Ludovic Blas

Ludovic Blas
Personal information
Full name Ludovic Régis Arsène Blas[1]
Date of birth (1997-12-31) 31 December 1997 (age 26)
Place of birth Colombes, France
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Rennes
Number 11
Youth career
2003–2005 Domont
2005–2009 Rambouillet
2009–2013 Montrouge
2013–2015 Guingamp
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2017 Guingamp B 33 (4)
2015–2019 Guingamp 109 (6)
2019–2023 Nantes 134 (33)
2023– Rennes 42 (8)
International career‡
2013 France U17 1 (0)
2016 France U19 11 (6)
2016–2018 France U20 14 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 June 2018

Ludovic Régis Arsène Blas (born 31 December 1997) is a French professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ligue 1 club Rennes.[3]

Club career

Guingamp

Blas arrived at Rambouillet FC at the age of 7. He already stood out from the crowd and was systematically outclassed. His trainer at the time already praised his dribbling skills and his vision of the game.[4]

Following his father's professional transfer, Blas joined Montrouge FC, allowing him to travel the region and facilitate contacts with professional team scouts. He was thus spotted by several clubs, including Monaco and Guingamp.[citation needed] He went through all the stages of the Guingamp training during his first three years at the club before joining the professional group during the training camp of the 2015–16 season.[5] Already under contract until 2020 with Guingamp, Blas signed for an additional season with the Armorican club on August 8, 2018.[6]

Nantes

Blas in 2020 during a Nantes pre-match warm-up

On 2 September 2019, Blas signed for Nantes on a five-year contract.[7][8] On 31 October 2019 he scored his first goals under his new colors in the Coupe de France, against Paris FC (8–0), a historic victory of Nantes concluded by a double of Ludovic Blas,[9] followed by his first goal in Ligue 1, ten days later against Saint-Etienne (3–2).[10] In Nantes, he took a step forward in terms of progression. In his first year in 2019–20, he inserted himself to the squad by scoring 5 goals and making an assist in 24 games played as a midfielder. He exploded in 2020–21, his second season at Nantes, where he became one of the club's key players and played all 38 games of the season, with 11 goals and 4 assists. Despite his improving, Nantes had a difficult season endend competing play-outs against Toulouse.[11] In the 2021–22 season, after 28 games played, 9 goals scored and 3 assists, he helped Nantes win the Coupe de France, scoring the winning goal in the final.[12] At the start of the following season, he played in the french supercup 4–0 loss against Paris Saint-Germain, that took place at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, Israel on 31 July 2022.[13][14] On 8 September 2022 Blas made his debut in UEFA competitions, in a 2–1 win over the greek side Olympiacos.[15] On 27 October he scored his first goal in UEFA Europa League against Qarabağ.[16][17]

On 12 February 2023 Blas became Nantes's second top scorer in Ligue 1 in the 21st century (30), behind Emiliano Sala (42).[18]

Rennes

On 5 July 2023, Blas joined fellow Ligue 1 side Rennes for a reported fee of €15 million.[19][20]

International career

Born in France, Blas is of Martiniquais descent. He is a youth international for France, having played up to the France U20s.[21]

Style of play

Blas is a technically gifted winger known for his close control in confined spaces and spell-binding skill in 1v1 situations.[22] Despite standing at about 5’11, is capable of competing aerially.[23]

During his spell at EA Guingamp under Jocelyn Gourvennec Blas was often played in midfield double pivots to organize the second phase of build-up and evade pressure in dangerous areas, he also played as wingback in Gourvennec's 5–3–2.[22] Under Antoine Kombouaré, Blas played on the wing, in a midfield two and a midfield three, and behind the striker.[22]

Due to his qualities he has been compared to Riyad Mahrez.[23]

