Kevin THÉOPHILE

As winner of the Gambardella Cup (French FA Youth Cup) in May 2008 alongside the likes of Brahimi and M’Vila, Kévin Théophile-Catherine was rapidly drafted into the First-Team squad, unlike his victorious team-mates. As early as September, the right-back made his first senior start for the First Team in the League Cup against Le Mans (2-2, won on penalties). Despite a good performance, and a powerful strike against the bar on one of his first forays further up the pitch, “KTC” didn’t figure in Manager Lacombe’s plans, and only made a couple of appearances on the sub’s bench late in the season. When Antonetti arrived in June 2009, Théophile-Catherine’s name appeared on the teamsheet 30 times, but with only three occasions where he got some game-time. In the Summer of 2010, he fought off the competition from Souprayen to become first-choice in the unusual position of left-back. He became undisputed first choice, sometimes helping out in central defence, and even scored his two first professional goals in the 2010/2011 season. At the end of August 2013, he left the club that had developed him, with one year left on his contract, and signed for Cardiff City in Wales.