Édouard, Odsonne

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Fullname: Odsonne Édouard
aka: Odsonne Edouard, Eddie, Eddy, French Eddie
Born: 16 January 1998
Birthplace: Kourou, French Guiana
Signed: 31 Aug 2017 (loan from PSG); 15 June 2018 (perm from PSG, est £9m)
Left: 31 August 2021 (est £17-18m to Crystal Palace)
Position: Forward
Debut: Hamilton 1-4 Celtic, SP, 8 Sep 2017 (and scored a goal)
Squad No.: 22
Internationals: France [which international team played for]
International Caps: ? [complete at end of career]
International Goals: ? [complete at end of career]

Biog

“In Odsonne, we have signed one of the most exciting young strikers in Europe. Celtic will be a place where he can flourish.” Brendan Rodgers (Aug 2017)

Odsonne was arriving at Celtic with a lot to prove to himself. One of another in the line of the ‘the next big thing’, he had actually some evidence to back it up. Edouard won 2015 Titi d’Or, an award voted for by club supporters for best academy player. PSG reached the 2015/16 Youth League CL final, losing 2–1 v Chelsea, Édouard scored 3 goals and registered 3 assists during the competition.

In 2 years, Edouard had scored more than 60 goals for PSG at youth level, earning him the nicknames of “The Rocket” and “Magic Odsonne“. He signed for the full PSG side, but that side was monied and over-pampered by its Qatari owners who had just smashed the world record transfer signings for around £200m each on two players. This meant the players like Odsonne had to look elsewhere.

A loan spell at Toulouse was cut short after when in March 2017, Édouard was suspected of having shot at a passer-by with an airsoft gun on 11 February, injuring him in the head. On 4 July, Édouard was sentenced to a suspended four months’ prison sentence by the Correctional Court of Toulouse. He was also ordered to pay a fine of €6,000 as well as damages of €2,600 to the victim for the wounds suffered to his ear. Under this cloud, it is no surprise that his team opted him to move, and so ended up at Celtic on loan with an option to purchase in 12mths at €10m.

As Moussa Dembele had proven at Celtic, if a player makes the effort it can pay off multiple times.

Celtic Career

Odsonne Edouard arrived at Celtic and was hoped to be the next Moussa Dembele who had been an incredible star at Celtic. Under Brendan Rodgers, Celtic had started a golden era, and the arrival of Edouard was seen as bolstering the first team.

At PSG, he was seen as a fine talent, with great skill, but one who was underperforming his vast potential, hence the reason for the loan arrival at Celtic.

He hit the ground running with a fine debut goal in a one sided victory over Hamilton in September 2017, but really took his time to get some form, although a hat-trick v Motherwell in December 2017 highlighted his potential.

Into the new year he was proving his worth, scoring 11 goals in 29 games in total in his first season at Celtic, with his colleague Dembele already looking to move on. The icing on the cake was scoring the winner v Sevco in a pulsating 3-2 victory after Celtic had gone behind twice. He rubbed it in by scoring twice more against them in a 5-0 win that season, and Celtic had a new striking hero. After questioning by the media, he replied simply “I love this club”.

One key landmark came in January 2018 when Celtic defeated Hearts 3-1 in another match that pushed Celtic to the domestic treble. The three scorers were Edouard, Dembele and Ntcham. All three were of African descent (albeit now playing for European national sides), and of differing religious beliefs, and no one batted an eyelid at Celtic. The three were highly regarded, and were key players in the first team. In some ways this moment sealed the transition over the past few generations for players of African descent.

Some great moments, but concerns was consistency, and possibly motivation. However, he was bought by the management for £8m in June 2018, and things were to look up for him. All were happy on this purchase, and everyone who met him were very positive about him personally.

As a player he had great footwork, height and strength and could thread a path thru to fellow players. He was a top quality player with a potentially great future. Often thought to be a bit nonchalant in his style, he actually was really laidback and took his goals as they came. Goalkeepers found him tricky and defenders found him intimidating. He was a sublime talent.

Bizarrely, ex-Celt Charlie Nicholas complained that Edouard didn’t celebrate enough after goals, which left fans baffled at what he was talking about. Edouard replied:

“I celebrate my goals how I want… If you don’t like it, that’s not my problem“.

