Abdoulaye Doucoure, nicknamed “Doucs” grew up in the less affluent neighborhood of Mureaux in West Paris, where his childhood was shaped by a love for gaming, especially playing PlayStation. He learned early on about patience and seizing opportunities, skills he later applied to his football career.
Attending a French-speaking school provided Doucoure with opportunities to play competitive soccer during sports periods, supported by his former PE teacher, Mickaël Pellen, who recognized his determination and athletic prowess. Despite initially excelling in athletics, particularly sprinting and cross-country, Doucoure eventually found his passion in football. His journey to success was marked by resilience in overcoming setbacks, and we will tell you all about that in this article.
It Began as a Parisian Boy’s Dream: Abdoulaye Doucoure’s History.
Yes, everyone knows he, like Conor Gallagher, is a dynamic midfield ball-winner, a nifty passer and the current “heartbeat” of the Everton team.
However, not many soccer lovers have read a comprehensive piece of Doucoure’s Biography, which is quite interesting. Now, without further ado, let’s get started.
Abdoulaye Doucoure Childhood Story – Early and Family Life:
For Biography starters, Abdoulaye Doucoure was born on the 1st day of January 1993 in Meulan-en-Yvelines, France. He was born to Malian parents as the second-youngest of eight children.
Doucoure grew up with his family in the underprivileged neighbourhood of Mureaux, West Paris.
As a child, during his early days, Doucoure was known as a game freak. On account of his experience with PlayStation, he said,
“You get used to waiting for my turn to have a go on PlayStation. For me, I made sure I was ready to take it when it comes. It kept winning everyone and continue giving in my best and never to relent. It’s the same in football.”
Back then, Doucoure attended a French-speaking school Doucoure, which offered him the opportunity to passionately play competitive soccer during sports periods.
His former PE teacher, Mickaël Pellen, knew his determination as a powerful force that would help make him big.
“I loved athletics when I was young,” says Doucouré as he continues to talk about his early sporting days…
“Back then I was a runner. I did some sprinting and love the long distance. cross country where I won all the races. I won big events and lots of titles for my school.”
The Athletic Trait: Looking closely at his present-day pic, one would notice Doucoure has the physique of a middle-distance runner.
Abdoulaye Doucoure Watford days.
His athleticism was one element of his game that he harnessed properly.
Also, during his early years in school, Doucouré was someone who spoke eloquently with mesmerizing charm and intelligence.
At the age of 12, he was elected by his classmates as one of his school’s municipal advisers.
Did You Know?? Doucoure used his advisory position to lobby his local government for the construction of proper football facilities near Vigne Blanche, located in his underprivileged neighbourhood in Mureaux, West Paris.
Shockingly, his legislative lobby went successfully. It is this intelligence he brings to football today.
Career Buildup:
The young French Lad was unable to join a club until he was 11. This was due to proximity and parental restrictions. In his words,
“To get to the only club in my area you had to cross a really busy road and my mother forbade me from going there.
She only relented when other residents went to her and said: ‘
Please You have to let him go, things are better structured there and he will be able to make a success of himself.’ “
After much persuasion, Doucoure’s parents (especially through his mum’s approval) allowed him to join the local youth team, OFC Les Mureaux. There, he got the chance to showcase and build his talent.
Abdoulaye Doucoure Bio – When the going gets tough:
At some point in his early development at OFC Les Mureaux, Doucoure felt it was time to move to greater heights.
This time, his parents saw him as a mature boy and would permit him to find his way to any football-playing location. This saw the teenager moving to apply for trials in the best youth clubs in Paris.
Sadly, his first trial at France’s prestigious Clairefontaine academy was unsuccessful. In explaining his account of the sad experience, Doucoure once said,
“That was a major disappointment because it is a legendary academy and it was a dream if things had worked out. My trial failure made me more determined to move around and find a club,”
In that same year, 2007, Pellen, a scout for Rennes, recommended Doucouré to the Breton club. At Rennes, he had a successful trial and a fruitful youth career spell.
Young Abdoulaye Doucoure before he became famous.
The year 2010, Doucouré rounded up his youth academy and was promoted to Rennes’ B side. Thanks to his amazing performance, that same year, he became hailed as one of the rising stars of European football.
This was just three years after his failed trial at France’s prestigious Clairefontaine academy.
