Exclusive: Former Charlton Athletic loanee eyes Glenn Hoddle’s Ligue 1 scoring record
BY ALESSANDRO SCHIAVONE
A former Charlton Athletic player has backed himself to become the most prolific Englishman in Ligue 1 history.
That record still belongs to Glenn Hoddle who marked his four-year stint at AS Monaco with 27 goals between 1987 and 1991.
But Stephy Mavididi, who had two loan spells with the Addicks back in 2017 and 2018, is only three goals away from pulling level with the former Tottenham Hotspur great.
Despite firing a blank in Montpellier’s 2-0 defeat against resurgent Strasbourg at La Meineau at the weekend, the 24-year-old striker was in high spirits and spoke about his ambitions, including his dream to one day play in the Premier League.
Asked by South London Press if beating Hoddle’s goal record occupies his mind, he said: “To be honest, not really.
“I have never really thought about this. I didn’t really know about this until my friends sent me the stats and the record but obviously it’s nice to have some personal records.
“But my main focus is on my team and trying to get victories for my team.”
Mavididi wasn’t even born when Hoddle’s midfield creativity and guile gave English and French clubs a number of puzzles to solve.
But such was the memory he left across the channel that the former Arsenal academy graduate said: “Hoddle was a good player who played for Tottenham.
“In his time here in France he played for Monaco and scored a lot of goals. For sure it will be nice to take away personally but it’s not something that I really search individually because I have other targets in my mind.”
Like for so many other young talents, Ligue 1 is a springboard to bigger and better things for Mavididi.
He is happy at Stade de la Mosson but admitted that he eyes a move back to England at some point in his career.
Image by Keith Gillard
He continued: “Every player wants to play in the best league in the world. And the best league in the world is the Premier League. For every player it’s a dream to play in the Premier League. And it’s my dream as well since I was young.
“Ligue 1 was a good opportunity for me and a good stepping stone to show everyone my quality and what I can do.
“I am sure that people watching the league will consider it a difficult and challenging league.
“I am sure it will attract more English people to come abroad and showcase their skills.
“I can’t tell the future. But of course it would be nice to return home.”
First things first and keeping relegation-threatened Montpellier in the top-flight is the former Charlton man’s chief goal for the next four months.
“Today I am here and it’s my priority to help the the team as best as I can. With the quality of me and my team-mates we don’t deserve to be in this position but it’s the reality and we need to fight to get out.”
PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD
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