OM – Mandanda hangs up his gloves: “I couldn’t have dreamed of a better ending”

A towering career, an emotional farewell

797 professional matches, including 613 with Olympique de Marseille. Steve Mandanda has left a mark on an entire generation of supporters. In L’Équipe, he made his decision official with characteristic sobriety: “I needed time to accept it, it’s not easy, but yes, I’m stopping.” Approached by several clubs (Le Havre, Lorient, Guingamp, Brest, Montpellier), he kept saying no, again and again, until he convinced himself the time had come.

The symbol will forever be that last match at the Vélodrome, under Rennes colors, in May. Mandanda recalls: “All week, the coach asked me if I wanted to play. I said no. Then at the last moment, I decided to, and I experienced one of the greatest emotions of my career. Leo (Balerdi) gave me his armband: ‘You’re the captain, this is your home!’ Honestly, I couldn’t have dreamed of a better ending.”

The “little death” of athletes

Mandanda doesn’t hide the difficulty of transition. “The holidays were very complicated. It’s a more solitary life: I wake up, do some sport, play padel… but time doesn’t pass quickly. Weekends are tough, I was always used to being away.” Like many former professionals, he speaks of a “little death” — that moment when the adrenaline of the pitch disappears.

A new path already mapped out

The former OM captain doesn’t intend to remain idle. He will soon begin training at the CDES in Limoges (Centre for Sports Law and Economics) to prepare for a career in management. “I want to learn about management and better understand what happens behind the scenes,” he explains.

While he hasn’t directly mentioned a future role at OM, his bond with Marseille is indestructible. The idea of returning one day in a different capacity, already floated in the past, remains in the air.

A legend forever

French champion in 2010, winner of three League Cups, five-time Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year, 2018 World Cup winner with Les Bleus: Mandanda leaves behind a colossal legacy. More than the trophies, he leaves the image of a loyal servant, always close to the Marseille people.

At 39, Steve El Fenomeno Mandanda turns the page on his playing career, but his story with OM remains eternal.