This is my first meeting with Jules Koundé, the 22-year-old French defender whose verve, pace and will to win have wowed the Sevilla faithful since joining from Bordeaux in 2019. First impressions will count. As he takes his seat in front of the cameras I mention my friendship with his former coach, Gustavo Poyet, and how highly the Uruguayan has always rated this human-dynamo footballer who has stamped his personality and skill-set all over Sevilla’s play for the last couple of seasons.
Koundé erupts with pleasure: “What a great coach – maybe the best I’ve had!” He insists that Poyet gets that message. Our guest is buzzing. Fizzing with positive energy, eagerness, fun… anticipation at speaking about a subject he loves. Koundé has been briefed that our topic will be his love of music and he’s brimming with things to get across as we chat for four or five minutes as the production team set everything up. We switch between Spanish, English and French, before eventually making a pact: I ask questions in Spanish, he answers in French. What then stands out a mile is that this terrific footballer is extremely intelligent, articulate, fun, self-confident and patently determined to enjoy his good fortune in life.
It’s difficult to give you my favourite artist because I listen to a lot of music, a lot of different genres and so a lot of different artists. I’d have to say Kendrick Lamar, a rapper from Los Angeles. He’s one of my favourite artists for loads of different reasons. Musically, he’s really talented. He comes up with great melodies and especially great lyrics, and that’s why he’s the most famous [rapper]. He’s also really creative with his music videos. I really like the way that he presents himself; he’s pretty discreet, he doesn’t talk much. Of course, I have loads of others, but I’d say that he’s my favourite artist.
It’s a genre I discovered pretty early on, in secondary school, and I liked it straight away because the rappers that I listen to talk about a lot of things that happen in our lives. I think that there’s always been a relationship between rap and sport because they’re both competitive environments where everyone thinks that they’re the best and tries to be the best, and that’s why I relate to it. The rappers that I listen to are often artists who are committed to the fight for social justice, and their lyrics speak to me. I listen to a lot of rappers who are considered to be lyricists, whether they’re French, American or otherwise, and I really like focusing on the lyrics. Beyond the melodies, it’s about the message that the artist is putting across.
Of course. I listen to a lot of music. I’m always listening to it, whether it’s when I’m going to a game, just before a game or in my everyday life, like when I want to go to sleep or when I need to motivate myself. I really do have several different playlists and artists that I listen to in order to relax. For example, I like listening to jazz, I like listening to R&B, too, to give myself some energy. Every genre and every artist gives me something different, and I think that’s the beauty of music. I’m quite curious and open-minded, which is why I like quite a few different genres, even though rap is my favourite.
This is my first meeting with Jules Koundé, the 22-year-old French defender whose verve, pace and will to win have wowed the Sevilla faithful since joining from Bordeaux in 2019. First impressions will count. As he takes his seat in front of the cameras I mention my friendship with his former coach, Gustavo Poyet, and how highly the Uruguayan has always rated this human-dynamo footballer who has stamped his personality and skill-set all over Sevilla’s play for the last couple of seasons.
Koundé erupts with pleasure: “What a great coach – maybe the best I’ve had!” He insists that Poyet gets that message. Our guest is buzzing. Fizzing with positive energy, eagerness, fun… anticipation at speaking about a subject he loves. Koundé has been briefed that our topic will be his love of music and he’s brimming with things to get across as we chat for four or five minutes as the production team set everything up. We switch between Spanish, English and French, before eventually making a pact: I ask questions in Spanish, he answers in French. What then stands out a mile is that this terrific footballer is extremely intelligent, articulate, fun, self-confident and patently determined to enjoy his good fortune in life.
It’s difficult to give you my favourite artist because I listen to a lot of music, a lot of different genres and so a lot of different artists. I’d have to say Kendrick Lamar, a rapper from Los Angeles. He’s one of my favourite artists for loads of different reasons. Musically, he’s really talented. He comes up with great melodies and especially great lyrics, and that’s why he’s the most famous [rapper]. He’s also really creative with his music videos. I really like the way that he presents himself; he’s pretty discreet, he doesn’t talk much. Of course, I have loads of others, but I’d say that he’s my favourite artist.
