Versatile defender Kévin Pedro has established himself as the outfield player most used by coach Ian Cathro at AS Saint-Étienne, with 954 minutes in 11 Ligue 2 matches. The Stéphanois leaders are relying on their young Ivorian.
At 20, Kévin Pedro is no longer leaving the pitch. According to OneFootball/Morning Foot, the versatile AS Saint-Étienne defender has racked up 954 minutes in 11 Ligue 2 matches this season, making him the outfield player most used by Ian Cathro. He has featured in every match since the start of the campaign.
Foot Sur 7 recalls that Pedro has started 11 times in 11 Ligue 2 matches, making him one of the key players in Cathro’s set-up. Capable of playing both centrally and on the right flank, the young defender has nailed down a place in the Saint-Étienne side, and the statistic is all the more notable given he is only 20.
A meteoric rise
His progress is nothing new. Foot Sur 7 reports that Kévin Pedro was handed his Ligue 2 breakthrough last season by Eirik Horneland: he made his first start on 8 November 2025 on matchday 14, at Troyes, in a 3-2 win. Since then, he has become a regular starter.
Under Philippe Montanier, he finished the 2025-2026 season with 17 starts in 18 matches, according to the same source.
His versatility also plays a part in his playing time. Pedro was moved into the centre in Julien Le Cardinal’s absence against Rodez, OneFootball/Morning Foot reports. Two positions for one player, used according to who is missing from the squad.
The leaders stay top
The collective picture remains positive, despite a setback. AS Saint-Étienne lost 3-0 at Guingamp on Saturday 1 November. According to OneFootball and Foot Sur 7, the Verts nonetheless retain top spot in Ligue 2 after that matchday.
The defender has played every league match since the start of the season. Whether this defeat changes Ian Cathro’s plans remains to be seen. The coach has made his young defender one of his key players, and nothing in the available facts points to a change.
Laval to bounce back
AS Saint-Étienne host Laval at Geoffroy-Guichard in their next Ligue 2 match, in front of their own fans, after a heavy defeat at Guingamp.
In a season in which Kévin Pedro has played every league match, the defender — who was developed away from the club — is not among the absentees from the last matchday.