(Montreal) The Montreal Impact announced Monday that French central defender Rod Fanni has agreed with the club on the terms of a contract until the end of the 2019 season.
The announcement confirmed the rumors circulating earlier on social networks. The Impact could not announce anything until MLS approved the deal.
In fact, the return of Fanni seemed a secret of Polichinelle at the Impact, to the point where Bacary Sagna commented as if it was acquired, while the direction of the team had not issued any release.
"We know how important Rod is to the team, not only on the field, but off the field. It's someone who has a physical presence, it's someone who has brought a lot. He did it in the past. Now it's a more defensive solution. (…) Despite his age, he is athletic, has a healthy lifestyle. "
Aged 37, Fanni returns with the Impact, having started 26 regular season games in 2018. He was named three times on the MLS team of the week, and was selected on bench on two occasions. He had also been a member of the Canadian Championship game.
He is the second player to return to the Montreal squad in less than three weeks after Ballou Tabla.
Above all, this return to the fold – from the moment Fanni is ready to jump into the fray – will allow the Impact to fill a glaring gap in this vital position in the field. Against Toronto FC on Saturday, due to injury, new head coach Wilmer Cabrera had to call on Sagna and Jukka Raitala, side defensemen of training, to evolve into central defense.
The Impact will play two games this week, first against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday, and then against D. C. United on Saturday, each time at Saputo Stadium. After this duel, the Impact will enjoy a two-week break before receiving FC Cincinnati on September 14th.
A busy career
Prior to joining the Impact, Fanni had played 362 Ligue 1 games, including 330 tenures, during a 15-season career in the French Premier League from 2002 to 2018, successively playing with RC Lens, who had OGC Nice, Stade Rennais and Olympique Marseille.
Fanni won the Champions Trophy in 2011, as well as the League Cup in 2011 and 2012 with Marseille, spending six and a half seasons in two games with OM, from 2010-11 to 2014-15, then in 2016-17 and 2017-18.
He was also finalist of the Coupe de France with Rennes in 2009 and finalist of the Coupe de la Ligue with Nice in 2006. He was part of the typical team of Ligue 1 in 2009 and 2010, while was playing for Rennes.
Fanni has also played 19 French Cup matches, 17 League Cup matches, 12 UEFA Champions League matches and 17 UEFA Cup / Europa League matches.
On the international scene, Fanni played five games with the national team of France, between 2008 and 2010. He had previously been part of the under-21 team of France.
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