Maiden voyage for Charles the great

By: Jay | September 26th, 2007

The stars were shining bright last night in Reading for former Lens great Charles Itandje as he made his EPL debut as the starting goalkeeper for one of football’s most storied clubs, Liverpool. This night was definately a milestone for the young French keeper who will look to make his mark in the Premiership.

“Here at Liverpool, explains Itandje, there are two very good keepers (Pepe Reina the incumbent starter and David Martin the number 3) who have been with the club for some time. For now I am the number 2. However, there are more than 60 matches over the course of a season in England. And anything can happen.”

It is true that many clubs throughout Europe were after Itandje’s services for quite some time however the big keeper stayed loyal to the sang et or for over six years making 170 appearances for the club including his debut as a teenager. That is why it came as a big surprise for Itandje and many Lens fans like myself when he was treated so poorly by the club management.

In a recent issue of France Football the talented keeper, for the first time expressed his frustration at the ugly breakup with his former club. He explains that last year was a perpetual limbo with reports having him headed to Manchester City, Portsmouth as well as a few Spanish sides. This no doubt affected his performance last season and the rock solid Itandje of old seemed to lack focus at times.

Itandje “While all these rumors were swirling they just kept telling me nothing was going to happen, says Itandje. I arrived at Lens headquarters to start the season with my head spinning. But I just kept my my mouth shut throughout the season because I didn’t want to raise a stink while the club was performing so well.”

The New Season

The biggest shock for Itandje came at the begining of this season. Shortly after Lens president Gervais Martel announced that famed coach Guy Roux had inked a deal with the club it became known that two new keepers (Vedran Runje and Ronan Le Crom) would be signed. “I was on vacation when I heard the news about Runje, says Itandje. Coach Roux had told me about Le Crom but I knew nothing about another keeper. They said nothing, I arrived at Lens camp as a persona non grata, relegated to number three status.”

New Life in Liverpool

The unfortunate developments at Lens forced big Charles to scramble to sign with another club while the LFP was already under way. Fortunately several clubs quickly contacted him. Among those was a certain Premiership side that years ago had coveted the young keeper when he was a mere teenager. The club was Liverpool and the rest is history.

Big Charles’ debut at Liverpool was marked by flashes of brilliance and a bit of rust. But there is no doubting one thing and that’s his apparent joy at being part of a mythical club with an incomparable history and a bright future. “I have the feeling of having arrived at a great and prestigious club with great players and a real spirit of conquest. Liverpool is like a giant version of Lens. In fact, Anfield reminds me of the Stade Felix Bollaert only enclosed which makes it very, very loud.

As for his old club Itandje has nothing but love for the fans, the players and the Felix Bollaert. Even though he feels a bit betrayed by his former bosses he says that he left on good terms with president Gervais Martel. As for Martel, he hasn’t said much about the keeper’s declarations in French Football magazine. However, when asked recently he quipped, “with Itandje the club was losing and now we are fine.” I don’t know about that one Mr. Martel. Check the league table to be sure.