The Riyad Mahrez Story, a new documentary from City Studios, will be released today.
The documentary, which looks back on the career of our sensational winger, will be available on CITY+ et Recast from 6 p.m. (FR).
Ahead of its release, we’re revealing ten things we’ve learned from watching it.
1]He was a huge Marseille fan – and Zidane!
Riyad Mahrez revealed that he grew up supporting Olympique de Marseille – and that Zidane was his idol.
Although he has never played for the Olympians, Zidane – nicknamed Zizou – is the player Mahrez observed the most and from which he drew the most inspiration.
He said: “I really liked Marseille. I was in love with this club and I was a fan of all its players. Like Didier Drogba, Hatem Ben Arfa…”
“But I loved Zinedine Zidane, too. We grew up with Zidane! He was the ultimate player, whom we admired when we were younger! »
2]The JLS Tour Manager arranged a trial run for him in St Mirren
JLS tour manager Jake Duncan, a big name in the music industry who has also worked with Black Sabbath, Wham, Olly Murs, Oasis, Bruce Springsteen and The Who, is the man who organized the unsuccessful tryout for Riyadh Mahrez in St. Mirren.
Mahrez had a two-month stint with the team then playing in the first division, but he eventually returned home as the managers were slow to offer him a contract.
David Longwell, former principal of St Mirren’s academy, said: “When I was at St Mirren years ago the guy I dealt with was called Jake Duncan. He was the tour manager for JLS. »
“It was his main job but, on the side, he brought in players from France. »
“So he brought Riyadh in a group of five or six people, and we put them up in a hotel in Paisley called ‘The Abbey Inn Hotel’. »
“I tried to keep Riyadh as long as possible so that we might continue to show his ability and a decision might be made. »
Without a short-term contract proposal, Mahrez made the decision to return to France to continue his football career.
3]He almost didn’t pass the test
” Too far. Too expensive “
It was the reaction of Mahrezwhen he was offered to play a friendly match, organized by Edern Le Lan, head of recruitment in Quimper.
The meeting, organized in June 2009 in Kernilis, brought together regarding fifteen players.
Lan had been made aware by Sarcelles that they had a “very talented player” in their squad.
Mahrez said: “At first, I didn’t want to go. It was too far. Four or five hours by train. It’s on the other side of France. »
“A week before, I started thinking regarding it. Maybe I’ll go there.
“I looked at the train tickets. They were too expensive. Maybe 160 or 180 euros. »
“I asked my mother, who replied that it was too expensive. I told him not to worry, that I would return the money. »
Mahrez scored and “made the difference” during this meeting, according to Le Lan, who wanted to sign him.
The president took his time before agreeing to the deal, finally asking Le Lan, “Are you sure you want to bet on him?” »
To which Le Lan replied: “If he doesn’t reach Zidane’s level, he won’t be far from it. »
Mahrez brought his signature on the contract shortly followingwards!
WATCH: Coming soon: New City Studios documentary – The Riyad Mahrez Story
4]His nickname was Cockerel
Riyad Mahrez was nicknamed “Coquelet” by his close friend – and then teammate in Quimper – Romain Ouehi.
About this nickname, Mahrez said: “Romain called me that because I had a crest-shaped hair. »
“And because of him, everyone called me that!” »
Ouehi, commenting on her look, explained, “It was fashionable among young people at the time. »
“As his haircut reminded me of a rooster, I nicknamed him Cockerel”
“Cockerel. That’s what I called him. »
5]He thought Leicester City was a rugby team
Riyad Mahrez admitted he had reservations before joining Leicester City in January 2014. He thought when he first heard the name it was a rugby club.
He was, of course, confusing Leicester City and Leicester Tigers.
He said: “First of all, I’ve never heard of Leicester City. I thought it was a rugby team. »
“They lobbied for me. It was during the winter break in 2013. I went back to Sarcelles. I turned off my mobile.
“I said to myself ‘I’m not going’. I really didn’t want to go there. »
“When I returned to resume with Le Havre in January, I saw that they were coming back to the charge and that they were pushing more. »
After speaking to his Le Havre teammate Walid Mesloub, who told him that staying at the club “would not bring him anything”, Mahrez decided to try his luck.
He added wistfully: “It really is the best decision I have made, whether in my career or in my life. »
6]His Algerian team-mates mocked his chances of staying with Leicester
Riyad Mahrez is unquestionably a confident man – but he had to fight negativity from his own international dressing room when it came to Leicester’s chances of staying in the Premier League in the 2014 campaign –
At a national team rally in March, Mahrez spoke with his Algeria team colleagues regarding the Foxes’ struggle to stay in the Premier League.
They told him the Foxes didn’t stand a chance.
Here is the continuation of the discussion: “We were at the table having lunch with experienced players. And then they all said to me, ‘You’re dead. You will never get there. You will be relegated. »
“There was a guy called Medhi Lacen, who played for Getafe for a while. And he always played to avoid relegation with them, so he knew those kinds of situations. »
And he said to me, “Riyadh. You are finished. You have only won three matches since the start of the season, you have nine matches left and do you think you can win six or seven? You have lost your mind. It’s over. »
I told him, “I swear. I feel it. You will see. »
The rest, they say, is history.
WATCH: Every Riyad Mahrez goal for City
7]First African rewarded
Riyad Mahrez showed his humility when he became the first African player to win the PFA Player of the Year award at the end of the 2015-16 season.
During the interview he gave on the occasion of this award, he confessed his shock to be the first from this part of the world to lift the prestigious personal prize.
He mightn’t believe players like Chelsea’s famed Ivory Coast international Didier Drogba hadn’t claimed him before.
At the time, he said, “I’m very grateful. It’s a pleasure. I did not know ! »
“Drogba had never won it?” »
“It’s an honour, a great honor to be the first African to win it. »
“Not the best but the first! »
8]The a son own bartender
Riyad Mahrez has a superstition on match days – a cup of coffee before kick-off.
And he has his own barista to prepare it and bring it to him: Bernardo Silva !
Jokingly in the documentary, he said, “20 minutes before warm-up, he brings me my coffee like a little boy. »
“Because he’s afraid of me. I told him that if not, I would throw him in the ice bath. »
9]The bus parade following the CAN lasted seven hours!
Algeria have won the Africa Cup of Nations, almost 30 years following their last success, in 2019.
Les Fennecs beat Senegal 1-0 in the final to win their second title, following their first in 1990.
Mahrez was captain and full member of the team, his free-kick winner in stoppage time helping to overcome Nigeria and advance to the final.
He remembers that moment with great joy – and the ensuing bus parade in Algiers.
He says: “It was a 30 minute journey and it took seven hours to get there. »
“It was amazing. This passion. It only exists in Algeria. »
“Our people are unique. Hard but unique. »
10]He dedicated Riyad Mahrez Stadium to his father
On the eve of our famously vital last-day win over Aston Villa last season, Riyadh Mahrez flew to Sarcelles, his hometown, to inaugurate a football stadium in his name.
He was invited by the mayor of Sarcelles, Patrick Haddad, to the inauguration of the “Riyad Stadium Mahrez. »
A commemorative plaque has been added: it bears the name of his father, who unfortunately died before his ascent to the summits.
He said: “My father lived just opposite the pitch. »
“Before, it was a grass pitch with, I believe, very small wooden stands. »
“I practiced there often. »
“To know that this land now bears my name and that of my father is incredible. »
CITYZENS: COMPETITION – Win a signed Riyad Mahrez shirt
