | 56 | 2 | |||
| OB | 2010–11 | Danish Superliga | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 11 | 0 | |
| 2011–12 | Danish Superliga | 29 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 35 | 2 | |
| Total | 40 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 46 | 2 | ||
| Brest | 2012–13 | Ligue 1 | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 33 | 0 | |
| 2013–14 | Ligue 2 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | ||
| Total | 38 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 41 | 2 | |||
| Chennaiyin FC | 2014 | Indian Super League | 13 | 1 | — | — | 13 | 1 | ||
| AEL Limassol | 2014–15 | Cypriot First Division | 12 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 17 | 0 | |
| Chennaiyin FC | 2015 | Indian Super League | 11 | 2 | — | — | 11 | 2 | ||
| East Bengal | 2015–16 | I-League | 10 | 2 | — | — | 10 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 382 | 10 | 42 | 5 | 29 | 0 | 453 | 15 | ||
Personal life
Mendy is currently married to former gymnast Lucy Hughes and has three daughters, Kayna, Iman and his third daughter was born in June 2010.
Honours
Club
PSG
- Coupe de France: 2004, 2006
- Coupe de la Ligue: 2008
Chennaiyin
- Indian Super League: 2015
International
- Under 18 European Championships: 2000
Individual
- UNFP Team of the Year: 2003–04