It’s a genre I discovered pretty early on, in secondary school, and I liked it straight away because the rappers that I listen to talk about a lot of things that happen in our lives. I think that there’s always been a relationship between rap and sport because they’re both competitive environments where everyone thinks that they’re the best and tries to be the best, and that’s why I relate to it. The rappers that I listen to are often artists who are committed to the fight for social justice, and their lyrics speak to me. I listen to a lot of rappers who are considered to be lyricists, whether they’re French, American or otherwise, and I really like focusing on the lyrics. Beyond the melodies, it’s about the message that the artist is putting across.
Of course. I listen to a lot of music. I’m always listening to it, whether it’s when I’m going to a game, just before a game or in my everyday life, like when I want to go to sleep or when I need to motivate myself. I really do have several different playlists and artists that I listen to in order to relax. For example, I like listening to jazz, I like listening to R&B, too, to give myself some energy. Every genre and every artist gives me something different, and I think that’s the beauty of music. I’m quite curious and open-minded, which is why I like quite a few different genres, even though rap is my favourite.
I only grew up with my mother, but my father was a musician, a drummer. I didn’t know him very well, but I’m very close to my family, so I’ve got videos, etc. Also, my mother has always really liked music and was influenced by my father. She really likes African melodies and French pop music, so I also feel very attached to them. I really like listening to French pop songs, even ones that are a bit dated. My friends often laugh when I listen to that stuff because sometimes it completely changes the vibe. For example, I’ll be listening to rap, then I’ll put on a French pop song straight after it, and they’ll look at me like, “What are you doing?” But it’s all part of that variety.
I’ve never really tried the drums, but I can remember my mum buying me a little drum kit. It was more of a toy, and I can remember spending so much time with it. It drove my mum slightly crazy because it was really noisy and I was constantly playing it, but I’ve never really tried playing the drums. That said, learning to play an instrument is something that I’ve been considering for a while, and I think that either this year or next, I’ll try to start taking piano lessons because my mother played the piano and I like it as an instrument. I think it’s very classy.
I don’t know about singing, but as for playing the piano, I think that if I dedicate myself to it and put a lot of time, energy and focus into it, I won’t become a great pianist, but if I really want it, I could possibly try to play some nice songs.
There are only really two of us who put music on in the dressing room. There’s Munir, who puts a lot of music on, particularly before games – especially Spanish and Sevillan music – and there’s me. We’ve got quite different styles. Here, they listen to a lot of reggaeton, which I struggle with. To be fair, there are certain songs that I listen to and like, but the majority of it isn’t really my style. I know that they have an ear for a tune, so they also really like listening to African music, especially Munir. He quite likes the melodies of Nigerian singers like Wizkid, for example, because they’re very tuneful. With me, it’s often rap, but I try to respect them as well because I know that if I’m putting music on for the dressing room, it’s so that everyone feels good, not just me. Most of the time, I leave the music to Munir and put my earphones in to focus on myself.
It’s a really special anthem. What makes it beautiful is its lyrics, first of all. What that music and what the fans give off when we walk out onto the pitch makes it an incredible moment. Even for opposition players, it’s a powerful moment because everyone sings it. For one long year, even a bit more, we missed it. That’s really what you feel with that chant – the passion and the love that the fans exude for football and for Sevilla in particular. That’s what makes it so powerful.
This is my first meeting with Jules Koundé, the 22-year-old French defender whose verve, pace and will to win have wowed the Sevilla faithful since joining from Bordeaux in 2019. First impressions will count. As he takes his seat in front of the cameras I mention my friendship with his former coach, Gustavo Poyet, and how highly the Uruguayan has always rated this human-dynamo footballer who has stamped his personality and skill-set all over Sevilla’s play for the last couple of seasons.
