Ligue 1 boasts a wealth of talent, and this season, Guillaume Restes, the goalkeeper for Toulouse FC, is emerging as one of the young players catching everyone's attention.
Despite being 19, Restes has progressed through Les Violet's youth system and become the team's top goalkeeper. The teenager has appeared in 35 matches across all competitions and kept seven clean sheets this season for Toulouse.
Restes made his Ligue 1 debut for Toulouse on August 13, 2023, playing the entire 90 minutes in a 2–1 away victory against Nantes. This match held special significance for the young goalkeeper, not only marking his debut but also pitting him against one of his role models, Alban Lafont.
Even though Lafont is only 25, Restes stated in a recent interview with L'Equipe that the Nantes shot-stopper is one of the players he looks up to and attempts to model his game after.
Guillaume Restes - Highlights @ToulouseFC I @guillaume_rts40 pic.twitter.com/SxFBImjZea
— Ligue 1 Uber Eats (@Ligue1UberEats) November 20, 2023
"When I was young, Alban (Lafont) was the goalkeeper for the first team in Toulouse. My coach (Mickaël Sanchez), when I was on the under-11 team, used to suggest that I tell people I was his little brother in tournaments just to intimidate the opponents a bit (laughs). I think Alban knows about it, but we never talked about it."
"Also, I really like (Marc-André) Ter Stegen for his footwork. He makes it look easy. Every weekend, I ask for videos. It could be Ter Stegen, (André) Onana, or lesser-known goalkeepers. I watch goalkeepers who initiate play from the back with their feet, that's an area where I need to improve a lot. There's also Mike Maignan. The way he carries himself, his calmness with the ball at his feet, he's got it all."
Restes showed during this season's UEFA Europa League run that he can perform in big games like the goalkeepers he considers his role models. The youngster was the starter in Toulouse's historic 3-2 win over Liverpool last November at the Stadium de Toulouse.
The Toulouse shot-stopper made three saves in the process and the win played a key role in the squad eventually advancing to the knockout stages of the competition. Restes highlighted the best moments of his young career, and the win over the Premier League club was easily one of the most memorable.
"The first friendly against Roma last summer, in front of my family, my friends. Then, the first match (in Ligue 1) in Nantes (2-1, on August 13), facing Lafont. There's also my first match in the Europa League, against Union Saint-Gilloise, away (1-1, on September 21), in a crazy atmosphere."
"It was a bit like writing the history of the club. And of course, the match against Liverpool at the Stadium (3-2, on November 9), which will follow us for years. There was no pressure, it was all enjoyment! Since I was little, I've wanted to play matches like that."
Une communion historique 💜
— Toulouse FC (@ToulouseFC) November 9, 2023
Vous, vous êtes le TéFéCé ! #DeboutToujours 😈 pic.twitter.com/j3XeqfSNpt
Toulouse currently sit four points above Nantes in the playoff relegation position. To steer clear of a relegation battle, Carles Martínez Novell and his team must rely on Restes to maintain his impressive level of play despite his young age.