The Setback:
“I’ve never given up on anything and I’ve always known how to be patient,”
Abdoulaye Doucoure’s journey: A testament to perseverance and patience in the face of setbacks.
A statement once said by Doucoure as he reflects on how he has endured two severe injuries to the same knee.
This injury came shortly after his participation in the memorable European Under-17 Championship tournament. In the photo below, you would quickly notice he was a teammate of Paul Pogba.
Doucoure was among France’s youth international selectors from under-17s all the way up to the 21s.
Tearing his cruciate ligaments in his left knee was his first serious injury. Doucoure continued to manage his injury until he left Rennes in 2016 for Watford.
One of Doucoure’s moments of fame while at Watford.
Delay, not Denial:
Did You Know?? Because of this injury, Doucoure was once set to leave Watford and was close to joining Lorient even before he could start a league game for the English club.
His only reason for staying was because the paperwork arrived 33 seconds late. Reflecting on this, he said,
“It was crazy. I was on the tarmac at Luton and was about to go on the private jet to sign the papers at Lorient and my agent called me and told me to stay here, that the deal was off.”
Yes, everyone usually has a sinking feeling when a flight is cancelled or delayed. However, this wasn’t the case with Doucoure.
He was happy the transfer paperwork didn’t go through. In his words,
“I was not disappointed as I did not want to go. I wanted to stay and fight for my place. My dream is England and I want to stay here.”
He once told Journalists.
Abdoulaye Doucoure Bio – Rise to Fame:
The patient Frenchman had to wait a long time to overcome his setbacks and prove his ability. It took no time before Doucoure became the fulcrum of the Watford midfield.
He could drop deep to pick up possession, switch play from side to side and launch amazing passes (even no-look) and attacks.
As a vital cog for his Watford team, Doucoure in the year 2018 won the Player of the Year football award for that memorable 2017/2018 season.
The rest, as they say of the Evertonian Premier League Legend, is now history.
Wife and Daughter (Benta):
Online reports suggest Doucoure is married to his wife, who lives with their daughter in Hemel Hempstead together.
Doucoure named his daughter Benta after his mother, which emphasizes just how close he is to her.
Because of Her: Doucouré once turned Watford down in the summer of 2015. This was because his wife was pregnant, and he did not want to move.
Watford came calling again six months later, and Rennes accepted an offer of around £8m. This was a time when Benta had already been born. Speaking about his wife and England, he once said,
“My wife speaks English and we have a very good life in England. The people of England are very nice and I want to stay here a long time.”
Abdoulaye Doucoure Personal Life:
Meet the people he calls family.
Doucoure is a down-to-earth French man who loves to send money to his relatives both in France and his native Mali in West Africa. Speaking of Africa, he once said…
“I have a lot of family in Africa and I am very happy to send monies when they need it for medicine or hospital”.
“We are footballers and we earn a lot of money so it is good to be able to help”
Members of France’s golden generation, the likes of N’golo Kante (DM), Antoine Griezman, and Olivier Giroud, might have won the 2018 FIFA World Cup. It is pertinent to note that Doucoure belongs to this group and still keeps in touch with notable members of the group. According to him,
“Pogba is still my friend. I speak to him and when we went to Manchester he gave me his shirt. We speak on phone. He’s a nice guy.”
Thanks to his performance, Doucoure has not given up hope of joining his friend in the Fench national team.
Abdoulaye Doucoure Untold Facts – Career Facts:
Did You Know?
Abdoulaye Doucoure’s handball equalizer against Southampton gave football authorities reasons why VAR must be used in the game.
In other words, his act was one of several reasons for VAR’s introduction to football (a fact not many soccer fans know about).
Abdoulaye Doucoure’s Infamous Handball: The Unintended Catalyst for VAR’s Introduction in Football.
Judging from the photo above, Doucoure deliberately deceived the official by cheating and denying Southampton a win.
From his perspective, he chooses not to nudge the ball into the goal with his arm to avoid the risk of a collision with the Southampton goalkeeper.
Fact Check:
Thanks for reading our Abdoulaye Doucoure Biography Story. We strive for accuracy and fairness in our delivery of French Football Stories. The Life History of James Garner and Ilman Ndiaye will excite you. Let’s not forget the Rising French star, Elye Wahi. If you see something that doesn’t look right in this article, please leave a comment or contact us!
