Steve Mandanda Mpidi (French pronunciation: [stɛv mɑ̃dɑ̃da];[4] born 28 March 1985) is a French professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper and is the captain of Ligue 1 club Rennes.

Steve Mandanda
Mandanda with France in 2018
Personal information
Full name Steve Mandanda Mpidi[1]
Date of birth (1985-03-28) 28 March 1985 (age 39)[2]
Place of birth Kinshasa, Zaire
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[3]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Rennes
Number 30
Youth career
1994–2000 ALM Évreux
2000–2004 Le Havre
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2008 Le Havre 67 (0)
2007–2008Marseille (loan) 34 (0)
2008–2016 Marseille 300 (0)
2016–2017 Crystal Palace 9 (0)
2017–2022 Marseille 135 (0)
2022– Rennes 81 (0)
International career
2004–2006 France U21 28 (0)
2008 France B 2 (0)
2008–2022 France 35 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  France
FIFA World Cup
Winner 2018
Runner-up 2022
UEFA European Championship
Runner-up 2016
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 November 2024 (UTC)

A product of the Le Havre academy, Mandanda spent most of his professional career with Marseille, making 614 appearances across all competitions in two spells at the club, and was voted Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year five times. He also had a short stint with English club Crystal Palace between his spells at Marseille. In 2023, Mandanda joined Rennes.

Born in Zaire (present-day DR Congo), Mandanda played for the France national team. Making his debut in 2008, representing France at seven international tournaments: four UEFA European Championships (2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020) and three FIFA World Cups (2010, 2018, 2022), winning the tournament in 2018.

Club career

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Early career

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Mandanda was born on 28 March 1985 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (then Zaire), but he moved with his family to Évreux, France when he was two years old. He practiced boxing before joining the local team ALM Évreux at age nine.[5] He acquired French nationality by naturalization in May 2003.[6]

Le Havre

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Mandanda made his league debut for Le Havre in August 2005, and did not concede a goal until his fourth match. He played 30 league matches in the 2005–06 season and 37 in 2006–07, with his performances attracting the attention of other clubs. Following an unsuccessful trial at Aston Villa prior to the 2007–08 season,[7] he joined Marseille in summer 2007.

Marseille

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Mandanda with Marseille in 2010

At the start of his first season with Marseille, Mandanda was regarded as an understudy to first choice keeper Cédric Carrasso. However a knee injury ruled Carrasso out for six months, leaving the way clear for Mandanda to become a regular fixture in Ligue 1, Champions League and UEFA Cup matches. On 5 March 2008, Mandanda joined Marseille on a permanent four-year contract.

At the end of Mandanda's final season at Marseille he was named as the club's Player of the Season. It was the second time that he won the award having previously done so in the 2007-08 campaign.[8]

Crystal Palace

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On 1 July 2016, Premier League club Crystal Palace announced that they had completed the signing of Mandanda on a free transfer from Marseille.[9] He struggled to make an impact, being injured for most of the season. He made just ten appearances.[10]

Return to Marseille

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On 11 July 2017, Mandanda returned to Olympique de Marseille on a three-year contract for €3 million.[11]

On 22 December 2018, Mandanda played his 500th match for Marseille, in a 1–1 draw at Angers.[12] On 25 August 2020, aged 35, he prolonged his contract until 2024.[13]

Rennes

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On 6 July 2022, Rennes announced the signing of Mandanda on a two-year deal.[14]

On 8 January 2024, Mandanda extended his contract with Rennes until June 2025.[15]

International career

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Eric Abidal and Mandanda (right) playing for France in 2010

Mandanda won a number of caps for the France national under-21 team and was named in the French squad for the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

For the first time, in 2007, he took part in the French A-squad pre-selection.[16]

He played in a friendly match with France B against Congo DR on 5 February 2008, in which he was substituted at half time, and his younger brother Parfait came on for Congo. He made his full international debut on 27 May 2008 in a 2–0 victory against Ecuador in a Euro 2008 warm-up friendly, coming on as a half-time substitute for Sébastien Frey, and was subsequently nominated as the third-choice goalkeeper in the French squad for the tournament in Austria and Switzerland.[17]

He started the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign as France's first-choice goalkeeper, making his competitive international debut on 6 September 2008 in their opening qualifier against Austria. However, was replaced in the summer of 2009, as Raymond Domenech chose Olympique Lyonnais goalkeeper Hugo Lloris over him for the international starting eleven. Mandanda was a member of France's World Cup team, but did not appear in any of its three matches in the competition.

