Eli Junior Kroupi Explained

Eli Junior Kroupi
Fullname:Eli Junior Eric Anat Kroupi
Birth Date:23 June 2006
Birth Place:Lorient, France
Height:1.79m
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Lorient
Clubnumber:22
Youthyears1:2013–2023
Youthclubs1:Lorient
Years1:2022–2023
Clubs1:Lorient B
Caps1:18
Goals1:9
Years2:2023–
Clubs2:Lorient
Caps2:31
Goals2:5
Nationalyears1:2021–2022
Nationalteam1:France U16
Nationalcaps1:9
Nationalgoals1:5
Nationalyears2:2022–2023
Nationalteam2:France U17
Nationalcaps2:9
Nationalgoals2:9
Nationalyears3:2023
Nationalteam3:France U18
Nationalcaps3:2
Nationalgoals3:1
Nationalyears4:2023–
Nationalteam4:France U19
Nationalcaps4:11
Nationalgoals4:0
Club-Update:19 May 2024
Nationalteam-Update:25 July 2024

Eli Junior Eric Anat Kroupi (born 23 June 2006) is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for club Lorient.

Early life

Born in Lorient, Brittany, Eli Junior Kroupi is the son of former Ivory Coast international Éli Kroupi, who played as a professional for FC Lorient, where Junior started playing football.[1] [2] [3] [4]

Club career

A pure product of the,[5] [6] Junior Kroupi started playing with the National 2 reserve team in the end of the 2021–22 season.[7]

He signed his first professional contract with the club on the summer 2022.[8] While proving to be a regular goalscorer with the reserve,[9] [10] [11] he made his first appearance with the professional squad in April 2023, for the Ligue 1 game against Marseille.[12] [13]

Eli Junior Kroupi made his professional debut for FC Lorient on the 3 June 2023 during a home Ligue 1 against Strasbourg, to be the youngest player in his club's history breaking previous record of Mattéo Guendouzi, when he replaced Romain Faivre at the 83rd minute and his team won the match 2–1.[14] [15] Despite this being the last round of the 2022–23 French top flight, Kroupi became at the age of 16 years and 345 days, the third youngest player to enter the field that season, only behind Warren Zaïre-Emery and Leny Yoro.[16]

On 23 September 2023, he scored his first Ligue 1 goal for Lorient in a 5–3 away defeat against Nantes,[17] to be the youngest scorer in club's history, breaking previous record of André Ayew.[18] A month later, on 8 October, after scoring twice in a 3–3 away draw against Lyon, he became the youngest player to score a brace in Ligue 1 since Bernard Zénier in 1974, at 17 years old and 107 days.[19] [20] On 11 October 2023, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2006 worldwide.[21]

International career

Eli Junior Kroupi is a youth international for France, first receiving a call with the under-16 in October 2021.[22] He soon became a prolific goalscorer with France youth teams, with the U16, and even more with the U17, scoring 9 goals in his first 9 appearances with the latter.[23] [24] [25]

In May 2023, he was selected by Jean-Luc Vannuchi for the European Under-17 Championship, as France were the reigning champions.[26] He was however forced to withdraw due to injury,[27] while his team would eventually go on to reach the final of the competition.[28]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lorient II2021–22Championnat National 23232
2022–23Championnat National 2157157
Total18900000000189
Lorient2022–23Ligue 1100010
2023–24Ligue 1730073
Total830000000083
Career total2612000000002612

