Get to know Aston Villa’s new goalkeeper, Marco Bizot
Marco Bizot is due to sign for Aston Villa
Marco Bizot is due to sign for Aston Villa(Image: Photo by DAMIEN MEYER/AFP via Getty Images)
Robin Olsen had his critics, but listen to Unai Emery and you’ll understand the importance of his role at Aston Villa — and what new goalkeeper Marco Bizot will have to step into.
A back-up 'keeper is much more than a figure who waits in the wings, patiently awaiting an opportunity to show what they’ve got in a cup competition or two.
Olsen made a total of 22 appearances for Villa across all competitions, with standout performances at Brighton in 2023/24 and Brentford last season.
In truth, there was a large gulf in quality between Emi Martínez and Olsen for a few seasons, though it’s never easy to deputise for one of the best in the world.
Earlier this year, Emery said: “With Robin Olsen, I respect him – before, now, and for his future – as a really amazing man and professional.
“The respect for him in the dressing room, from the players and myself as a coach, is massive. He is a fantastic guy. He always helps us when we need him, and he’s always positive with his teammates.
“He’s an example in every way, and the message he constantly sends in the dressing room is to think of others, not be selfish. He is a really great, great man – a great, great man and a great, great goalkeeper.”
Then, in Villa’s end-of-season awards, Olsen was presented with a silver plate, with “In recognition of services to Aston Villa Football Club” engraved on it.
Villa have moved quickly to replace Olsen, whose contract with the club ended on June 30.
Stade Brest goalkeeper Bizot will take the Swede’s place and arrives with plenty of experience, as he turns 35 next March.
Bizot is a goalkeeper who has improved in his twilight years and is now ready to start a new challenge — and realise a dream of his to play in the Premier League.
Unlike Olsen, Bizot will join having played regular football for a number of years as a number one, having left AZ Alkmaar in 2021 to continue as first-choice at Brest.
Last season, Bizot kept 10 clean sheets in Ligue 1 — the third-most in the French top flight — though still three short of the 13 he recorded in 2023/24.
Brest finished third two seasons ago, setting up a magical Champions League campaign last term. Bizot featured in nine of their 10 matches in the competition.
“Marco Bizot is one of the most important goalkeepers in our history, if not the most,” Yann from the Brest on Air podcast tells BirminghamLive. “He provided us with a lot of great moments. He is a fierce leader and really fits the club DNA.
“Nevertheless, we feel like five years is enough: he doesn’t want to stay here longer – he’s done the trick. So we are really grateful for his spell here, especially as his signature was a huge surprise, but it’s the right time to go. We don’t want this amazing story to end up as one season too many.”
“Marco is a super human being and a true leader,” he continued. “He really stepped up in the important moments – and he did so when we were fighting relegation, but also when we were in the race for Champions League qualification.
“This kind of guy can give a lot of confidence to his whole defence. If we focus on technical aspects, he is super solid on his line and is very good in 1 vs 1. He also has quite decent footwork.
“He is a true leader – always aiming for the best result possible and eager to work and progress. You need someone like him in your squad, especially to give ambition to other players.”
Reporter Nicolas Blanzat adds: “He's a player who holds a special place in the hearts of the fans overall. Always cheerful, smiling. Available for fans, approachable. The kind of guy you’d love to have as a neighbour, for example.
“He received a standing ovation in the 40th minute of the final home game against Lille last season because that's the shirt number he wears. He was very emotional on the field during that match, but people know that he had been asking to leave for two seasons already.”
“On a more general side, he loves football and we can feel it," Yann continues. "He has always been respectful and available towards fans, especially younger ones, including when Brest was in trouble. This is absolutely remarkable, while he wasn’t speaking French and almost no one at the club spoke English or Dutch.
“Marco really fits with the club, but also the city. He made a lot of effort to integrate himself. He came to Brest because he wanted a place with ‘sunny beaches’… and he stayed here for five years, in the rainiest place in France.
“He even got a tattoo related to the club, which is a great commitment. I feel like he is complete: he won’t join a club if he doesn’t believe in the project.”
Bizot’s leadership and experience will be all the more important if Emi Martínez leaves Villa this summer, which remains a possibility as the club looks to reduce its wage bill.
However, while Villa are yet to receive any concrete calls for Martínez from another club, Bizot might well be starting the first game of the season against Newcastle United due to the Argentine’s suspension.
“He’s capable of winning a match all by himself,” Nicolas claims. “He has often kept his team in the game by making several decisive saves. He's very effective on his goal line.
“A good example is the Brest vs PSV match in the Champions League, where he frustrated the opposing team and won man of the match. At Brest, he is also one of the locker room leaders.
“He sometimes has lapses in concentration and can miss his mark in certain matches. Occasionally, his timing on aerial outings has been a topic of debate.”
Bizot will have enough confidence in his own game to challenge for a starting spot, but clearly, Martínez is the number one — and if he departs, a replacement would need to be sourced.
“He has a strong character and can sometimes go nuts,” Yann adds. “He only took one red card related to this in five years, but he received a lot of bookings because of it.
“On a technical point of view, he might have some timing issues on long balls and perhaps a bad appreciation of risks. He can fail his aerial runs and give away stupid penalty kicks.”
What do you make of Bizot's proposed arrival? Have your say HERE