On 6 June 2011, Mandanda captained the French in a 4–1 friendly win away to Ukraine at the Donbass Arena.[18] He was called up for UEFA Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.[19]

Mandanda was originally named in the squad also for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but sustained an injury before the tournament and was replaced by Stéphane Ruffier of AS Saint-Étienne.[20] He was part of the squad that came runners-up at UEFA Euro 2016 on home soil.[21]

Mandanda was part of the 23-man France squad that won the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He played their goalless group game against Denmark, his debut tournament appearance, at the age of 33.[22]

In November 2022, he was named in the French squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he started against Tunisia in the final group stage match.[23] On 14 January 2023, Mandanda announced his retirement from international football.[24]

Personal life

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Mandanda has three younger brothers, Parfait, Riffi, and Over, all of whom are goalkeepers.[25] He enjoys spending time with his family in the city of Marseille, where he lives. He has earned the nickname "Frenchie" amongst his relatives for having chosen to play for the France national football team rather than Congo, his country of birth.[26]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 15 December 2024[27][28]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Le Havre 2004–05 Ligue 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
2005–06 Ligue 2 30 0 0 0 2 0 32 0
2006–07 Ligue 2 37 0 1 0 1 0 39 0
Total 67 0 2 0 3 0 72 0
Marseille 2007–08[c] Ligue 1 34 0 2 0 2 0 10[d] 0 48 0
2008–09 Ligue 1 38 0 2 0 1 0 14[e] 0 55 0
2009–10 Ligue 1 36 0 2 0 2 0 10[d] 0 50 0
2010–11 Ligue 1 38 0 0 0 3 0 8[f] 0 1[g] 0 50 0
2011–12 Ligue 1 38 0 2 0 2 0 9[f] 0 1[g] 0 52 0
2012–13 Ligue 1 38 0 3 0 1 0 9[h] 0 51 0
2013–14 Ligue 1 38 0 1 0 2 0 6[f] 0 47 0
2014–15 Ligue 1 38 0 0 0 0 0 38 0
2015–16 Ligue 1 36 0 6 0 0 0 8[h] 0 50 0
Total 334 0 18 0 13 0 74 0 2 0 441 0
Crystal Palace 2016–17 Premier League 9 0 0 0 1 0 10 0
Marseille 2017–18 Ligue 1 31 0 3 0 0 0 11[h] 0 45 0
2018–19 Ligue 1 31 0 1 0 1 0 1[h] 0 34 0
2019–20 Ligue 1 27 0 1 0 1 0 29 0
2020–21 Ligue 1 37 0 0 0 6[f] 0 1[g] 0 44 0
2021–22 Ligue 1 9 0 2 0 9[i] 0 20 0
Total 135 0 7 0 2 0 27 0 1 0 172 0
Marseille total 469 0 25 0 15 0 101 0 3 0 613 0
Rennes 2022–23 Ligue 1 34 0 1 0 7[h] 0 42 0
2023–24 Ligue 1 34 0 1 0 7[h] 0 42 0
2024–25 Ligue 1 15 0 0 0 15 0
Total 83 0 2 0 14 0 99 0
Career total 628 0 29 0 19 0 115 0 3 0 794 0
  1. ^ Include Coupe de France
  2. ^ Includes Coupe de la Ligue, EFL Cup
  3. ^ Season spent on loan from Le Havre
  4. ^ a b Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ Eight appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  7. ^ a b c Appearance in Trophée des Champions
  8. ^ a b c d e f Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  9. ^ One appearance in UEFA Europa League, eight appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

International

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As of match played 30 November 2022[29][30]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
France 2008 3 0
2009 2 0
2010 8 0
2011 1 0
2012 1 0
2013 1 0
2014 3 0
2015 2 0
2016 3 0
2017 2 0
2018 2 0
2019 4 0
2020 2 0
2021 0 0
2022 1 0
Total 35 0

