Amir Etien’s September has carried him from the margins of the French game into an unlikely online spotlight. The Versailles forward has scored four times in four Ligue 3 matches and is now in contention for the division’s Player of the Month award, with Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior among those backing him.
Quick facts
- Amir Etien scored four goals in four September appearances for Versailles.
- He is one of four nominees for Ligue 3 Player of the Month.
- Antoine Gauthier, Stan Janno and Yannis Verdier are also in the running.
- Verdier has five goals in four matches and has received support from Ousmane Dembélé and Ange-Yoan Bonny.
- The award follows the first trophy of the campaign, won by Mansour Samb.
The 24-year-old’s path to Versailles has not followed the usual route. Developed in the youth ranks at Quevilly-Rouen Métropole, he later played for Oissel in National 3 and was still with Lyon-La Duchère at that level only a year ago.
Two years sidelined by a back injury changed the shape of his career. During that spell, and amid the Covid-19 period, Etien turned to barbering after deciding he needed another occupation away from football.
“While I was injured, I had to find something to do,” he explained. “School was not really for me.”
That decision eventually took him to Madrid, where Eduardo Camavinga’s older brother, himself an established barber, helped him settle into the trade. Etien worked alongside him in several salons and began to meet footballers from the Spanish capital.
Camavinga’s brother first worked with Vinicius Junior before his client list expanded to include Benzema and other players. Etien said the connection gave him the opportunity to cut Benzema’s hair and, more importantly, build a friendship with the former Real Madrid striker.
He has been keen to correct one detail that spread online after Benzema and Vinicius supported his Player of the Month nomination. “People have called me Benzema’s former barber, but the relationship came first,” Etien said. “Then I had the chance to cut his hair.”
Vinicius, despite adding his support to the Versailles attacker’s campaign, was never one of Etien’s customers. “I have never cut Vinicius’ hair,” he said.
The result of the September vote has yet to be announced. For Etien, though, a strong opening month with Versailles has already brought an unusual reminder of the Madrid life he built while football was on hold.
