Éric Rabésandratana (born 18 September 1972) is a professional football manager and former player. He played mainly as a defensive midfielder and could also operate as a central defender. Born in France, he represented Madagascar internationally.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 18 September 1972 | ||
| Place of birth | Épinay-sur-Seine, France | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Saint-Ouen l'Aumône | |||
| 1989–1990 | Nancy | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1990–1997 | Nancy | 231 | (35) |
| 1997–2001 | Paris Saint-Germain | 101 | (5) |
| 2001–2002 | AEK Athens | 0 | (0) |
| 2003–2004 | Châteauroux | 28 | (1) |
| 2004–2007 | Mons | 74 | (6) |
| 2008-2013 | Agioi | 91 | (8) |
| Total | 434 | (47) | |
| International career | |||
| 1991–1994 | France U21 / Olympic | ||
| 2007 | Madagascar | 1[a] | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2014–2015 | Miami City Champions (assistant) | ||
| 2021–2022 | Madagascar (caretaker) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
In a 17-year professional career he appeared in 191 Ligue 1 games over the course of seven seasons (15 goals), in representation of Nancy and Paris Saint-Germain.
Club career
editBorn in Épinay-sur-Seine, Paris, Rabésandratana was brought up at AS Nancy's youth ranks, being promoted to the first team at age 18 by coach Aimé Jacquet, who would later manage the France national team. He made his Ligue 1 debut on 8 September 1990 in a 4–1 away loss against Stade Malherbe Caen, and remained an undisputed starter throughout the duration of his spell – in the 1995–96 season, the defensive-minded player scored a career-best 16 league goals as Les Chardons promoted from Ligue 2, only to be relegated the following year.[1]
In 1997 Rabésandratana moved to Paris Saint-Germain, helping the club to the Cup, League Cup and Supercup in his debut year,[2][3] and eventually gaining the club captaincy. However, with the arrival of new coach Luis Fernández, he gradually lost his importance.[4]
After a turbulent season with Greece's AEK Athens,[5] Rabésandratana returned home and signed with lowly LB Châteauroux. Two years after he moved to Belgium with R.A.E.C. Mons, which he helped promote in his second year, going on to be mainly used as a substitute during his spell.
International career
editIn 2007, Rabésandratana played for the Madagascar national team in a friendly with Toulouse FC, but this was never sanctioned by FIFA.
Coaching career
editRabésandratana retired professionally in 2007 at the age of 35, and focused on obtaining his coaching degree. He began working as a manager with the under-18 team at Jeunesse Sportive Juridiction de Saint-Émilion.[6]
In 2014, Rabésandratana co-founded the United States Champions Soccer Academy with fellow former footballer Wagneau Eloi and entrepreneur Ravy Truchot. Additionally, he served as programming director and Eloi's assistant coach of the FC Miami City Champions, a new Premier Development League expansion franchise.[7][8]
In April 2021, the Malagasy Football Federation announced Rabésandratana would serve as caretaker manager for Madagascar, following Nicolas Dupuis' suspension.[9]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ Portraits d’anciens du PSG: Cissé, Rabesandratana (Profiles of PSG oldies: Cissé, Rabesandratana); PSG Mag, 14 October 2010 (in French)
- ^ "PSG – Bordeaux 2-2 (4-2 tab), 04/04/98, Coupe de la Ligue 97-98". archivesparisfootball.wordpress.com. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ "PSG – Lens 2-1, 02/05/98, Coupe de France 97-98". archivesparisfootball.wordpress.com. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ Rabesandratana – "Je n'ai pas touché Ravanelli" (Rabesandratana – "I did not touch Ravanelli"); Planète PSG, 5 January 2008 (in French)
- ^ AEK chase title dream; UEFA.com, 11 January 2003
- ^ Des nouvelles de... Eric Rabesandratana (News of... Eric Rabesandratana); Foot Mercato, 23 January 2010 (in French)
- ^ Trois Français lancent une ambitieuse académie de football à Miami (Three Frenchmen launch ambitious football academy in Miami); France-Amérique, 12 June 2014 (in French)
- ^ Eloi et Rabésandratana, Miami Vice (Eloi and Rabésandratana, Miami Vice); So Foot, 5 February 2015 (in French)
- ^ "Nicolas Dupuis: Madagascar coach suspended". BBC Sport. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
External links
edit- Éric Rabésandratana at L'Équipe Football (in French)
- Éric Rabésandratana – French league stats at LFP – also available in French (archived)
- Stats at ASNL Story (in French)