Steve Mandanda decided to say stop. At the age of 40, the former porter of the French team announced this week to end his career. Free of any contract since his departure from Rennes at the end of last season, the native of Kinshasa has thought about his future at length and finally chose to hang up the gloves, despite requests this summer.
During his career, Steve Mandanda will have marked the story of a club: Olympique de Marseille. Passed in the Marseille city between 2007 and 2022, with a passage from a season to Crystal Palace (2016-2017), is the former Tricolor International the largest goalkeeper to have evolved under the Olympian colors? This is the question that was asked on the set of the L'Equipe chain. And for journalist Anthony Clément, Fabien Barthez sits above Steve Mandanda, whether in terms of trophies or qualities.
“” I find it hard to put the best goalkeeper of a club the best period like the best period. (Steve Mandanda) has only one champion title (France). It is still a period when it has been seen more dominated by PSG than the reverse. (Fabien) Barthez, it's a golden age “Said Anthony Clément.
“Barthez is a golden age”
“When you talk about a club like OM, the best in the history of this club has bound to be betterhe continued. Especially since the Mandanda European final (Europa 2018 League, 0-3 defeat against Atlético Madrid, editor's note), it is not exactly a triumph. And there is not for nothing. »»
And the journalist of The team to conclude: ” For me, that makes the difference. Barthez is associated with the greatest moments of glory and, in addition, was also a huge goalkeeper. And I think a better goalkeeper than Mandanda in intrinsic value. »End of the debate?
