Wanya Marçal: The Road To Break Through At LCFC
An exciting prospect at just 20 years of age, his development through the Club’s youth ranks has led him all the way to first team action. And what an impact he’s had. Landmarks have been reached, milestone have been hit and the winger is only just getting started...
Here, the Academy graduate sits down to evaluate the journey that he has been on over the course of his time with the Foxes. The path from promising youngster to talented star is never easy and many years of hard work have enabled him to reach this point.
“Coming through the Academy, I started here when I was 13,” Marçal recalled, speaking from inside the King Power Centre at LCFC Training Ground, a facility that he can now call home.
“Coming through the ranks, I signed as a scholar, two years later I signed as a professional and kept getting opportunities to be around the first team, but never really broke through until now.
“It was a good journey; it’s been a hell of a journey and I’ve enjoyed every second of it. You gain this love for Leicester, being the first club that takes you in. Being here since you were young, meeting everyone, meeting new faces, seeing faces go.
“My journey has always been a bit up and down. As a first-year scholar, I didn’t really get many opportunities to play. I think I only played seven minutes in the U18 Premier League (in 2019/20). And then the pre-season after, I was picked for the first team.
“Anything can happen at any given moment really. So, whenever you get your chance, it’s just about taking it and you will succeed.”
Marçal has certainly taken on that mantra. Having played 19 games for the Under-18s across 2020/21, scoring four times, he got his chance for the Under-21s, making four appearances before the end of the season. But it was the following campaign that saw the youngster introduced to the first team.
Twice on the bench for UEFA Europa League matchdays before Christmas, on 8 January, 2022, he was selected among the substitutes as the Foxes faced Watford in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup.
Called upon at half-time by Brendan Rodgers, Marçal helped City record a 4-1 victory on debut, in front of the Blue Army on Filbert Way.
“It was amazing really coming on at King Power Stadium,” he reflected. “It was all a bit unexpected because I hadn’t trained with the team. I got a text the night before to say that I was in the squad. To play 45 minutes in the FA Cup for my first game, it was a great experience. I loved it.
“They were great experiences going to European nights too. Seeing teams from abroad coming to play, seeing the intensity of the game and just experiencing everything in the first team was good. It gives you more confidence to keep going, because you’re not too far away from the first team.”
His progress also continued in the Under-21s. Now one of the more experienced players at that level, he managed six goals in 24 Premier League 2 games - from a wide position - crediting the work of coaches such as Ben Petty, Steve Beaglehole and Adam Barradell as key to assist with the step up in level.
Marçal commented: “They’ve helped me a lot and had a good impact. They’ve always said they’ve had the belief in me and told me to show what I can do because I had the potential to reach the first team and I’m very thankful for them for my journey through the Academy and up until now.
“Coming on, even as an 18-year-old, you’re playing in the Under-18s and getting called up to play Under-21s football and in the EFL Trophy, the intensity is much difference. You’re playing men’s football, not kids' football.
“It’s a great experience for the young lads to get a taste of what first team football is about, with the physicality and the intensity of the game. It’s about enjoying that experience.”
Another consistent season on a personal level last term, including 19 appearances for the Development Squad and three goals, led to heading out for the Club’s pre-season summer tour of Thailand and Singapore.
It wasn’t something Marçal had anticipated given that he was away with the Under-21s just a month before pre-season began. He had clearly impressed Manager Enzo Maresca enough to become a first team regular.
“I was in and around the first team at the back end of last season and involved in a few Premier League squads,” the 20-year-old explained. “I never really thought I was going to play. But then I went away to Hong Kong and when I came back, I was with the first team.
“I wasn’t really expecting to play as much as I did (in pre-season). I think I played almost top minutes for the first team, so that was great. And just to be involved in the Championship, it’s been a whirlwind.
“It’s good because if you’re with them from the start, it gives you more time to adapt to how it’s like in the first team and just seeing the new faces and getting to talk to them and getting to know them.
“Obviously, the style of play is much different. I’ve enjoyed it, I think it’s been great. I think we can really kick on now. It was the new Manager and when I got called up to the first team, everyone wants to show what they can do and their qualities.
“So I knew it’s a different manager, he doesn’t really know me, so my mentality was just that I needed to show him and the coaching staff what I’m about and that I deserve to be in the team. I’d like to think that it paid off. Obviously, I’m playing now, I’m still with the first team.”
This season’s impact began with his full senior debut, in the win over Huddersfield Town on week two of the Sky Bet Championship season. The following matchday, at home to Cardiff City, was also one to remember.
“The first league appearance away at Huddersfield was just an unbelievable experience,” City's No.40 beamed. “Walking out, seeing all those faces. And then the one after at King Power Stadium when I scored my first goal, I think that was the one that really marked me just because it was in front of the home fans and the way they welcomed me, it was amazing.
“I think it was one of those ones where I knew as soon as I hit it. It was a sweet strike. But after that it was a bit of a blur. I was planning on doing a knee slide, but the pitch was a bit dry, so it was an improvisation really, grabbing the top and telling the crowd.”
The Blue Army have taken to him already and in Wanya Marçal, Leicester City could have another young star on their hands.