Reunion Island Star Melvine Malard Shines at Chelsea Under Sonia Bompastor’s Guidance
Thousands of miles from her home, a transformative encounter shaped the football career of 14-year-old Melvine Malard. Situated about an hour from Paris, France’s national football academy at Clairefontaine is renowned for nurturing global talents like Kylian Mbappe and Thierry Henry. This is where Malard first crossed paths with Sonia Bompastor in 2014 during a football tournament while visiting from Reunion Island, a French territory in the Indian Ocean.
Bompastor, a two-time Champions League winner and now head of youth development at Lyon, recognized Malard’s potential and encouraged her to relocate to mainland France. Fast forward twelve years, and the duo is reunited at Chelsea, where Malard, signed from Manchester United in July, has quickly become a pivotal player. In just six appearances, Malard matched her six-goal total from the previous Women’s Super League season, stepping into the gap left by Sam Kerr’s exit.
“I knew she had the potential to be a really good player,” Bompastor shared with BBC Sport. “Having known her for so long and all the hard work she has put in, I’m really proud of her.”
Malard’s Early Struggles in France
Convincing Malard’s mother to allow her daughter to move nearly 6,000 miles from home proved to be a challenge for Bompastor. “It’s a lot of responsibility for you as a coach to bring a young player like this and move her from her own family,” Bompastor explained, emphasizing the trust they had built.
The young Malard faced difficulties adjusting to her new life, finding it hard to cope with the harsh winters in Lyon. Unlike the tropical warmth of Reunion Island, which rarely sees temperatures dip below 20°C, Lyon experiences much colder winters. Bompastor recalls one amusing conversation with Malard where she expressed her desire to return home due to the chilling weather: “I’m so sorry, Sonia, but I think I need to go back to my place. It’s so cold here. I can’t play football any more!”
Despite her initial reservations, Malard recognized the opportunity was too precious to decline, stating, “When Lyon calls you, it’s maybe just one time in your life. So you need to take your opportunity when it comes.”
An Ongoing Relationship and Rising Star
Bompastor’s influence on Malard extended beyond football, as she monitored the teenager’s academic performance closely. “Mel, where are you? The school called me – it’s not good what you’re doing!” Malard remembers Bompastor’s phone calls with a mix of frustration and fondness.
As Malard advanced through Lyon’s ranks, she became a regular in the first team by the age of 17. Under Bompastor’s leadership, she played an essential role in Lyon’s success, including starting in the Champions League final against Barcelona, which they won 3-1. For Bompastor, watching Malard’s journey from a shy young girl to a champion has been immensely rewarding.
Looking back, Bompastor reflects, “When you look at all the journey and Melvine coming as a young kid into a different environment, far away from her family… and how she improved to be starting that game and for us to win that game, it’s a big achievement.”
Malard’s Performance at Chelsea
Now reunited at Chelsea, Malard has embraced the challenge of leading the attack following Kerr’s departure. In her new setting, it took her just 341 minutes to net six league goals, a stark contrast to her time at Manchester United where she needed 17 matches and over 1,200 minutes to achieve the same.
Notably, her performance metrics have also improved. During her last season at United, she averaged 3.4 shots and 6.2 touches in the opposing penalty area per 90 minutes. At Chelsea, those numbers have increased to 5.4 shots and 11.8 touches, demonstrating her growing impact on matches. Bompastor attributes Malard’s growth to not only her goal-scoring ability but also her enhanced technical skills and game understanding.
“She can play in different positions so we know we can use her as a nine or as a winger,” Bompastor added, highlighting her versatility.
Looking forward, Chelsea aims to reclaim their dominance in the league after a mixed season last year. With nine games played in the current campaign, Chelsea boasts the league’s top offense and strongest defense, although a recent draw allowed Manchester City to leapfrog them in the standings. The two teams will clash this Saturday at Stamford Bridge in a crucial match for the title race.
Bompastor’s ambitions for Malard extend beyond club success. When asked about her goals for the season, Bompastor replied, “I would like you to play for France next summer as the number nine and to win the World Cup.” Twelve years after their first meeting, Bompastor continues to inspire Melvine Malard to reach new heights in her burgeoning career.
