Doncaster Rovers: Baudry '˜not your average Football League centre back'

In Mathieu Baudry, Doncaster Rovers have signed a centre back who sees his job as not just to defend but also build from the back.
Mathieu BaudryMathieu Baudry
Mathieu Baudry

The 28-year-old is a product of the Le Havre academy that also produced the likes of Lassana Diarra, Paul Pogba and Charles N’Zogbia.

He comes highly recommended from Leyton Orient too, where in an interview with their matchday programme he was described as “not your average Football League central defender”.

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“I don’t have in my head a view of a defender as someone that’s job is to destroy,” said Baudry in a revealing interview.

“I’m not there to kick the ball in the stand, I’m part of the team.

“People say when you defend, the strikers are the first defenders and for me equally the defenders are the first attackers when you get the ball. If I can win the ball back and then find someone else with it in front of me then I will always try and do that.

“Sometimes what I do can be risky but I feel sometimes it’s about taking those risks and in the long term you help the team to go forwards.”

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He added: “I like Jamie Carragher and John Terry because they are brave and great defenders but I prefer Rio Ferdinand or David Luiz. I like players who can defend but also do something effectively and find a good pass and are comfortable on the ball. It’s about taking good risks.

“It can be a fine line, so I respect people who do that. Rio Ferdinand is a great example of it, he’s a great defender but is always looking for a pass rather than to kick it in the stand.”