Career statistics

As of match played 30 November 2024[24]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Coupe de France Coupe de la Ligue Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Guingamp 2015–16 Ligue 1 14 1 2 0 0 0 — — 16 1
2016–17 Ligue 1 24 1 3 0 2 1 — — 29 2
2017–18 Ligue 1 31 3 2 0 0 0 — — 33 3
2018–19 Ligue 1 34 1 2 0 4 0 — — 40 1
2019–20 Ligue 2 6 0 0 0 1 0 — — 7 0
Total 109 6 9 0 7 1 — — 125 7
Nantes 2019–20 Ligue 1 24 5 2 0 2 2 — — 28 7
2020–21 Ligue 1 36 10 1 0 — — 2[a] 1 39 11
2021–22 Ligue 1 35 10 6 5 — — — 41 15
2022–23 Ligue 1 37 7 5 2 — 8[b] 3 1[c] 0 51 12
Total 134 33 14 7 2 2 8 3 3 1 159 45
Rennes 2023–24 Ligue 1 29 4 5 0 — 8[b] 3 — 42 7
2024–25 Ligue 1 13 4 0 0 — — — 13 4
Total 42 8 5 0 — 8 3 — 55 11
Career total 285 47 27 7 9 3 16 6 3 1 338 62
  1. ^ Appearances in Ligue 1 relegation/promotion play-offs
  2. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ Appearance in Trophée des Champions

Honours

Guingamp

Nantes

France U19

Individual

References

  1. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 9 January 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  2. ^ "Ludovic Blas". FC Nantes. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022.
  3. ^ Ludovic Blas – French league stats at LFP – also available in French (archived)
  4. ^ "Blas est prêt à enflammer le Roudourou". sofoot.com. 30 July 2016..
  5. ^ "En Avant de Guingamp : Premier contrat professionnel pour Ludovic Blas". lechodelargoat.fr. 21 October 2015..
  6. ^ "Ludovic Blas prolonge jusqu'en 2021 avec Guingamp". lequipe.fr. L'Équipe. Retrieved 8 August 2018..
  7. ^ "Transferts : Ludovic Blas (Guingamp) signe cinq ans au FC Nantes" (in French). 2 September 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  8. ^ "FC Nantes : Blas signe cinq ans, Trebel arrive en cas de départ de Rongier ?" (in French). 2 September 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  9. ^ "LES IMAGES DE LA QUALIFICATION (8–0)" (in French). 31 October 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Diretta Nantes – St. Etienne" (in Italian). 10 November 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  11. ^ "Barrages : malgré la victoire de Toulouse (0–1), Nantes sauve sa place en Ligue 1" (in French). 30 May 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  12. ^ "COUPE DE FRANCE 2021 – 2022 – FINALE" (in French). 7 June 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  13. ^ "Trophée des Champions: PSG-Nantes in Tel Aviv". 31 July 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  14. ^ "PARIS REMPORTE LE TROPHÉE DES CHAMPIONS". 31 July 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  15. ^ "LE FC NANTES À LA HAUTEUR DE L'ÉVÈNEMENT !" (in French). 8 September 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  16. ^ "LE FC NANTES S'OFFRE LE DROIT DE RÊVER !" (in French). 28 October 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  17. ^ "FC Nantes. Les joueurs au crible face à Qarabag : Blas le moteur, Ganago le finisseur" (in French). 28 October 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  18. ^ Kilian Robart (12 February 2023). "Ludovic Blas devient derrière Emiliano Sala le 2eme meilleur buteur du FC Nantes en Ligue 1 au 21eme siècle" (in French). Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  19. ^ "LUDOVIC BLAS A CHOISI LE SRFC !" (in French). 5 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  20. ^ "LUDOVIC BLAS QUITTE LE FC NANTES" (in French). 5 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  21. ^ "Le jeune footballeur martiniquais Ludovic Blas vient de signer au FC Nantes". Martinique la 1ère. 12 September 2019.
  22. ^ a b c Zach Lowy (12 December 2021). "Player Analysis: Ludovic Blas". Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  23. ^ a b Thomas Millman (17 June 2020). "LUDOVIC BLAS – PLAYER REPORT". Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  24. ^ "L. Blas". Soccerway. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  25. ^ Kezzouf, Youmni (31 March 2019). "Strasbourg remporte la Coupe de la Ligue aux tirs au but". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  26. ^ "Technical Reportfinals" (PDF). UEFA.com. Retrieved 24 October 2016.