Over the coming seasons, he was coming to the fore, with an excellent tally of goals, helping Celtic to the coveted nine-in-a-row as well as completing the unprecedented back to back treble winning seasons. Season 2019/20 was an incredible time for him, and saw the hyperbole go into overdrive with valuations. Whilst Sevco sympathisers waxed lyrical about their overrated talent Morelos, Edouard actually scored more goals and quality ones too.

Must add that he played his part in some key goals and moments, most famously for his wonderful lay-off at the death to compatriot Ntcham to score the winner in a 2-1 victory over Lazio which was the first time a Scottish team had won a competitive match in Italy. It was sublime, and showed Edouard’s quality & developing potential.

Possibly his cheekiest moment came in the Covid delayed Scottish Cup final of December 2020, when he scored a penalty with a petanka chip. It was excellent, however Hearts fought back and Celtic scraped through to win on penalties after extra-time.

Celtic had now won the quadruple treble, 12 titles in a row, and Edouard could fully take pride in his great part in this achievement. He was a lynchpin for goals during this reign and was seen as vital to continue this hegemony, scoring 27 goals in 45 appearances. At this point he was young and had the potential to get so much better.

The turning point actually came over time after Brendan Rodgers abruptly left Celtic in 2019. As said, Edouard had a great following season (2019/20) but Lennon was a shadow of a manager compared to Rodgers, and as Celtic’s form on-field slid and then collapsed, so did that of Edouard’s too. Some tried to pin the blame in part on Edouard for the collapse in chasing for the record ten in a row in 2020/21, but there were bigger issues at stake, and Lennon as manager was poor across the board.

Edouard’s form was not the only issue, but you could still see talent. He wasn’t being given the service from a poor midfield. A better more confident side with proper training, coaching and strategy would have seen Edouard get the support he needed to show he was the lynchpin of the side. That wasn’t the case under Lennon. He still scored a number of goals but far fewer than his potential. On paper 22 goals in 40 games is a great tally but there were so many games his heart didn’t seem to be in the match. It could be argued he still helped prop up an ailing side.

He’d started the 2020/21 season with a hat-trick in the opening game but then never was able to repeat that incredible form that season. He was now more experienced and could have been hitting the heights but the service from his teammates wasn’t there. Another who faltered & stagnated due to the loss of Brendan Rodgers.

Possibly, if not infuriatingly for some, his best form at this time came in games for his national side where he was catching the eye with an incredible tally of goals for the France U21 side. It was good to see, but needed to be replicated at Celtic too.

Morale was low at Celtic and it was a common opinion that Edouard wanted to now simply move on. The loss of certain French colleagues at Celtic likely didn’t help him socially. In fairness, Edouard never publicly complained and was mostly professional throughout (despite what any critics claimed), both on and off field. Some argue though that he downed tools in his last full season but that can be easily countered. The problem was more the coaching and management under Neil Lennon.

Once Ange Postecoglou arrived at Celtic, it should have been the perfect environment for Edouard, but it was clear his heart was on a move away, especially as his close Celtic friends Ntcham and Dembele were already away. With Kyogo now winning the headlines for his goalscoring, it was looking like Celtic had a fill-in.

Edouard had the chance to close out his time with Celtic in style, but he missed a sitter in the first half in a 1-0 defeat away to TheRangers, and for some it kind of summed up his time of late at Celtic.

He left for Crystal Palace for an estimated £17-18m, now under the management of French footballing legend Patrick Viera.

Edouard at his best was an exceptional striker and had the making of a top level player for any side anywhere. Sadly his time at Celtic unwound in part due to the dire era under Neil Lennon, but possibly if he had hung around under Ange Postecoglou, he’d have hugely benefitted.

The combination of an underwhelming last full season for Celtic, covid and a hamstrung board meant that Edouard was to leave for lower than his true worth in the transfer market, but the final figure was not to be sniffed at. He had shown he had the potential to make it at a major club subject to his attitude, and we wished him the best.

Post-Celtic

Odsonne Edouard created history fast in England after being subbed on, scoring the quickest debut goal ever in the EPL (after 28 seconds) with his first touch, and he then scored another ten minutes later with the last touch of his debut for Crystal Palace. Quite an incredible start, but it wasn’t to be so grand thereafter, and many saw parallels at Crystal Palace to his time at Celtic. Incredibly, he was to end up spending more time on the bench than on the field.

