Ilan Kebbal, now a Paris FC player, has opened up about his challenging early journey in professional football and his pivotal break at Girondins de Bordeaux. Speaking on the *Hors Jeu* YouTube show, the Algerian attacking midfielder shared how Bordeaux became the first French club to believe in him, propelling his career forward.
“In my head, I always aimed for Spain for my style of play, but, as a kid, it never happened,” Kebbal explained.
“And when I had the choice of Bordeaux, the only French club, so to speak, to have trusted me at that time, I told myself that I shouldn’t hesitate and go for it.
So, I went for it. In addition, the coach was Patrick Battiston and the assistant, Marius Trésor. He was the coach who wanted me, the question didn’t arise.
He never talked to me about my physique. He saw me on the pitch, and that’s it. In Bordeaux, it was the first time that no one talked to me about my physique.”
After enduring several unsuccessful trials across France and Spain, Kebbal found a home at Bordeaux, joining the club’s academy and progressing to their B team.
His eventual signing came after a trial that initially seemed more like a long shot than a real opportunity.
“At that moment, he called my parents to tell them that he wanted to sign me, and when my mother told me that, I was shocked,” he said.
“At that moment, I was going to try out for fun, because in a professional club, I had prepared myself for the answer (negative).
There, it surprised me and, as soon as I had the answer, I said: ‘Mom, we have to sign tomorrow, we have to come.’ I was impatient to sign quickly (laughs). I was happy, honestly, it was good.”
Kebbal credited Bordeaux’s former coach Patrick Battiston for playing a key role in recognizing his talent and focusing on his abilities rather than physical attributes.
This marked a turning point in the career of the Marseille-born midfielder, whose resilience eventually opened the door to opportunities at clubs like Stade de Reims and USL Dunkerque.
Now under contract with Paris FC until June 2028 and valued at €3 million, Kebbal continues to build on the foundation laid during his time at Bordeaux.
His journey serves as a testament to perseverance and the importance of receiving support at crucial stages of development.