Notes and References

  1. News: Cogné . Baptiste . 23 Nov 2021 . Éli Junior, international U16, marche sur les traces de son père Éli Kroupi . fr . . 18 April 2023.
  2. Web site: Prugneau . Pierre . 26 Jul 2022 . La Ligue 1 de père en fils, une riche promotion 2022-2023 . 2023-04-18 . . fr.
  3. Web site: Gucciardi . Thomas . 6 Apr 2022 . L'OM s'attaque à l'espoir Eli Kroupi Junior (FC Lorient) . 18 April 2023 . . fr.
  4. Web site: Kulig . Jacek . 2022-12-04 . Eli Junior Kroupi . 2023-04-18 . Football Talent Scout . en.
  5. News: Cogné . Baptiste . 23 Mar 2022 . " Avec sa formation, le FCL a un bel avenir devant lui ", assure Régis Le Bris . fr . . 18 April 2023.
  6. Web site: 10 Mar 2022 . Junior Kroupi a bien grandi - pays-lorient - football . 2023-04-18 . newsouest.fr.
  7. Web site: 2022-05-26 . FC Lorient. Eli Junior Kroupi a fait ses débuts en N2 - Foot Amateur Bretagne . 2023-04-18 . Foot Amateur Bretagne . . fr.
  8. News: 10 Jun 2022 . Premier contrat professionnel pour le prometteur attaquant Junior Kroupi, fils d’Eli . fr . . 18 April 2023.
  9. Web site: 2022-08-20 . N2 : le FC Lorient (B) s’impose en toute fin de match face à Romorantin - Foot Amateur Bretagne . 2023-04-18 . Foot Amateur Bretagne . . fr.
  10. Web site: 2022-12-16 . N2 : les réservistes lorientais battent Andrézieux-Bouthéon 3-0 - Foot Amateur Bretagne . 2023-04-18 . Foot Amateur Bretagne . Le Télégramme . fr.
  11. Web site: 2023-01-14 . N2 : Lorient (B) poursuit ses emplettes - Foot Amateur Bretagne . 2023-04-18 . Foot Amateur Bretagne . Le Télégramme . fr.
  12. Web site: 2023-04-08 . FC Lorient. Première convocation en Ligue 1 pour Eli Junior Kroupi à 16 ans contre l’OM . 2023-04-18 . . fr.
  13. Web site: 2023-04-24 . Eli Junior Kroupi, 16 ans et déjà aux portes de la Ligue 1 ! . 2023-06-25 . Le Télégramme . fr-FR.
  14. Web site: 3 June 2023 . Lorient 2-1 Strasbourg, Ligue 1 : résumé du match . 2023-06-25 . L'Équipe . fr.
  15. Web site: Sauer . Rémy . 3 June 2023 . Ligue 1. Battu à Lorient (2-1), le Racing méritait mieux et termine 15e . 2023-06-25 . Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace . FR-fr.
  16. Web site: Les plus des jeunes joueurs de la saison . 2023-06-25 . Ligue1 . fr-FR.
  17. Web site: 2023-24: Eli Junior Kroupi, the youngest scorer . Ligue 1 . 4 October 2023 .
  18. Web site: Éli Junior Kroupi, el 'Lamine Yamal de la Ligue 1': "Tiene un margen de mejora inmenso" . Marca . es . 6 October 2023 .
  19. Web site: OL - Lorient : Lyon peut nourrir des regrets . L'Équipe . fr . 8 October 2023 .
  20. Web site: Football Discovery: Eli Kroupi Junior has soccer in his genes . Sport News Africa . 10 October 2023 .
  21. Web site: Next Generation 2023: 60 of the best young talents in world football. Marcus. Christenson. Steven. Bloor. Garry. Blight. 11 October 2023. 11 October 2023. theguardian.com.
  22. News: Canivenc . Clovis . 22 Oct 2021 . Equipe de France U16 : La liste pour le tournoi du Val-de-Marne . fr . MadeinFOOT . . 18 April 2023.
  23. News: Huchet . Arnaud . 23 Feb 2023 . 4 buts en 2 matchs contre l’Italie : Junior Kroupi rayonne avec l’équipe de France U17 . fr . . 18 April 2023.
  24. Web site: 2023-03-10 . Equipe de France U17 : Kroupi (Lorient) et Lambourde (Stade Rennais) appelés par Jean-Luc Vannuchi . 2023-04-18 . . fr.
  25. News: 21 Jan 2023 . Éli Junior Kroupi une nouvelle fois décisif avec l’équipe de France U17 . fr . . 18 April 2023.
  26. Web site: 3 May 2023 . Éli Junior Kroupi convoqué avec l’équipe de France U17 pour l’Euro . Ouest-France.
  27. Web site: 2023-05-06 . " Immense tristesse " pour Eli Junior Kroupi, forfait pour l’Euro U17 . 2023-06-25 . Le Télégramme . fr-FR.
  28. Web site: Germany-France Under-17 2023 Final . 2023-06-25 . UEFA.com . en.