[…]

Quotes

“In Odsonne, we have signed one of the most exciting young strikers in Europe. Celtic will be a place where he can flourish.”
Brendan Rodgers (Aug 2017)

“He’s a brilliant player. I think some were questioning his ability when he first came but this is a player who was brought in for a reason. He is 20, he has everything – and I mean everything. Pace, power, you see his strength and his ability with the ball at his feet. He’s got a natural brain for football. He comes into the space, he can play off the sides. He has become really physical this season as it’s gone on. He has adapted into how we play with the physicality of the game.
Brendan Rodgers (Apr 2018)

“Delighted for Odsonne Edouard, who, like Deepak and Ntcham before him, made the right choice by going to Celtic, this great school of real football, and marks a double on the day of the title against Rangers. He will never forget. The one that is practised in the ‘real’ clubs, not those who have become cut-off franchises of their communities; And that are alas becoming the norm at the highest level.”
Philippe Auclair Respected French football journalist after 5-0 victory over Sevco in which Edouard scored twice (via Twitter, Apr 2018)

“It’s normal for me to be scoring – I’m a striker! At Celtic there is lots of pressure – you should come and see a match to experience the atmosphere. I’ve got used to it and couldn’t be enjoying it more.”
Edouard to L’Equipe magazine (Sep 2019)

Charlie Nicholas: “The Celtic frontman is a better all-round footballer, although he has this slightly annoying habit of looking too casual and uninterested a lot of the time. It’s as if he can’t be too fussed in the so-called lesser games. The thing that irritates me more than anything is his lack of celebration when he scores.”
Odsonne Edouard hit back at Charlie Nicholas: “I celebrate my goals how I want..if you don’t like it. That’s not my problem.”
Charlie Nicholas baffles everyone again, and Edouard sets him straight (Sep 2019)

“From the moment I walked into Celtic, the club has felt like home to me. I have been made to feel so welcome by everyone at the club and our fans have given me such brilliant support.”
Odsonne Edouard (2019)

“He is the closest thing to Henrik Larsson I have ever seen.”
Chris Sutton on Odsonne Édouard (Feb 2020, after M’well 0-4 Celtic)

‘The complete striker is a rare breed. They are difficult to define and worth their weight in goal. Their unpredictability makes them all the harder to defend against.’
Odsonne Édouard – the best striker in Scottish football

“I actually know that Edouard loves playing for Celtic. He really, really does. Everybody seems to think – and I’m the worst culprit for it, I’ve been saying Edouard will go – what’s he worth? What’s he going to go for?”
John Hartson (May 2021)

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

(Honours below are attributed for those campaigns in which the player has played in at least one match in the campaign)

Scottish League

• 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20

Scottish Cup

• 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20

Scottish League Cup

• 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20

Pictures

• Player Pics

KDS

• First Thread (Started 2017)

Songs

• I wanna be Edouard – Celtic Song

Articles

Done deal: Celtic confirm signing of Odsonne Edouard

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/done-deal-celtic-confirm-signing-of-odsonne-edouard-1-4755299

15 June 2018

Celtic have completed the signing of Odsonne Edouard on a four-year deal from Paris Saint-Germain, the club has confirmed. The French striker, who scored 11 goals in 29 appearances during a season-long loan deal during the last campaign, has signed for what the club has said is the “biggest transfer in Celtic’s history”.

Edouard, capped at Under-17, Under-18 and Under-19 level for his country, signed professional terms with the French giants in 2016 but never appeared for the club’s first team.

Speaking to Celtic’s website, Odsonne said: “From the moment I walked into Celtic, the club has felt like home to me. I have been made to feel so welcome by everyone at the club and our fans have given me such brilliant support. “Celtic is one of the world’s great football clubs and I was desperate to make my move permanent. The scenes from May when we achieved such a historic double treble and made the city come alive are still very fresh in our memories. “To see our fans so happy is the reason you play football and now we want to do everything we can to bring our great supporters even more success.” Rodgers added: “We are delighted to make such an important signing. Odsonne is one of the best young players I have worked with and one of the best in Europe.

