It’s the end of a beautiful love story between Olympique de Marseille and Steve Mandanda. The experienced 37-year-old goalkeeper is officially no longer a Marseille player, after having defended his colors for fifteen seasons and 613 matches in all competitions. He should join Stade Rennais, to whom he had previously gave its agreement to Rennes on July 5.
“Olympique de Marseille and Steve Mandanda have decided to separate by mutual agreement. OM would like to sincerely thank Steve for everything he has brought to the club since 2007. With 613 games in the Olympian jersey, he has unquestionably become an Olympian legend. »specifies the press release to formalize the departure of Il Fenomeno.
Mandanda, an OM legend
By terminating his contract expiring in 2024 with OM, the French international (37 caps) therefore leaves the Marseille city after having played 467 games there in Ligue 1. An important page in the history of OM is thus turned with the departure of the one who is considered a real monument in the Marseille city. Arrived in Marseille in 2007 from Le Havre, first in the form of a loan before being bought the following summer, Steve Mandanda has become essential at the Vélodrome stadium.
Despite a short (failed) parenthesis in England, at Crystal Palace (2016-2017) after the expiration of his contract, the native of Kinshasa returned to the promised land a year later. His unforgettable passage, made many decisive and high-class stops, but also punctuated by 6 titles with Marseille (1 French champion, 3 League Cups and 2 Champions Trophies), will leave an indelible mark in the history of OM, whose colors he defended a total of 610 times. Despite a complicated last season under the orders of Jorge Sampaoli for Mandanda, it is an unforgettable memory that the Olympian supporters will keep of him.