Eric Bailly Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts

Eric Bailly Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts

LifeBogger presents the Full Story of a Defender best known by the nickname “The Beast“.

Our version of Eric Bailly’s Childhood Story, including his Biography Facts, brings you a complete account of notable events from his childhood time to date.

The analysis involves his life story before fame, family background, relationship life, and many other OFF-Pitch facts (little known) about him.

Yes, everyone knows he is a defensive bedrock. However, not many football lovers have read Eric Bailly’s Biography, which is quite interesting. Now without further ado, let’s Begin.

Eric Bailly Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:

For Biography starters, his full names are Eric Bertrand Bailly. Eric Bailly, as he is often called, was born on the 12th of April 1994 to his parents, Mr and Mrs Bailly (pictured below) in Bingerville, Côte d’Ivoire.

Meet Eric Bailly's Parents, who are very proud of his achievement in life.
Meet Eric Bailly’s Parents, who are very proud of his achievement in life.

Eric Bailly grew up with his family; parents, brothers and sisters in Bingerville, the hometown of Legendary Didier Drogba.

Since the days of Didier Drogba, Bingerville had remained a suburb where emptiness ends for little boys when there is football on their feet. A young Eric Bailly was not left out.

Bailly had humble beginnings in Bingerville, Ivory Coast.
Bailly had humble beginnings in Bingerville, Ivory Coast.

Ideally, Eric Bailly began playing competitive football at the age of 7 while in primary school.

After his primary education (during his teenage years), he became the manager of a telephone box in Abidjan, the economic capital of the Ivory Coast.

From kicking off his football journey at age 7 in primary school to managing a telephone box in Abidjan during his teens, Eric Bailly's path to stardom was anything but ordinary.
From kicking off his football journey at age 7 in primary school to managing a telephone box in Abidjan during his teens, Eric Bailly’s path to stardom was anything but ordinary.

Each day after the close of business, Bailly, who was trusted by his employers, would empty out the change (monies) in his telephone. Eric once recalled;

“In Africa, there are people that live in much more difficult situations but, yes, as a child I started working,”

Eric earned very little money in the process before going on trials with other hopefuls as he pursued his dream of becoming a professional footballer. Bailly left his telephone job in a bid to pursue a local football contract.

Aside from his parents, his only means of sustenance was through his girlfriend, Vanessa Troupah, thanks to her phone call business. Details of their love story is found in Eric Bailly’s Relationship Life section.

Eric Bailly Biography Facts – Playing Position:

Just like many other kids in Bingerville, Côte d’Ivoire, Bailly actually grew up dreaming of becoming the next Didier Drogba.

However, his plans to become a striker failed as he observed it wasn’t a natural thing for him.

Bailly realised his future was in the area of defending after seeing himself seamlessly stopping any opponent who dribbled past him.

He immediately switched from studying Didier Drogba to Sergio Ramos, whom he later considered his idol.

Bailly, while in his mid-teenage years, continued to play local top-flight, hoping he would earn a decent living without any thought of Europe.

Back then, he trained with a number of teams, moving from one district of the city to another in search of a contract.

Eric Bailly Biography – Rise to Fame:

The year 2011 was a miraculous one for Bailly, who got the opportunity to play competitive football in a youth tournament in Burkina Faso.

At the youth tournament, he got spotted by Espanyol scouts who were out to look for young rugged defenders from Africa.

Bailly, who was only 17 years old at that time, met their expectations. He was quickly taken to RCD Espanyol in Barcelona, where he joined their youth system.

A delay in receiving a work permit made Bailly wait for ten months before he was allowed to play for Espanyol’s B-team in the Segunda Division.

Thanks to his hard work and dedication, Bailly’s talent grew as he was awarded the youngest defender, who was dribbled past fewer times than any of the regular central defenders in Spain’s top four clubs.

Bailly’s impressive starts dusted the likes of his idol Sergio Ramos, Diego Godin and Gerard Pique. It took no time before he became a La Liga lynchpin and a defensive problem for Lionel Messi.

During his time at Espanyol, Eric Bailly became the talking point of Derbi Barceloní, name given to football matches between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol.

After only five matches with Espanyol, Bailly was bought by Villarreal. It was at the club he got noticed by The Special One, Jose Mourinho, who became the manager for United.

On 8 June 2016, Bailly became the first player signed by José Mourinho. Since joining the club, he had impressed. The rest, as they say, is now history.

About Eric Bailly’s Wife – Vanessa Troupah:

Being in a relationship has always been an important aspect of Eric Bailly’s life. Vanessa Troupah (pictured below) has been the love of his life right from the days he was poor.

Meet Eric Bailly's Wife, Vanessa Troupah.
Meet Eric Bailly’s Wife, Vanessa Troupah.

Eric Bailly wedded longtime girlfriend Vanessa Troupah in June 2016, days after completing his four-year deal worth £30 million to Old Trafford.

Despite the quiet and low-key nature of the marriage, many curious local journalists were able to divulge the hidden identity and social status of Bailly’s lucky bride.

The wedding between Eric Bailly and his wife, Vanessa Troupah.
The wedding was between Eric Bailly and his wife, Vanessa Troupah.

The only resounding information on her was that Vanessa once ran a roadside mobile phone kiosk while her boyfriend Bailly chased local football contracts.

Immediately after their wedding, there existed gossip which reflected the following words;

What on earth could link an English Premier League professional to a local Ivorian girl who made less than $3 per day from her phone business?

Vanessa Troupah’s Response:

In response, Vanessa made a simple comment, saying she would talk when the time is due. Mrs Bailly later opened up and revealed more heart-touching secrets about her relationship with Bailly. She said;

“I met Eric when I was running a roadside mobile phone kiosk in Abidjan,”

she began.

“We did not meet on a plane, a bar or at a festival. He met me at my kiosk with the biscuits I was also selling there. Eric was a nobody then. He used to make calls at my kiosk on credit.

“Today he is an international footballer and a professional. I am not saying you have to run a mobile phone kiosk in order to meet your future husband. I only want to point out to young girls to find something doing, work hard, give advice and support to your man to help him succeed in life.”

Vanessa Troupah’s Sacrifice:

During these times, Vanessa took care of logistics for her man when he had no money. She paid Eric Bailly’s transport fares to and from training sessions.

Thou she didn’t have much, she had to sacrifice the little she had because she loved him very much and wanted him to succeed.

As of the time of writing, the couple together has a son, and as of March 6, 2017, Bailly’s wife Vanessa was pregnant.

Eric Bailly Shoe:

Bailly is more of an old-fashioned personality, thanks to his terrible footwear.

Pictured below, this is the show he wears to the dressing room. It was Juan Mata and Ashley Young that got the world to know about his shoe as they posted it on Instagram.

Ashley Young who denied not knowing the owner of the show decided to hang them on the dressing room ceiling in disgrace.

Personal Life:

Eric Bailly is known to be short-tempered, but we reckon Jose Mourinho as someone who would never sign anyone he cannot be able to handle.

Fact Check:

Thanks for reading our Eric Bailly Childhood Story plus untold biography facts.

At LifeBogger, we strive for accuracy and fairness in our quest to deliver you the stories of African footballers.

Surely, reading the Life History of Sofyan Amrabat and Frank Anguissa will excite you.

If you see something that doesn’t look right in this article, please place your comment or contact us!

Hi there! I am Hale Hendrix, a passionate football enthusiast and writer dedicated to uncovering the untold stories of footballers' childhood and biography. With a deep love for the beautiful game, I have spent countless hours researching and interviewing players to bring to light the lesser-known details of their lives.

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