Teddy Teuma scored a brace and provided an assist in a dazzling first start for Stade de Reims last weekend. From the amateur divisions in France to bursting onto the European scene in Belgium, the Toulon-born Maltese international has taken the long way round to reach Ligue 1 Uber Eats
At the final whistle against Montpellier on Sunday, Reims fans were applauding their new hero with chants of “Teuma, Teuma, Teuma” as the new rémois number 10 made his way over to the stand. The former Union Saint-Gilloise captain had just single-handedly dismantled a resolute Montpellier side on his first start for the Will Still’s outfit
“I take my hat off to Teddy,” began Still in the post match press conference, “It's very positive and very encouraging, being involved in all three goals. He put the ball on a sixpence for Abdelhamid's header. It was a great free-kick and then the strike for the third goal. I don't have the words to say how beautiful it was.”
“It was a dream afternoon,” said Teuma following the clash, “for my first start in Ligue 1, we ticked all the boxes with three points and three goals.”
From amateur football to the suburbs of Paris and Brussels
"It’s true that I’ve had a bit of an unconventional path,” said the midfielder following the clash against Montpellier. Unconventional, yes, but Teuma has had an influential impact in every club he’s represented.
Eight years ago, the Toulon-born midfielder was plying his trade in the lower leagues of French football before signing his first contract with Boulogne, then moving to Parisian suburb side Red Star FC.
With Red Star, Teuma featured heavily as a player which was key in the club’s promotion from the third tier Championnat National to Ligue 2 BKT in the 2017-2018 season. He scored seven goals in 49 appearances over a two season stint with the five-time historic Coupe de France winners, before joining Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the Belgian second division.
Bursting onto the scene in Belgium
The Malta international (31 caps) spent four and a half years at the Stade Joseph Marien - and it is here where Teuma truly burst onto the scene. He was one of the key driving forces behind the club’s promotion back to top tier football for the first time in 48 years. He captained the side the following season, leading a championship charge to second place after scoring six goals and providing nine assists over 40 appearances.
USG’s rise to the Europa League then saw Teuma get his first taste of continental competition. It was a stage that saw him shine with four goals and four assists over 11 european games as the club reached the quarterfinals. If his record with his past clubs, coupled with his showing last Sunday have anything to go by, Reims fans should be excited for their season ahead with Teuma in Will Still’s swashbuckling side.
