Memphis Depay (Part 1)

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4 Apr 2024

Memphis Depay (Part 1)

Memphis Depay, commonly known simply as Memphis, is a Dutch professional footballer renowned for his dynamic forward play. Born on 13 February 1994, he currently plies his trade for La Liga powerhouse Atlético Madrid and represents the Netherlands national team.
The trajectory of Memphis's career began at PSV Eindhoven, where he flourished under the guidance of manager Phillip Cocu. During his tenure at PSV, Memphis emerged as a key figure, netting an impressive 49 goals in 124 appearances across various competitions. Notably, he clinched the Eredivisie's top scorer title during the 2014–15 season with 22 goals in 30 games, contributing significantly to PSV's Eredivisie title triumph, their first since 2008. His stellar performances earned him recognition as the Dutch Footballer of the Year and the prestigious title of "Best Young Player" in the world by France Football in 2015.

Memphis made a high-profile move to English giants Manchester United for a reported fee of £25 million. Despite initial promise, his time at Manchester United was marred by inconsistencies, prompting a move to French outfit Lyon in January 2017. Memphis enjoyed a fruitful five-season spell at Lyon before joining Barcelona in 2021 on a free transfer.
A product of the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) system, Memphis's journey with the Netherlands national team began at the early developmental stages. He played a pivotal role in the Netherlands under-17 team's triumph at the 2011 European Championship. Memphis made his senior debut in 2013 and quickly established himself as a key figure in the squad. His breakthrough performances came at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where he played a crucial role in the Netherlands' third-place finish. He has since been a mainstay in the national team setup, featuring prominently in major tournaments such as UEFA Euro 2020 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Memphis Depay hails from the quaint South Holland village of Moordrecht, born to a Ghanaian father, Dennis Depay, and a Dutch mother, Cora Schensema. However, his early years were marked by familial turbulence, as the relationship between his parents deteriorated, culminating in his father's departure from the family when Memphis was merely four years old.
In a symbolic gesture to distance himself from his father and reclaim his own identity, Memphis made the decision to shed his last name. Since 2012, he has emphasized this by requesting to be referred to solely as Memphis, articulating his sentiment with the statement: "Do not call me Depay, call me Memphis." This act serves as a poignant reflection of his journey towards self-assertion and independence.

Memphis Depay hails from the quaint South Holland village of Moordrecht, born to a Ghanaian father, Dennis Depay, and a Dutch mother, Cora Schensema. However, his early years were marked by familial turbulence, as the relationship between his parents deteriorated, culminating in his father's departure from the family when Memphis was merely four years old.
In a symbolic gesture to distance himself from his father and reclaim his own identity, Memphis made the decision to shed his last name. Since 2012, he has emphasized this by requesting to be referred to solely as Memphis, articulating his sentiment with the statement: "Do not call me Depay, call me Memphis." This act serves as a poignant reflection of his journey towards self-assertion and independence.

Memphis showcased his scoring prowess in UEFA competition, netting his first goal in memorable fashion. Drifting in from the left flank, he unleashed a thunderous strike into the top corner, leaving goalkeeper Sammy Bossut with no chance as PSV secured a 2–0 victory over Zulte Waregem in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie. Despite this triumph, PSV ultimately fell short of qualifying for the Champions League group stage.
Undeterred, Memphis continued to make his mark in European competitions. In PSV's second group stage match in the Europa League on 3 October, he found the back of the net again, contributing to a 2–0 triumph against Chornomorets Odesa. His impact extended beyond scoring as well, evidenced by his assist for Tim Matavž's goal against Roda JC on 27 October. However, this match also saw Memphis receive two second-half yellow cards, resulting in his first professional career red card, as PSV suffered a 2–1 defeat.

Memphis's influence on the pitch was further demonstrated on 15 December, when he played a pivotal role in PSV's 5–1 victory over Utrecht, scoring twice to help secure just their second win in 13 matches. Despite facing adversity, such as a bruised eye socket suffered in a previous challenge, Memphis continued to deliver standout performances. He played a key role in PSV's eighth consecutive win on 23 March 2014, contributing to a 3–1 victory over Roda JC by assisting Bryan Ruiz's game-winning goal, even while wearing a protective mask.
Memphis's contributions were instrumental in securing PSV's place in European competition for the 41st consecutive year. His goal against Breda on the final day of the season, where he expertly nudged the ball past goalkeeper Jelle ten Rouwelaar, played a crucial role in PSV's 2–0 victory, ensuring the club finished fourth in the Eredivisie table and secured European qualification.

Following his impressive performances at the 2014 World Cup, Memphis Depay found himself in high demand, with several top clubs expressing interest in securing his services, including Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur. Despite the swirling transfer rumors, Memphis remained focused and started the season for PSV Eindhoven in stellar form.
In a thrilling UEFA Europa League third qualifying round tie against St. Pölten on 7 August, Memphis made an instant impact off the bench, scoring a goal and providing an assist to help PSV secure a crucial 3–2 away victory, advancing them to the play-off round with a 4–2 aggregate win over the Austrian side. Just three days later, Memphis showcased his prowess with a brace in PSV's 3–1 away triumph against Willem II in the Eredivisie opener.

Memphis's attacking prowess continued to shine brightly in the following game, where he notched two free-kick goals and provided an assist in PSV's emphatic 6–1 home victory against Breda. His remarkable form persisted in the Europa League play-off second leg against Shakhtyor Soligorsk on 28 August, as he scored two late goals to propel PSV to a 3–0 aggregate victory and secure their spot in the group stage.
However, Memphis's momentum was halted when he suffered a groin injury during PSV's league match against Zwolle on 13 September, forcing him to be substituted early in the game.

Despite the setback, Memphis bounced back and played a pivotal role in PSV's 4–1 home triumph over Heerenveen on 18 April 2015, scoring a stunning free-kick from 35 yards out to clinch PSV's 22nd Eredivisie title, their first since 2008. As the season progressed, speculation surrounding his future intensified, with Manchester United expressing interest in signing him.
Memphis bid farewell to the PSV faithful in style, scoring his last home goal for the club in a 2–0 victory against Heracles on 10 May. His remarkable tally of 22 goals earned him the Eredivisie's top scorer accolade, cementing his status as one of the league's most prolific forwards.