Rod Fanni
Encyclopedia
Rod Fanni is a French footballer
who plays as a right back
for French club Olympique de Marseille
and the French national team
.
, playing in both Ligue 2
and the Championnat National
. He joined RC Lens in 2002 where he made his debut in Ligue 1
, as well as both the UEFA Champions League
and the UEFA Cup
. He played the entire 2004–05 season
on loan at Châteauroux in Ligue 2.
In June 2005 he joined Nice
but left after only two seasons to sign a four-year contract with Rennes, where he was viewed as a replacement for Dutch defender Mario Melchiot
, who had departed for Premier League club Wigan Athletic. Fanni was named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year for the 2008–09 season. He has expressed a desire to play in the Premier League and was strongly linked with a move to Newcastle United before signing for Rennes. He was also linked with Everton
and West Ham United prior to signing a one year contract extension with Rennes in November 2009, which kept Fanni tied to Les Rouges et Noirs until June 2012.
In December 2010, Marseille successfully acquired the services of Fanni.
against Tunisia on 14 October 2008 in a 3–1 victory. Despite stiff competition from players such as Bacary Sagna
and François Clerc
, Fanni has been named regularly in Raymond Domenech
's squad but appears to be second choice right back behind Sagna.
. He began his football career whilst pursuing his studies, earning a BEP (French secondary school diploma) and then going on to study for a Bachelor's degree
in Industrial Science and Technology.
Football in France
Football is the most popular sport in France. The Fédération Française de Football is the national governing bodyand is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the game of association football in the country, both professional and amateur...
who plays as a right back
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for French club Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
and the French national team
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
.
Club career
Fanni began his career with FC MartiguesFC Martigues
FC Martigues play in the Championnat National, which is the third level of football in France. The club was formed in 1921 and played regional football until the early 1970s when the club gained promotion to the professional Second Division.The club's greatest achievement was winning promotion to...
, playing in both Ligue 2
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
and the Championnat National
Championnat National
The Championnat de France National, commonly referred to as simply National or Division 3, serves as the third division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1 and Ligue 2...
. He joined RC Lens in 2002 where he made his debut in Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
, as well as both the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
and the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
. He played the entire 2004–05 season
Ligue 2 season 2004-05
The Ligue 2 season 2004/2005, organised by the LFP was won by AS Nancy and saw the promotions of AS Nancy, Le Mans UC72 and Troyes AC, whereas Angers SCO and SC Bastia were relegated to National.-20 participating teams:-Final table:-Recap:...
on loan at Châteauroux in Ligue 2.
In June 2005 he joined Nice
OGC Nice
Olympique Gymnaste Club Nice Côte d'Azur is a French association football club based in Nice. The club was founded in 1904 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top-tier of French football. Nice plays its home matches at the Stade Municipal du Ray located within the city. In 2013, the club is...
but left after only two seasons to sign a four-year contract with Rennes, where he was viewed as a replacement for Dutch defender Mario Melchiot
Mario Melchiot
Mario Deno Patrik Melchiot is a Dutch football defender who currently plays for Qatari Stars League club Umm Salal. He can play as either a right-back or a central defender, and has also occasionally played in midfield....
, who had departed for Premier League club Wigan Athletic. Fanni was named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year for the 2008–09 season. He has expressed a desire to play in the Premier League and was strongly linked with a move to Newcastle United before signing for Rennes. He was also linked with Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
and West Ham United prior to signing a one year contract extension with Rennes in November 2009, which kept Fanni tied to Les Rouges et Noirs until June 2012.
In December 2010, Marseille successfully acquired the services of Fanni.
International career
Fanni made his debut for the French national teamFrance national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
against Tunisia on 14 October 2008 in a 3–1 victory. Despite stiff competition from players such as Bacary Sagna
Bacary Sagna
Bacary Sagna is a French footballer who plays for Arsenal and the France national football team. His cousin Ibrahima Sonko also plays in England, for Ipswich Town. Sagna is called Bac by the majority of his teammates...
and François Clerc
François Clerc
François Clerc is a French footballer who plays as a right back for OGC Nice.-Club career:He joined Lyon as a youth player, but spent the 2004–05 season on loan at Toulouse FC before playing a league game for Lyon...
, Fanni has been named regularly in Raymond Domenech
Raymond Domenech
Raymond Domenech is a retired French footballer and the former manager of the France national team.-2006 World Cup:On 12 July 2004, Domenech was a surprise choice to succeed Jacques Santini after the country's disappointing exit from UEFA Euro 2004 by losing in the quarter-final match to the...
's squad but appears to be second choice right back behind Sagna.
Personal life
Fanni's family originates from BeninBenin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
. He began his football career whilst pursuing his studies, earning a BEP (French secondary school diploma) and then going on to study for a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Industrial Science and Technology.