Koundé erupts with pleasure: “What a great coach – maybe the best I’ve had!” He insists that Poyet gets that message. Our guest is buzzing. Fizzing with positive energy, eagerness, fun… anticipation at speaking about a subject he loves. Koundé has been briefed that our topic will be his love of music and he’s brimming with things to get across as we chat for four or five minutes as the production team set everything up. We switch between Spanish, English and French, before eventually making a pact: I ask questions in Spanish, he answers in French. What then stands out a mile is that this terrific footballer is extremely intelligent, articulate, fun, self-confident and patently determined to enjoy his good fortune in life.
It’s difficult to give you my favourite artist because I listen to a lot of music, a lot of different genres and so a lot of different artists. I’d have to say Kendrick Lamar, a rapper from Los Angeles. He’s one of my favourite artists for loads of different reasons. Musically, he’s really talented. He comes up with great melodies and especially great lyrics, and that’s why he’s the most famous [rapper]. He’s also really creative with his music videos. I really like the way that he presents himself; he’s pretty discreet, he doesn’t talk much. Of course, I have loads of others, but I’d say that he’s my favourite artist.
It’s a genre I discovered pretty early on, in secondary school, and I liked it straight away because the rappers that I listen to talk about a lot of things that happen in our lives. I think that there’s always been a relationship between rap and sport because they’re both competitive environments where everyone thinks that they’re the best and tries to be the best, and that’s why I relate to it. The rappers that I listen to are often artists who are committed to the fight for social justice, and their lyrics speak to me. I listen to a lot of rappers who are considered to be lyricists, whether they’re French, American or otherwise, and I really like focusing on the lyrics. Beyond the melodies, it’s about the message that the artist is putting across.
Of course. I listen to a lot of music. I’m always listening to it, whether it’s when I’m going to a game, just before a game or in my everyday life, like when I want to go to sleep or when I need to motivate myself. I really do have several different playlists and artists that I listen to in order to relax. For example, I like listening to jazz, I like listening to R&B, too, to give myself some energy. Every genre and every artist gives me something different, and I think that’s the beauty of music. I’m quite curious and open-minded, which is why I like quite a few different genres, even though rap is my favourite.
This is my first meeting with Jules Koundé, the 22-year-old French defender whose verve, pace and will to win have wowed the Sevilla faithful since joining from Bordeaux in 2019. First impressions will count. As he takes his seat in front of the cameras I mention my friendship with his former coach, Gustavo Poyet, and how highly the Uruguayan has always rated this human-dynamo footballer who has stamped his personality and skill-set all over Sevilla’s play for the last couple of seasons.
Koundé erupts with pleasure: “What a great coach – maybe the best I’ve had!” He insists that Poyet gets that message. Our guest is buzzing. Fizzing with positive energy, eagerness, fun… anticipation at speaking about a subject he loves. Koundé has been briefed that our topic will be his love of music and he’s brimming with things to get across as we chat for four or five minutes as the production team set everything up. We switch between Spanish, English and French, before eventually making a pact: I ask questions in Spanish, he answers in French. What then stands out a mile is that this terrific footballer is extremely intelligent, articulate, fun, self-confident and patently determined to enjoy his good fortune in life.
It’s difficult to give you my favourite artist because I listen to a lot of music, a lot of different genres and so a lot of different artists. I’d have to say Kendrick Lamar, a rapper from Los Angeles. He’s one of my favourite artists for loads of different reasons. Musically, he’s really talented. He comes up with great melodies and especially great lyrics, and that’s why he’s the most famous [rapper]. He’s also really creative with his music videos. I really like the way that he presents himself; he’s pretty discreet, he doesn’t talk much. Of course, I have loads of others, but I’d say that he’s my favourite artist.
It’s a genre I discovered pretty early on, in secondary school, and I liked it straight away because the rappers that I listen to talk about a lot of things that happen in our lives. I think that there’s always been a relationship between rap and sport because they’re both competitive environments where everyone thinks that they’re the best and tries to be the best, and that’s why I relate to it. The rappers that I listen to are often artists who are committed to the fight for social justice, and their lyrics speak to me. I listen to a lot of rappers who are considered to be lyricists, whether they’re French, American or otherwise, and I really like focusing on the lyrics. Beyond the melodies, it’s about the message that the artist is putting across.
