Caribbeans In Europe: Jean-Eudes Maurice

French football aficionado Nicholas McGee is on hand to have a look at Haiti star Jean-Eudes Maurice and his progress at Paris Saint-Germain…

Just a few years ago, when French giants Paris Saint-Germain were struggling to make an impression in the higher reaches of Ligue 1, Haitian forward Jean-Eudes Maurice was seen as one of their most promising prospects.

Maurice was spotted by PSG scouts while playing for French 4^th tier side UJA Alfortville, and it didn’t take long for the striker, who can also play as a winger on either flank, to impress the coaching staff at the Parc Des Princes.

Indeed, just a year after joining the club Maurice signed his first professional contract, and was soon on the fringes of the first team under then-manager Paul Le Guen. He made his debut as a substitute in a UEFA Cup clash with Ukrainian outfit Dynamo Kyiv.

Maurice was spotted by PSG scouts and it didn’t take long for the striker to impress the coaching staff at the Parc Des Princes

It was Le Guen’s replacement, PSG legend Antoine Kombouare, that gave Maurice his big break however, as he handed the attacker his debut in a Coupe de la Ligue clash with Boulogne.

Kombouare’s faith was instantly re-payed as Maurice netted the only goal of the game to send the Parisians through to the last 16.

The striker would go on to score only twice more in more 28 appearances in the 2009-10 campaign, as PSG finished a disappointing 13^th and slipped to defeat in the Coupe de France Final against Monaco.

Maurice was made to suffer for his profligacy in that term, as he made just a mere one starting appearance in all competitions for the entire 2010-11 season.

PSG enjoyed an upturn in fortunes that year, as they improved to finish a surprising 4^th just four points shy of 3^rd placed Lyon and a Champions League place.

However, if that season had put a dampener on Maurice’s hopes of becoming a regular for the capital club, then the takeover of the club by Qatar Investment Authority – and subsequent spending spree – spelled the end of his days with Les Rouges-et-Bleu.

Indeed, despite early sporadic appearances in the league and in Europe, Maurice was soon loaned out to Ligue 2 RC Lens.

He fared no better in Northern France, scoring just once and notching three assists in 20 appearances as Lens struggled to adapt to life in the second tier.

Despite performing well for the Haitian national team in recent times – Maurice has netted in each of his last three games – the 26-year-old continues to struggle on the domestic front and has made a meagre two appearances after being sent out on loan to Le Mans.

Maurice’s initial promise may have faded, but his last few showings for the national side show that he still has much to offer

Inevitably, with Paris Saint-Germain bringing in several top class forwards in the summer window, Maurice has been left out as players such as Javier Pastore, Jeremy Menez and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have taken centre stage.

Maurice’s initial promise may have faded, but his last few showings for the national side show that he still has much to offer a team willing to take a chance on his services.

He was a stand-out performer in the Haiti’s Caribbean Cup qualifiers in early September, pioneering what was an exquisite display from the national side that ensured progression to the next round.

The striker has struggled to make an impact in the French game, however the right change of scenery may well be enough to inspire one of Haiti’s most polished exports to find the net on a more consistent basis.

By Nicholas McGee

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Thank you for reading! Feel free to leave any constructive feedback in the comments box below. Nicholas has written for Goal UK, French Football Weekly, Lovely Left Foot and others. Meanwhile, you can get in touch with me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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