Olympique de Marseille defender, Jean-Philippe Sabo has seen a torrid time since returning from Ajaccio in 2010. The Frenchman has played just one Ligue 1 game for Les Phoceens this campaign but has surprisingly no grievances
At the age of 24, many players are looking to find the form of their life. This is the age where many players start showing signs of potential. As they reach 25, players either hit form or simply show that they will never be able to fully realise their potential.
However, the case of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jean-Philippe-Sabo-c18220 is a quagmire and an oddity. In a few days, the defender will turn 25 and will not have much Ligue 1 experience to show for despite being at Olympique de Marseille for a long time.
The eternal third-choice for Didier Deschamps is still waiting to become a true member of Les Phoceens’ senior side and there are so many times, when he has been left in the stands. Apart from two good loan spells in Ligue 2 (Montpellier 2008/2009 and Ajaccio
2009/2010), Sabo has rarely been on the team-sheet.
This is certainly an alarming stat for a player who should be playing in Ligue 1 regularly. Furthermore, the Frenchman has never been a favourite of coaches before Deschamps.
Despite all this, no one has heard the player complain.
“My teammates ask me what I do to stay calm and patient. They tell me they cannot do this,” says Sabo who has shown a lot of patience and resilience.
Down the left flank, where Sabo prefers to play, he had to first compete with Heinze and then with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Taye-Taiwo-c34728. Heinze left and then Taiwo left last summer but Sabo’s status remained unchanged. The likes of Jeremy Morel and Djimi Traore have kept the defender
at bay.
However, Sabo refuses to say anything against Didier Deschamps.
“He was honest with me. I was not surprised to see Djimi Traore arrive. He told me that if I stayed, he will not put me away. He kept his word.”
Certainly, Sabo’s situation and the way he has handled him makes him a great squad player for Didier Deschamps and maybe, for the sake of his career, the French tactician will consider using a loyal Sabo more often than not.
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