Of course. I listen to a lot of music. I’m always listening to it, whether it’s when I’m going to a game, just before a game or in my everyday life, like when I want to go to sleep or when I need to motivate myself. I really do have several different playlists and artists that I listen to in order to relax. For example, I like listening to jazz, I like listening to R&B, too, to give myself some energy. Every genre and every artist gives me something different, and I think that’s the beauty of music. I’m quite curious and open-minded, which is why I like quite a few different genres, even though rap is my favourite.
This is my first meeting with Jules Koundé, the 22-year-old French defender whose verve, pace and will to win have wowed the Sevilla faithful since joining from Bordeaux in 2019. First impressions will count. As he takes his seat in front of the cameras I mention my friendship with his former coach, Gustavo Poyet, and how highly the Uruguayan has always rated this human-dynamo footballer who has stamped his personality and skill-set all over Sevilla’s play for the last couple of seasons.
Koundé erupts with pleasure: “What a great coach – maybe the best I’ve had!” He insists that Poyet gets that message. Our guest is buzzing. Fizzing with positive energy, eagerness, fun… anticipation at speaking about a subject he loves. Koundé has been briefed that our topic will be his love of music and he’s brimming with things to get across as we chat for four or five minutes as the production team set everything up. We switch between Spanish, English and French, before eventually making a pact: I ask questions in Spanish, he answers in French. What then stands out a mile is that this terrific footballer is extremely intelligent, articulate, fun, self-confident and patently determined to enjoy his good fortune in life.
It’s difficult to give you my favourite artist because I listen to a lot of music, a lot of different genres and so a lot of different artists. I’d have to say Kendrick Lamar, a rapper from Los Angeles. He’s one of my favourite artists for loads of different reasons. Musically, he’s really talented. He comes up with great melodies and especially great lyrics, and that’s why he’s the most famous [rapper]. He’s also really creative with his music videos. I really like the way that he presents himself; he’s pretty discreet, he doesn’t talk much. Of course, I have loads of others, but I’d say that he’s my favourite artist.
It’s a genre I discovered pretty early on, in secondary school, and I liked it straight away because the rappers that I listen to talk about a lot of things that happen in our lives. I think that there’s always been a relationship between rap and sport because they’re both competitive environments where everyone thinks that they’re the best and tries to be the best, and that’s why I relate to it. The rappers that I listen to are often artists who are committed to the fight for social justice, and their lyrics speak to me. I listen to a lot of rappers who are considered to be lyricists, whether they’re French, American or otherwise, and I really like focusing on the lyrics. Beyond the melodies, it’s about the message that the artist is putting across.
Of course. I listen to a lot of music. I’m always listening to it, whether it’s when I’m going to a game, just before a game or in my everyday life, like when I want to go to sleep or when I need to motivate myself. I really do have several different playlists and artists that I listen to in order to relax. For example, I like listening to jazz, I like listening to R&B, too, to give myself some energy. Every genre and every artist gives me something different, and I think that’s the beauty of music. I’m quite curious and open-minded, which is why I like quite a few different genres, even though rap is my favourite.
I only grew up with my mother, but my father was a musician, a drummer. I didn’t know him very well, but I’m very close to my family, so I’ve got videos, etc. Also, my mother has always really liked music and was influenced by my father. She really likes African melodies and French pop music, so I also feel very attached to them. I really like listening to French pop songs, even ones that are a bit dated. My friends often laugh when I listen to that stuff because sometimes it completely changes the vibe. For example, I’ll be listening to rap, then I’ll put on a French pop song straight after it, and they’ll look at me like, “What are you doing?” But it’s all part of that variety.
I’ve never really tried the drums, but I can remember my mum buying me a little drum kit. It was more of a toy, and I can remember spending so much time with it. It drove my mum slightly crazy because it was really noisy and I was constantly playing it, but I’ve never really tried playing the drums. That said, learning to play an instrument is something that I’ve been considering for a while, and I think that either this year or next, I’ll try to start taking piano lessons because my mother played the piano and I like it as an instrument. I think it’s very classy.
