ligue1-logo
Legends

Au Revoir, Steve! Mandanda announces his retirement

Following a legendary career in Ligue 1 McDonald's and with the French national team, Steve Mandanda has announced his retirement.
E. DEVIN
Published on 09/11/2025 at 22:00
6-minute read
Steve Mandanda has announced his retirement, aged 40.

Following a legendary career in Ligue 1 McDonald's and with the French national team, Steve Mandanda has announced his retirement. He recently spoke with l'Équipe to look back at his time in football -- read the full interview here.

You gave yourself a summer to think about it after your contract at Rennes ended. Has your decision been made?
I needed to take my time to accept it, first of all, because it's not easy, but yes, I'm retiring. I went on vacation with my friend, Didier (Digard, Le Havre coach), and we talked a lot together. I had a long period of reflection because, while it seemed clear to me, I received a lot of offers (Le Havre, Lorient, Guingamp, Brest, Montpellier). It's flattering; it means that managers and coaches are still thinking about you. And every time I said no, I wondered if I would regret it. But by saying no repeatedly: Turkey too far away, Saudi Arabia the same, in Ligue 1 for other reasons...

Does this sound like excuses?
Maybe, but I needed time to accept it. Last season, I knew I was going to quit. The arrival of coach Habib Beye (at the end of January) gave me back my motivation, and I learned to appreciate my role as number 2. And then the club decided not to renew my contract, and then came the last match of the season at the Vélodrome (2-4, on May 17).

Is it hard to hope for a better way to close the loop?
This moment was unique because nothing was prepared. All week long, the coach asked me if I wanted to play this match against OM. I told him "no" all week long. For me, it wasn't necessarily the last match of my career. It was the last match of the season, the last match with Rennes. On the bench, I was sitting between Gauthier Gallon and Nico Lesage (team manager), the two of them in stereo telling me that I had to go on. I decided at the last moment, and I had one of the greatest emotional moments of my entire career. The moment touched me even more at the end with my son (Sacha) who came onto the pitch. I was facing the South bend, Leo (Balerdi) gave me his (OM) armband: "You're the captain, you're at home here!" Honestly, I couldn't have had a better ending.

Speaking of OM, how could someone so calm have lasted so long such a volcanic environment?
Despite my rather calm temperament, I also have my own character, you wouldn't believe it (smiles). This marriage with OM was an alignment of the planets. I discovered a coach who was enormously important: Éric Gerets. Incredible in his tactical management and his man management. He was frank and direct, I loved this. When Cédric (Carrasso) returned from injury, I had a week of excruciating training. He came to see me, it lasted twenty seconds: "You're my number 1!" Unfortunately for Cédric, he had been injured a few months before and it completely changed my career, but I still had to perform well. Before my first match against Caen (2-1), I lived through three days of hell. The night before the match, I barely slept. I saw my name in all the newspapers; I wasn't used to that kind of pressure. One play changed everything: I saved a free kick from "Titi" Deroin with my opposite hand. It gave me confidence; it showed people that I was performing well.

Is it so difficult to survive in the Marseille pressure cooker?
When you're young, carefree, and performing well, you only take the positives. I was lucky enough to have a chant named after me at the stadium pretty quickly. And then, I think I took the time to really observe things, to really understand where I'd gotten myself into. I started attending meetings with the supporters, I took on more important roles. I think a lot about everything. Some questions came with the armband, but it's my personality; it's also what helped me last in the world of football and OM in particular. Even if there were some very, very complicated moments.

What was the hardest?
The invasion of La Commanderie in January 2021. We reached a real rift with the fans. There were other episodes, but it was confined to the Vélodrome, over banners. There, Pablo (Longoria), the coach (André) Villas-Boas, Alvaro, and I found ourselves in front of the sports building in front of dozens and dozens of furious fans. There were lots of players locked in their rooms, but my place was there facing them. They weren't happy; there was the bad run in the Champions League, Covid, and their anger was mainly aimed at the management. But I'm captain, I'm up front; that's my role, even more so in difficult times.

You chose to leave OM a second time, in 2022, to go to Rennes this time. Why?
The season with Jorge Sampaoli was very difficult. I started as a starter, but the club had invested money in Pau Lopez, and above all, there was a new goalkeeping coach, Jon Pascua, who was very close to Pau. I then disappeared and returned towards the end, but things weren't very clear. The following summer, for everyone's benefit, the best solution was for me to leave. And above all, it suited everyone that it came from me. When the coach put me on the bench, Flo Maurice (then Rennes sporting director) had already approached me. He called me back, and coach (Bruno) Genesio came to see me in Aix. I loved those exchanges, I went there, and I haven't regretted it. Without Rennes, I don't know if I would have continued for three more years, if I could have been called up for the 2022 World Cup.

What will your life look like now?
For now, it's not easy. The holidays were very complicated from mid-July when everyone went back to work. It's a more solitary life: I get up, I do sports, I go play padel, but time doesn't pass quickly (he smiles). And the weekends are hard because I was always used to being away, so I watch a lot of matches. For now, I can't wait for my training to start at the CDES in Limoges. I want to learn about management and better understand what goes on behind the pitch.

Read more:

>> 5 Standout international performances

>> Folarin Balogun: The Big Interview

ligue1-logo
Squads overview