Honours

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Marseille

France

Individual

Orders

References

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  1. ^ "Squad List: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: France (FRA)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 12. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. ^ "FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: List of Players: France" (PDF). FIFA. 15 July 2018. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 June 2019.
  3. ^ "Steve Mandanda" (in French). Stade Rennais F.C. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  4. ^ OM (25 March 2018). "Steve Mandanda bests saves 2018". YouTube (in French). Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  5. ^ "Biographie de Steve Mandanda". stevemandanda.net (in French). Archived from the original on 7 November 2012.
  6. ^ "JORF n° 0121 du 25 mai 2003 - Légifrance". www.legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  7. ^ "France goalkeeper in Aston Villa trial". Archived from the original on 22 May 2011.
  8. ^ a b Daurès, Camille (1 June 2016). "Mandanda, Olympian of the 2015-16 season". Olympique de Marseille. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  9. ^ "Mandanda Pens Crystal Palace Deal". Crystal Palace Football Club. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  10. ^ Steve Mandanda, Soccerway.
  11. ^ "Mandanda Departs Palace". Crystal Palace F.C. 11 July 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  12. ^ Albano, Mario (22 December 2018). "Angers-OM - Steve Mandanda : cap 500". La Provence (in French). Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  13. ^ "Veteran Marseille captain Mandanda extends contract to 2024". Yahoo!. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  14. ^ "STEVE MANDANDA EST ROUGE ET NOIR !". staderennais.com (in French). Stade Rennais. 6 July 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  15. ^ "Une saison supplémentaire pour Steve Mandanda" [A supplementary season for Steve Mandanda] (in French). Stade Rennais F.C. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  16. ^ "List of the pre-selected players in the french A-squad in the season 2007–2008" (in French). Archived from the original on 28 November 2007.
  17. ^ Duchesne, Vincent (28 May 2008). "Mandanda a poussé la porte" [Mandanda has pushed the door open]. Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  18. ^ "TEAM NEWS: Jeremy Menez starts for France against Ukraine". Goal. 6 June 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  19. ^ "Euro 2012: Younes Kaboul misses out on France squad". BBC Sport. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  20. ^ "World Cup 2014: Stephane Ruffier confirmed in France squad". BBC Sport. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  21. ^ "Euro 2016: Leicester's N'Golo Kante in France squad". BBC Sport. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  22. ^ "Finally: French reserve keeper Mandanda gets a game". Reuters. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  23. ^ Orsini, Vincent (9 November 2022). "La liste des vingt-cinq pour le Mondial" [The list of twenty-five for the World Cup] (in French). French Football Federation. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  24. ^ "Steve Mandanda anunció su retiro de la Selección de Francia". ESPN Deportes (in Spanish). 14 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  25. ^ "Les Mandanda, une dynastie de gardiens" (in French). Le Parisien. 26 January 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  26. ^ Benson, Rory (14 January 2016). "Aston Villa scouting report: Who is Steve Mandanda?". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  27. ^ "Steve Mandanda". L'Equipe (in French). Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  28. ^ "S. Mandanda". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  29. ^ Steve Mandanda at National-Football-Teams.com
  30. ^ "S. Mandanda". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  31. ^ "Olympique de Marseille 2009-10". bdfutbol.com. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  32. ^ "MARSEILLE – BORDEAUX : LES COMPOS, LAURENT BLANC MET SON ÉQUIPE TYPE". rmcsport.bfmtv.com. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  33. ^ "COUPE DE LA LIGUE FINALE". eurosport.fr. 23 April 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  34. ^ "CdL - Lyon - Marseille, les clés du match". goal.com. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  35. ^ "Résultat et résumé Marseille - Paris-SG, Trophée des Champions, Trophée des Champions, Mercredi 28 Juillet 2010". lequipe.fr. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  36. ^ "Résultat et résumé Lille - Marseille, Trophée des Champions, Trophée des Champions, Mercredi 27 Juillet 2011". lequipe.fr. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  37. ^ Begley, Emlyn (16 May 2018). "Atletico Madrid win Europa League with 3–0 victory over Marseille". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  38. ^ McNulty, Phil (15 July 2018). "France 4–2 Croatia". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  39. ^ McNulty, Phil (18 December 2022). "Argentina 3–3 France". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  40. ^ Taylor, Daniel (10 July 2016). "Portugal beat France to win Euro 2016 final with Éder's extra-time goal". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  41. ^ "Youthful talents convene in Toulon". Eurosport. 1 June 2005. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  42. ^ a b "Trophées UNFP : Steve Mandanda désigné meilleur gardien de Ligue 1" [Trophées UNFP: Steve Mandanda named best goalkeeper in Ligue 1]. L'Équipe (in French). 13 May 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  43. ^ "Décret du 31 décembre 2018 portant promotion et nomination" [Decree of 31 December 2018 on promotion and appointment]. Official Journal of the French Republic (in French). 2019 (1). 1 January 2019. PRER1835394D. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
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