Marc still lived with his parents and sisters last year.

English star Marc Guehi loved playing the drums at church when he was younger.

He didn’t play football on Sunday because his faith was so important to him.

As a youngster, religion was so important to Marc Guehi, he would go to church on Sundays and not play football Credit: Getty

Marc (circled) aged around seven, celebrates a trophy with South London club Cray Wanderers

Marc, left, celebrates England U17s World Cup in 2017 Credit: Getty – Contributor

Even though he was only 23, the leader of Crystal Palace didn’t miss a beat as England won their first Euros game, and he continued to solidify his place in the middle of the defence.

England’s terrible warm-up game against Iceland calmed fans’ nerves after Harry Maguire wasn’t picked for the 26-person team.  He played flawlessly and calmly in the 1-0 win against Serbia. Marc still goes to church, and his family is very important to him.

This has helped him get where he is today by making people trust and respect him, both on and off the game.He was driven to do well from a young age. People at Marc’s school told him to “Be The Best That You Can Be,” and he really meant it.He was a very quiet kid who comes from a religious home.

They work together very well.Steve Owen coached Marc in South London when he was five years old. It is the largest city in the Ivory Coast, West Africa, where the Crystal Palace star was born. However, he went to England when he was one year old.His dad John, who is 52 years old, became a priest at a church in Lewisham, South East London.

Marc played the drums there.Marc played for Cray Wanderers in Sidcup, South East London, from the age of five until he moved to Chelsea’s youth system. His coach, Steve Owen, then 65, said, “Marc was in a younger group, but I used to sneak him in to play with older boys when he was six.”

“He used to play centre back on the left side, like he does now, and not many players got past him.” He wasn’t very flashy, but he was good at everything he did.‘Amazing dedication’“He was a very quiet boy and comes from a religious family. They are a very tight unit.“I still speak to his dad occasionally.

He was always the one to take Marc to training, from when he was at Cray to Chelsea.”Marc was always early and never late.” It was amazing how hard he worked for such a young kid.”I think his background is what makes him still very planned in what he does.” Marc, whose full name is Addji Keaninkin Marc-Israel Guehi, went to Chelsea’s academy when he was eight years old and looked up to John Terry as a player.He worked his way up and played in two Carabao Cup games for Chelsea before going on loan to Swansea City twice.

The 6ft defender, who isn’t on social media, signed a five-year, £18 million deal with Palace in 2021 and has since become one of the best young defenders in the Premier League.Steve, a coach for Chelsea’s youth team, said, “Marc came to Cray to give a talk to the boys when he was at Chelsea.” Everyone in our club looks up to him. It’s a dream come true for any young football player to see him play at the Euros. In addition to being a tough defender, he is also great with the ball and can move past players and attack.

He is also a natural leader, even though he is quiet. In 2022, he became Palace’s youngest captain in ten years, replacing an older captain. He is now the Eagles’ official captain.Marc was also manager of England’s under-17 team at the 2017 Euros, where they lost to Spain in the final on penalties.

In the autumn of that year, he scored in the final of the under-17s World Cup, featuring with Phil Foden, Conor Gallagher, and other Euros teammates in a 5-2 win over Spain. He has stayed friends with Conor at the England camp in Blankenhain. When they have free time, they play Mario Kart, basketball, and table tennis against each other.”Me and Marc go way back,” Conor said. We joined Chelsea’s youth team when we were seven or eight years old.”When we were kids, we played for England together. We went to Swansea and Crystal Palace together.

You name it, he’s been kind of following me around.””He’s a great player and a good friend of mine.”There was no doubt that Marc was a good leader at school. He was a “responsible person” who other kids looked up to. Marc’s old teacher at Marvels Lane Primary School in Lewisham, Edward Dove, said, “Marc was with us for five years and he was a great kid.” We have been interested in and proud of him as we follow him.”At such a young age, you don’t get to be club captain very often.”

“That has to do with his values, and I hope we helped a little with that.”He lived by our motto, ‘Be the Best That You Can Be.'” He always understood that he was a part of a group. He showed us how to live.”Marc hasn’t forgotten where he came from.” He has come back to visit us twice, after the under-17s won the World Cup and when he joined Crystal Palace.”He has strong beliefs that he seems to have kept.”

Living with your parentsAs of last October, Marc was still living with his parents and sisters Lois, 21, Joelle, 16, and 12-year-old Shirel. He said previously: “It’s actually hard to put into words what my mum and sisters have done for me, because anything I say wouldn’t actually justify what they’ve done.“I’m just so grateful to have them in my life.”I’ve always been close with my sisters.””I know that not everyone has that, so I know that we are all lucky.”

I’m just glad we’ve grown up together.”“God first” was the rule in Marc’s house growing up, which is why he would never play football on a Sunday until he began pursuing it as a career — and it is now paying off.With two years left on his £50,000-a-week deal with Palace, he is being touted with a £65million move to Prem giants Liverpool, among others.I still go to church on Sundays when I can and it’s played a big part in both my football and my life in general, with my morals, my values and who I put my trust in.

Marc GuehiHe has won 12 senior England caps and is in line for another in today’s match against Denmark, with a win putting the Three Lions through to the Euros knockout stage.And he will have Man United’s Maguire, 31, worrying about getting back into Southgate’s starting 11 if he keeps up his perfect performances. Marc has said: “My dad was a minister, so faith is massively important in my life.

“I still go to church on Sundays when I can and it’s played a big part in both my football and my life in general, with my morals, my values and who I put my trust in.“My faith is something I value very highly in my life, for sure.“Church was also where I used to play the drums.

We didn’t have a set at home so it was the only time I could play.“It was nice to just be free and enjoy it and it was an enjoyable part of growing up.

“I’m not up there with the greatest drummers in the world but I’d like to think I’m OK at it.”

If England are to win this year’s Euros, after losing in the final in 2021, they could do worse than follow the beat of Marc’s drum . . .

Marc making his name at Chelsea’s academy

Putting in the hours of training in Germany Credit: Getty

Despite his quiet nature, he is also a natural leader, becoming Crystal Palace’s youngest captain in ten years Credit: Getty