We feared the syndrome of the uncomfortable legend once the crampons were hung up, but “Il Fenomeno” visibly prepared his reconversion with the same seriousness as his matches. Since his first appearance on the set of Canal Football Club on October 5, Steve Mandanda has established himself as a voice that counts. Far from the controversial consultants seeking buzz at all costs, the former OM captain has chosen the niche of authenticity and moderation. A “quiet strength” approach which immediately appealed to viewers, delighted to find such a respected figure to decipher Champions League evenings.
Steve Mandanda, new respected voice in the French audiovisual landscape
What is immediately striking is the technical relevance of its interventions, particularly when it comes to analyzing its core business. Mandanda put the church back in the middle of the village regarding the modern role of the goalkeeper. One sentence particularly resonated on social networks: “ The role of a goalkeeper is above all to be decisive with his hands and not to be excellent with his feet. »
A return to fundamentals welcomed by purists, tired of the obsession with kicking. This technical credibility offers undeniable added value to the CFC, providing precise insight that other consultants, often field players, cannot offer.
Naturally, it is when he mentions Olympique de Marseille that the former goalkeeper is most anticipated. And it does not disappoint. If he admits that “it feels weird” to talk about his lifelong club from the outside – a feeling shared by many supporters on X – he does it with infectious enthusiasm. Rave about the collective put in place by Roberto De Zerbi, he does not hesitate to validate the strong choices of the Italian coach, such as the confidence placed in young Darryl Bakola. For Mandanda, seeing OM play for the title is not a utopia, it is a hope based on a squad that he judges “truly complete”.
A kindness that crosses the screen
Beyond the analysis, it is the personality of the man that comes into focus. The feedback is almost unanimous: Mandanda exudes a refreshing “kindness”. He does not seek to sugarcoat the backs of the players, but to explain the contexts. His duet with Samir Nasri or his exchanges with Laure Boulleau show rapid integration, even if some logically note that he still needs to get his bearings with television codes to gain fluidity. But for a neophyte, the copy is more than clean.
In just a few weeks, Steve Mandanda succeeded in his challenge: going from the status of idol of the Vélodrome to that of respected observer. Canal+ found in him the ideal profile to balance its debates: calm, precise and passionate. If the goalkeeper has put away the gloves, his hands still seem as confident as ever to capture the audience’s attention.
