Olympique de Marseille have announced that their long relationship with legendary 'keeper Steve Mandanda has come to an end, the 37-year-old opting to join Rennes on a two-year contract. The end of an era at the Orange Vélodrome...
It's official: the Mandanda era at Olympique de Marseille is over. On Wednesday the 37-year-old OM legend put pen to paper on a two-year deal with Bruno Genesio's Rennes, which more than likely mean he has played his last match in the sky-blue and white of the club he served for so long.
Mandanda first joined Olympique de Marseille as a 22-year-old on loan from Le Havre back in 2007, and in the intervening years he has made over 600 appearances in two spells for the club and become an indisputable legend in the pantheon of the southern giants' heroes.
"Olympique de Marseille and Steve Mandanda have decided to part company by mutual agreement," read a statement from the club. "OM would like to sincerely thank Steve for all that he has contributed to the club since 2007. With 613 matches for the club, he has undoubtedly become an OM legend. The club wishes him all the best for the future."
The move was reputedly prompted by Mandanda's having to share the number one position with Pau Lopez last season - with more of the same on the cards under new boss Igor Tudor in 2022-23 - which wasn't how Mandanda wanted to spend the last few years of his career.
Meanwhile for Rennes, Mandanda's vast experience will hold them in excellent stead as they look to build on their fourth-placed finish in 2021-22 and make an impression in the Europa League group stage. The ambitious Brittany outfit were one of the most exciting sides in Ligue 1 Uber Eats last season, and with Mandanda between the sticks, the sky is the limit!
Extracts from Mandanda's signature interview with club media sources.
What tipped the balance in making such a big decision?
"It's clear that for me it's a first move to another club in Ligue 1, but after having spoken a lot with the coach and sporting director Flo Maurice, I was very, very excited by the project because the club is ambitious. the club wants to continue to grow and I also wanted to do this little bit with the club."
When you have had the career you've had and you enjoy the status you have in Marseille, you could say that this is risky move...
"It's also a source of motivation, for all the players. It's a desire on my part to continue to play and to enjoy my football and of course to win. And today, in terms of what the club wants to do, it corresponds exactly to my desires and my needs. And it was the right moment for me."
Could this be your last contract?
"The day I no longer enjoy it, it's clear that I'll have to stop. But I guarantee you that we're far away from that kind of situation because it's still a real pleasure just to be on the field, just to play high level matches. And then we're lucky enough to be able to make a living from our passion. This passion has been there since I was a child, and today I still have it."
Was playing in Europe an essential condition of your move?
"It's one of the important things to consider and we said it earlier in relation to the ambition of the club. The fact is that right now the club is European for a second consecutive season, and the objective is to continue to be so. The objective is to climb in the standings and to stay at the top of the championship, and - why not - win the Champions League but above all stick around in the Champions League. So it's really a common objective, it's this ambition that attracted me to the club, and we will do everything to achieve these objectives."
What else prompted you to make the switch?
"One of the elements that helped me decide was that this team plays very, very beautiful football with a lot of action. They're a team who score a lot of goals, a team that really likes to get forward by playing some very beautiful football. This is something that the coach has managed to establish. Now the objective is to contribute, to bring added value to the team and keep this continuity so that we do as well as last season, if not better."
It's important to get to know your new teammates...
"Yes, it's important to integrate myself in to the squad team quickly to get to know them better. I already know most of the players but we have to get to know each other a little more personally, I have to talk with the staff and get to know the the club and the people who work there, the stadium, the city, the environment... and then I have to be ready for the first match of the league season because today's objective is to prepare well, to work well and to be ready for the first match. I'm very happy to be joining Stade Rennais Football Club. See you soon at Roazhon Park."