Albon Lafont is the heir apparent to the throne of Hugo Lloris

As Lafont continues to develop, he will begin to push France’s “old guard” out. With both Lloris and Mandanda in their thirties, Lafont’s time is near.

France has a history of being solid between the posts on the international level. Joel Bats, Fabien Barthez and Hugo Lloris are the most well known names who have donned the gloves for Les Bleus. Lloris has been the keeper of choice for the last decade, but at age 31, his days on the national team are most likely beginning to wind down. His potential successor, Albon Lafont, is just getting started.

Toulouse goalkeeper Albon Lafont celebrated his 19th birthday in January. Most young men his age are just starting to figure out what to do in life. Lafont on the other hand, had already racked up over 80 Ligue 1 appearances. His debut as a sixteen year old was the youngest for a goalkeeper in Ligue 1 history.

Lafont hit the ground running in a difficult situation. Toulouse would be locked in a relegation fight until the final day of the 2015-2016 season. Lafont was perhaps the player with the most impact on keeping them in Ligue 1. His 8 clean sheets in 24 appearances provided the stability in net needed to stave off relegation. Toulouse finished the season a single point above relegated Stade de Reims.

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The young keeper has showed over the past few seasons the skill set to not only be a number one at an elite club, but also hold that title on the national team level.

Standing 6ft 4in with tremendous wingspan, Lafont’s size and reach gives him a large beginning area of coverage. Despite his height, Albon has great agility and reactions. Combined with his wingspan, it allows him the extra inch or two needed to make additional saves. He is fluid in his movements allowing him to get down on shots with the effectiveness of a much shorter keeper.

His command of the box continues to grow as his appearance totals rise. He anticipates well, and his positioning is ahead of the curve for his age. He displays strong hands in his ability to catch and contain the ball on crosses and driving shots.

With experience and time, he will continue to fill in some of the gaps in his game. Most notable is strength and distribution. With his height, the slender Lafont is listed at only 181 lbs. This should be of little concern as he has just now reached the age where most young men begin to fill out. The strength should come naturally from that, but continued focus on adding some mass will aid his body in ability to handle the rigors of the position. His distribution is solid, but is still a facet of his game that can get better.

Lafont is the subject of interest by some larger clubs around Europe. Arsenal and Napoli are both reported to have interest in acquiring the young keeper. A move to a higher tier club is the logical next step for the young star. This should aid in his development as he should get more opportunities against higher level competition. Being able to showcase his skill-set in the Premier League or in Europe can provide the springboard for a potentially stellar career.

The young net-minder still has work to finish this season before setting his sights on another club or league. Toulouse are currently in 17th place in Ligue 1. They are a single point above the first relegation spot. With eight games to go, Toulouse will need Albon to be at his best to insure they remain in France’s top division.

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As Lafont continues to develop, he will begin to push France’s “old guard” out. Marseille’s Steve Mandanda has been second choice to Lloris for some time, but is also in his thirties. With both of France’s top keepers coming to the end of their prime years, Lafont’s opportunity on the international level may come early. Lafont will be an unlikely addition to the French roster for this World Cup, but do not be surprised if the then 23 year old gets the call for the 2022 event.

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