I don’t know about singing, but as for playing the piano, I think that if I dedicate myself to it and put a lot of time, energy and focus into it, I won’t become a great pianist, but if I really want it, I could possibly try to play some nice songs.
There are only really two of us who put music on in the dressing room. There’s Munir, who puts a lot of music on, particularly before games – especially Spanish and Sevillan music – and there’s me. We’ve got quite different styles. Here, they listen to a lot of reggaeton, which I struggle with. To be fair, there are certain songs that I listen to and like, but the majority of it isn’t really my style. I know that they have an ear for a tune, so they also really like listening to African music, especially Munir. He quite likes the melodies of Nigerian singers like Wizkid, for example, because they’re very tuneful. With me, it’s often rap, but I try to respect them as well because I know that if I’m putting music on for the dressing room, it’s so that everyone feels good, not just me. Most of the time, I leave the music to Munir and put my earphones in to focus on myself.
It’s a really special anthem. What makes it beautiful is its lyrics, first of all. What that music and what the fans give off when we walk out onto the pitch makes it an incredible moment. Even for opposition players, it’s a powerful moment because everyone sings it. For one long year, even a bit more, we missed it. That’s really what you feel with that chant – the passion and the love that the fans exude for football and for Sevilla in particular. That’s what makes it so powerful.
This is my first meeting with Jules Koundé, the 22-year-old French defender whose verve, pace and will to win have wowed the Sevilla faithful since joining from Bordeaux in 2019. First impressions will count. As he takes his seat in front of the cameras I mention my friendship with his former coach, Gustavo Poyet, and how highly the Uruguayan has always rated this human-dynamo footballer who has stamped his personality and skill-set all over Sevilla’s play for the last couple of seasons.
Koundé erupts with pleasure: “What a great coach – maybe the best I’ve had!” He insists that Poyet gets that message. Our guest is buzzing. Fizzing with positive energy, eagerness, fun… anticipation at speaking about a subject he loves. Koundé has been briefed that our topic will be his love of music and he’s brimming with things to get across as we chat for four or five minutes as the production team set everything up. We switch between Spanish, English and French, before eventually making a pact: I ask questions in Spanish, he answers in French. What then stands out a mile is that this terrific footballer is extremely intelligent, articulate, fun, self-confident and patently determined to enjoy his good fortune in life.
It’s difficult to give you my favourite artist because I listen to a lot of music, a lot of different genres and so a lot of different artists. I’d have to say Kendrick Lamar, a rapper from Los Angeles. He’s one of my favourite artists for loads of different reasons. Musically, he’s really talented. He comes up with great melodies and especially great lyrics, and that’s why he’s the most famous [rapper]. He’s also really creative with his music videos. I really like the way that he presents himself; he’s pretty discreet, he doesn’t talk much. Of course, I have loads of others, but I’d say that he’s my favourite artist.
It’s a genre I discovered pretty early on, in secondary school, and I liked it straight away because the rappers that I listen to talk about a lot of things that happen in our lives. I think that there’s always been a relationship between rap and sport because they’re both competitive environments where everyone thinks that they’re the best and tries to be the best, and that’s why I relate to it. The rappers that I listen to are often artists who are committed to the fight for social justice, and their lyrics speak to me. I listen to a lot of rappers who are considered to be lyricists, whether they’re French, American or otherwise, and I really like focusing on the lyrics. Beyond the melodies, it’s about the message that the artist is putting across.
Of course. I listen to a lot of music. I’m always listening to it, whether it’s when I’m going to a game, just before a game or in my everyday life, like when I want to go to sleep or when I need to motivate myself. I really do have several different playlists and artists that I listen to in order to relax. For example, I like listening to jazz, I like listening to R&B, too, to give myself some energy. Every genre and every artist gives me something different, and I think that’s the beauty of music. I’m quite curious and open-minded, which is why I like quite a few different genres, even though rap is my favourite.
