Youl Mawene, by his own admission, arrived at Derby County as something of a raw and unknown quantity in the summer of 2000.
He joined Derby as a 21-year-old from French side Lens and was desperate for an opportunity to prove himself in professional football.
The chance to move to England was one that he couldn’t turn down.
At the time, Derby were in the top-flight under Jim Smith and the Frenchman admits, looking back, he instantly felt that joining the Rams had a good feel about it.
He went on to make 61 appearances for the club over the course of four seasons, but it wasn’t until the final season at Pride Park Stadium that he became a first-team regular after being sidelined due to knee surgery.
Mawene’s final season, in 2003/04, saw him voted as Derby’s Player of the Season – before he departed at the end of his contract in the summer of 2004 to link up with Preston North End.
Looking back at the time when he joined Derby, Mawene told dcfc.co.uk in 2017: “I was a young player in France and I was just looking for an opportunity.
“A new manager came in at Lens and had big, big plans. I didn’t fit in the picture and then I heard of Derby County being interested.
“I was a kid really and I had no real idea about the club. I did some research and then an agent took me to Raynesway.
“I was introduced to Jim Smith and other people; instantly it felt right. I had a good feel about it.”
Derby were relegated from the Premier League in the 2001/02 with Mawene playing 20 times.
One bright spark from that campaign was his goal in a 1-0 home win over Southampton.
Injuries held him back and after undergoing operations on both his knees, he missed almost 18 months of action between January 2002 and November 2003.
He said: “I was grateful for the opportunity and I was just making a few appearances in the Premier League, I wasn’t a regular.
“Looking back the club was in a transition period. A lot of young players were in and around the team such as Lee Morris, Seth Johnson, Rory Delap, Malcolm Christie and Chris Riggott.
“I was so lucky to play for a big club like Derby County in the Premier League. Sometimes you only really realise how good it was until it’s gone.
“I was grateful that the club stuck with me as I had to have surgery on both my knees. I was given the time to finish my rehabilitation and by the time I was back, the club was in the Championship and to be honest we were struggling a bit.
“It was a chance for me to get back in and get stuck in.”
His comeback in 2003/04 was so successful that he claimed the Jack Stamps Player of the Year Trophy.
One reason behind his successful form that year, according to Mawene, was the experienced Michael Johnson alongside him at the heart of the defence.
He said: “It was a fantastic feeling to win an individual award.
“I was young and starving to prove a point and put the injury frustration behind me.
“What helped me was Michael Johnson with a bit of experience; he was brilliant for me and a big help.”
After seeing out his contract at Derby, he moved to Preston – following a chance phone-call from a former Rams player - and racked up just shy of 100 appearances in six years at Deepdale.
He was part of the Preston side which reached the Championship Play-Off Final in 2004/05, but they were beaten 1-0 by West Ham United.
Looking back on his time with Preston, he said: “Like when I joined Derby, it happened quickly.
“I wasn’t sure what was happening in that summer and I was training at Wolves. I had a phone call from a friend of mine, Brian O’Neil, who was at Derby and was at Preston.
“I signed soon after and was managed by Craig Brown who was a well-respected manager.
“I had a great bond with everyone. It was a family club and very much like Derby, with everyone respecting the club’s traditions.
“I had one of my best seasons, playing regularly and without injuries. We did well and it is a shame we lost in the play-off final.”
Mawene has remained in football since hanging up his boots and, now 40, is working at League One side Fleetwood Town as a fitness coach.
He finished his playing days with the Cod Army in 2013 and is loving his new role.
He said: “I travelled a bit towards the end of my career before my injuries caught up with me.
“I was able to see the rehabilitation side of things and also the conditioning aspect.
“I enjoyed that side of things and in 2010 I realised I needed to think about my future career.
“I did a Sports Science course and I also doing a Masters in Strength & Conditioning, thanks to the PFA.
“I feel I can pass on my experience from various sides having been in players’ situations.”
.jpg)
