How Cedric Kipre won the hearts of Motherwell fans as cult hero made short stay count

There are few things Motherwell fans love more than a player who is committed to the cause, hard and a bit silky!

Having witnessed a revolving door of underwhelming defenders the previous year, few held out much hope for this untested youngster from Paris in 2017.

But Cedric Kipre had played in the same PSG youth team as Moussa Dembele and was highly thought of at title-winning Leicester City. This was his opportunity to thrive in a first-team environment.

The Fir Park faithful were quick to take the youngster to their hearts.

As Stephen Robinson developed his swashbuckling ‘Well side – Kipre fitted right in. Playing at the heart of a no-nonsense defence, Kipre's tough demeanour coupled with confidence on the ball saw him become an iconic figure.

He may only have spent one season in Lanarkshire - but what a time it was. With two runs to Cup Finals, the fans never missed an opportunity to chant their new favourite’s name.

How did he end up in Scotland?

Robinson’s remit at Motherwell was to cleanse the squad of deadwood and create a clear playing identity.

Long-standing fan-favourites were moved on or deployed elsewhere. Meanwhile, the Northern Irish boss populated Fir Park with a young, hungry group of players.

Kipre, then 20, was part of a posse of defenders who rocked up in ML1 that summer.

Leicester rated him highly but knew he wouldn’t quite the clout to squeeze his way into a Premier League winning team.

The Foxes sent Kipre on a one-month loan to Corby Town as an 18-year-old.

After playing three games, Corby boss Tommy Wright said: “Cedric looked the real deal. He was a breath of fresh air.”

Kipre seamlessly slotted into Motherwell's robust back-three and showed that he had potential to kick on from Fir Park.