“Our fans saw exactly what he is capable of last season and we look forward to working with him again as we look to build on the tremendous success we achieved last year. I am sure he will be a big player again for us this season.” Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell said the signing demonstrated the club’s “absolute commitment” in giving Hoops fans a “club they can be proud of.” He added: “After the club delivered unprecedented, historic success last year, we thank our fans sincerely for the magnificent support they have already shown to the club as we look ahead to the coming season. “As ever, we will do all we can to bring our fans the success which this support deserves. We are delighted to welcome Odsonne to Celtic and we know our fans will give him their usual magnificent support.”

Odsonne Edouard ‘one of best strikers I’ve ever worked with says Celtic’s Neil Lennon

Manager braced for interest in goal hero but hopeful of staving off any admirers
By Stephen Halliday
Sunday, 2nd August 2020, 9:00 pm
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/odsonne-edouard-one-best-strikers-ive-ever-worked-says-celtics-neil-lennon-2930973

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has hailed Odsonne Edouard as one of the best strikers he has worked with in his career and believes there is certain to be interest in the 22-year-old during the current transfer window. Edouard bagged a hat-trick as Celtic opened their bid for a record-breaking tenth consecutive Scottish league title with a 5-1 defeat of Hamilton Accies at Parkhead.

The former Paris Saint-Germain player, who has two years left on his contract with the Scottish champions, has been linked with a number of clubs including English Premier League trio Arsenal, Everton and Leicester City.
Celtic: Get the latest team news, match previews and reports

“We can’t help that, it’s inevitable,” said Lennon. “But we’ll try to stave off any admirers.

“I’m sure there are plenty out there, but we love having him here and I’m sure he’s enjoying it.

“I’ve worked with great strikers. It’s too early to say if he’s the best. I think he’s got the potential to be anything he wants to be really.

“His all-round game, he’s a fantastic player. I’ve worked with all different types. Gary Hooper was a great goalscorer, Leigh Griffiths is a great 
goalscorer.

“I worked with Emile Heskey towards the end of his career and Odsonne is right up there with any of them, no question. He keeps re-writing his own story here at the minute.

“He’ll be well on the radar of other clubs before the start of this season. He had 27 goals up until March last season, and I was delighted with that goal return.

“I was delighted with the goals he got today too, he was on the end of things and that pleased me.

“I was really pleased, he scored great goals. His volume of goals is really pleasing me.

“They were striker’s goals today. Normally you associate Odsonne with brilliant individual goals, but there were a few tap-ins and a near-post run.

“I’m absolutely thrilled and I’m sure he’s happy, but we are as a team looking to build on what we’ve started with.”

Lennon was understandably satisfied with a performance by his team in which Edouard’s hat-trick was complemented by goals from Jeremie Frimpong and substitute Patryk Klimala as Celtic went to the top of the Premiership table.

“It’s a brilliant start,” he said. “I’m more pleased with the second half, we had to iron out a few things from the first half when we were 2-1 up.

“We were a little bit passive and lacking in intensity in our play with the ball.

“In the second half we got a brilliant response, a real powerful performance. To score five goals after such a lengthy lay-off speaks volumes for the players’ mentality and their quality, and their will to win. I’m absolutely thrilled by that.

“There is definitely more to come. The intensity we played with in the second half was much better.

“We were a little bit off it in the first half which was totally understandable. We’ve had a long pre-season with a few games, and it wasn’t really enough, so they will feel the benefit of that today.”

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Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard tests positive for Covid-19 – what does it mean for clash against Rangers?

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/celtic-striker-odsonne-edouard-tests-positive-covid-19-what-does-it-mean-clash-against-rangers-2995127By

Matthew Elder

Tuesday, 6th October 2020, 10:51 pm

The French FA has confirmed that the front man will miss the U21 clashes with Liechtenstein and Slovakia.

The 22-year-old will now be required to self-isolate placing his appearance in the Old Firm fixture against Rangers next Saturday into doubt.

Edouard played for Celtic on Sunday against St Johnstone prior to heading out on international duty.

A French FA statement said: “Odsonne Edouard will not participate in the France-Liechtenstein and France-Slovakia Espoirs matches, counting for the qualifiers for Euro 2021.

“The result of his Covid-19 test carried out by UEFA this Tuesday morning, October 6 having been positive, Odsonne Edouard was sidelined from the group upon receipt of the results, at the end of training . He was then placed in isolation.

“All the other tests carried out on the entire delegation, staff members and players, were negative.”

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