Tributes flock. After Blaise Matuidi, Adil Rami and Raphaël Varane, a fourth 2018 world champion decided this Wednesday to end his career as a professional footballer.
Free since July 1 and the end of his contract with Rennes, Steve Mandanda puts his crampons and gloves at 40. Inevitably, the reaction of his former OM coach and blue coach, Didier Deschamps, was expected. “Steve has decided to end his long and brilliant professional career. I had the great pleasure of being his coach for three seasons at Olympique de Marseille and then for more than a decade, as coach, in the French team, “recalls Deschamps.
And the coach to gather their common career in the France team. “We have experienced very great moments of joy and some significant successes too, the six titles with OM and the 2018 World Cup, highlights that did not end as we would have liked, the final of Euro 2016 or that of the 2022 World Cup at the end of which he had decided to retire,” he recalls. All this unites us forever of course. Steve was a very large goalkeeper but it was the leader that I would like to pay tribute. Steve, humanly, he was a very positive person in a group, whatever his role. I wish him to be happy and to know the same success in his second life as in the first. »»
In echo Philippe Diallo, the president of the FFF, adds. “I have, on behalf of French football, to pay a full tribute to Steve Mandanda. Steve has chosen to put an end to his long and rich career. In football, reaching the high level is very complicated; Staying there is even more, insists the leader. Record department of matches played with Olympique de Marseille, the club where he revealed before becoming a respected captain, Steve also marked the history of our national selections, with the hopes then the French team. »»
“I have the greatest respect for this exemplary player”
And to add: “Euro 2016 finalist and the 2022 World Cup, 2018 world champion. I have the greatest respect for this exemplary player, who has always returned a positive image of our sport. I hope to be able to welcome him during a next match of the French team to show him the gratitude of the French Football Federation. »»
Steve Mandanda has evolved at the highest level for twenty years. Trained in Le Havre, the native of Kinshasa (DRC) played in his training club and then at OM, in Crystal Palace (Premier League) before finishing in Rennes where he has evolved since 2022. The former ommatic captain of OM, record holder of the number of matches played with the Olympian club (613), totals 35 selections with the Blues. He was the lining of Hugo Lloris.
“Steve ends a huge career. I obviously remember what we experienced at OM. The 2010 title, the League Cups, the Champions Trophies, the Champions League matches and this quarter -final against Bayern Munich where we had missed a lot, said Guy Stéphan, the deputy coach of the French team. Then there was the French team, where he had found an important place in the group, even essential, when he was the lining of Hugo. These are superb moments. I am delighted and proud to have accompanied him to OM and the Blues. »»
