One to Watch: Jubal, Auxerre's reliable capitão

From Dante, to Marquinhos, Cris, and Vitorino Hilton, at some point every Ligue 1 McDonald's club needs their reliable Brazilian defender. In the case of Auxerre, no one has been more reliable than 31-year-old captain Jubal, who scored a brace against Olympique de Marseille last weekend (3-0) to secure an impressive double for the promoted side against Les Olympiens.

The emblematic captain of AJA has now already scored five goals this season, with his duties continuing from the penalty spot against Marseille, with a towering header completing his brace against OM. This season has been a successful one for Jubal, who has thrived in Auxerre's back three set-up under pragmatic Christophe Pélissier.

"We knew we could hurt Marseille on the break and we applied ourselves to doing so," smiled the Brazilian following the game. He broke his smile further when he admitted a certain premonition, "I had spoken with my wife beforehand, I had told her that I was going to score twice. And sometimes you just feel things. I had told Donovan Léon that we would keep a clean sheet...”

WATCH: Auxerre spring a surprise with win over Marseille (3-0)
 

Jubal's Journey to France

Jubal Rocha Mendes Júnior began his life in his native Brazil, coming through at the famous Santos FC where he played 22 matches before making the move to European football and Liga NOS side Arouca. After a season as a starting player, he would get his first taste of Europa League action before joining Vitoria Guimaraes and the Boavista on loan.

After various adventures in Europe, it was time for Jubal to make the move to La Hexagone, joining AJ Auxerre in September 2020, with the club sitting in Ligue 2 BKT. In 139 appearances with Les Diplomates, the Brazilian would earn promotion to Ligue 1 McDonald's in 2022 - before suffering relegation and bouncing back at the first attempt last season. Despite rumours of a return back to Brazil in the summer, Jubal would sign a contract extension with Christophe Pélissier's side and continue his adventure in the top tier this season.

‘He is a very intelligent man, with positive values'

After becoming the club captain and an emblematic player with Auxerre, he has added a certain goal-scoring touch this season which has certainly helped the club reach their unexpectedly high position in the table this season.

"He is a very intelligent man, with positive values that correspond perfectly to those of the club," his coach, Christophe Pelissier, admiringly describes him in an interview with L'Équipe earlier this season. He is growing in stature and expresses himself calmly," explains Pélissier. "He is always accurate in his analyses, of his own performances or those of the team. He is a very important relay for me and the staff. He is part of a council of wise men with Elisha Owusu, Gaëtan Perrin, Donovan Léon and Hamed Junior Traoré."

"He truly embodies his role as captain with poise towards the referees, opponents and the public. He is a very respectful boy, who exudes a natural class and transmits tranquillity to his partners," finished an admiring Pélissier. It's clear to see why he entrusts so much responsibility to the former Brazil U20 international.

As Auxerre got back to winning ways against Marseille, Jubal will be hoping to spur Les Diplomates on for a top-half finish by the end of the season. AJA will face Strasbourg next weekend (Sunday 17:15 CET) as they hope to build on that positive win against Marseille.

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