One To Watch
Florent Hanin: Angers veteran's first season in Ligue 1 a success
Born in the Norman town of Harfleur, Florent Hanin's well-traveled career sees him playing in France's top flight for the first time -- learn more about his Odyssean journey in our latest profile.
Northern beginnings... and a trip south
Florent Hanin's trip to Ligue 1 McDonald's began more than a decade ago with the academy of Le Havre, not far from where he was born, a stone's throw from the Atlantic Ocean. Growing up in an era when France won both the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championships, he idolized the stars of the national team, remarking that, "Obviously I was watching the players playing in my position, like Bixente Lizarazu, who was very good with his association with Zidane on the left flank.
The left back, now 35, was at Le Havre part of the same academy that produced the likes of Paul Pogba and Dimitri Payet, but with Benjamin Mendy ahead of him in the team's pecking order, he got no further than the reserves. After playing more than 60 matches in the fourth-tier National 2, at 21, he set out for Portugal, a country with whom he held dual nationality.
Making the leap to the professional game for the first time, he signed with Leixões, then playing in the second tier, before being spotted by Braga, signing with their B team. After half a season in northern Portugal, he joined Moreirense in the top flight on loan, and despite being a regular, he was back on the move in the winter of 2014 to Greek side Panteliokos, again on loan. Despite helping them to a comfortable mid-table finish, he joined Belgian side Lierse but played sparingly, leading to his sale to Norwegian side Strømgodset, where he became a regular and even helped the team reach the qualifying stages of the Europa League.
Florent Hanin 🍼👉
👋 @AngersSCO pic.twitter.com/AcAPJzymg1— Ligue 2 BKT (@Ligue2BKT) May 9, 2024
A return to france... and the top flight
His strong play there saw him return to Portugal, where he spent two seasons each with Belenenses and Vitoria Guimãraes, playing in the Portuguese top flight and establishing his status as a physical and hardworking player with plenty of attacking flair. Back in France following the COVID-19 pandemic, he wanted to "close the loop" Speaking recently to Angers' website, the said, "When I arrived there it was to close the loop because I thought it was an anomaly to have started in France and never to have played it afterwards. Of course, the goal was to play in Ligue 1 and I was able to do it here.
With Paris FC in Ligue 2, he played three seasons, but despite helping the capital side reach the playoffs twice, he was still yet to feature in the top flight. In 2023, then 33, he signed with Le Sco. Again a regular starter, he was integral in helping the team win promotion at the first time of asking. Adapting to the top level with ease, he's helped Angers comfortably avoid the drop with not only a goal and two assists, but lockdown performances against the likes of Maghnes Akliouche, Mason Greenwood and (on Saturday) Dilane Bakwa. Now with the team's top flight status secured, Hanin can enjoy the team's final match away to Lyon with the satisfaction of a job well done.
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