Rod Fanni

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Rod Fanni

| image = Rod Fanni3.jpg

| caption = Fanni in 2010

| full_name = Rod Dodji Fanni{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/february-2016.ashx |title=List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/02/2016 and 29/02/2016 |publisher=The Football Association |page=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024150007/http://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/february-2016.ashx |archive-date=24 October 2019}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|12|6|df=y}}{{cite news |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur8024.html |title=Rod Fanni |newspaper=L'Équipe |location=Paris |access-date=6 April 2025 |language=fr}}

| birth_place = Martigues, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

| height = 1.86 m

| position = Centre-back

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = 1999–2000

| youthclubs1 = Martigues

| years1 = 2000–2002

| clubs1 = Martigues

| caps1 = 63

| goals1 = 1

| years2 = 2002–2005

| clubs2 = Lens

| caps2 = 39

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2004–2005

| clubs3 = → Châteauroux (loan)

| caps3 = 34

| goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2005–2007

| clubs4 = Nice

| caps4 = 57

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2007–2011

| clubs5 = Rennes

| caps5 = 114

| goals5 = 2

| years6 = 2011–2015

| clubs6 = Marseille

| caps6 = 127

| goals6 = 5

| years7 = 2015–2016

| clubs7 = Al-Arabi SC

| goals7 = 1

| caps7 = 15

| years8 = 2016

| clubs8 = → Charlton Athletic (loan)

| goals8 = 0

| caps8 = 14

| years9 = 2016–2018

| clubs9 = Marseille

| caps9 = 43

| goals9 = 1

| years10 = 2018–2020

| clubs10 = Montreal Impact

| caps10 = 43

| goals10 = 1

| nationalyears1 = 2008–2010

| nationalteam1 = France

| nationalcaps1 = 5

| nationalgoals1 = 0

}}

Rod Dodji Fanni (born 6 December 1981) is a former French footballer who last played as a centre-back for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer. He made five appearances for the France national team between 2008 and 2010.

Club career

=Early career=

Fanni began his career with FC Martigues, 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.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

=Nice=

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 expressed desire to play in the Premier League and was strongly linked with a move to Newcastle United before signing for Rennes.[http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_4630587,00.html Fanni keen on England move] Sky Sports 12 December 2008 He was also linked with Everton[http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_5363562,00.html Everton trail defender] Sky Sports 6 October 2009 and West Ham United[http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_5363562,00.html Hammers keen on Frenchman] Sky Sports 4 June 2009 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.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

=Marseille=

In December 2010, Marseille successfully acquired the services of Fanni.{{cite web|url=http://www.om.net/fr/Saison/101002/Actualites/50668/Officiel_Accord_de_principe_trouve_pour_Fanni|title=Officiel: Accord de principe trouvé pour Fanni!|work=Olympique de Marseille|access-date=4 October 2014}}

=Al-Arabi SC and Charlton Athletic=

In 2015 Fanni left Marseille after his contract ended. On 11 July 2015 Qatari side Al-Arabi SC signed Fanni on a free transfer.{{cite web|url=http://www.qna.org.qa/en-us/News/15071100320040/Al-Arabi-Sign-French-Defender-Rod-Fanni-from-Marseille|title=Al Arabi Sign French Defender Rod Fanni from Marseille|publisher=Qatar News Agency|access-date=11 July 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712201208/http://www.qna.org.qa/en-us/News/15071100320040/Al-Arabi-Sign-French-Defender-Rod-Fanni-from-Marseille|archive-date=12 July 2015|df=dmy-all}}

On 1 February 2016, Fanni signed for Charlton Athletic on loan until the end of season.{{Cite news |title=DONE DEAL Charlton secure Rod Fanni on loan |url=http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/charlton-rod-fanni-championship-transfer-loan-deadline-day-2932223.aspx |publisher=Charlton Athletic |date=1 February 2016}}

=Return to Marseille=

On 31 August 2016, Fanni returned to Marseille.{{cite web|url=https://www.om.net/actualites/264436/rod-fanni-est-de-nouveau-olympien|title=Rod Fanni est de nouveau Olympien|trans-title=Rod Fanni is Olympian again|language=fr|publisher=Olympique de Marseille|date=31 August 2016|access-date=31 August 2016}} In February 2018, Marseille announced it had agreed to terminate Fanni's contract at the end of January. Fanni had not made an appearance in the first half of the 2017–18 season.{{cite news|title=Rod Fanni libéré par l'OM|url=http://www.sofoot.com/rod-fanni-libere-par-l-om-452803.html|access-date=6 March 2018|work=So Foot|date=19 February 2018|language=fr}}

=Montreal Impact=

In early March 2018, Montreal Impact announced the signing of Fanni on a contract until June with the option of a further season, pending international transfer certification and a medical.{{cite news|title=Impact sign veteran French defender Rod Fanni to contract through June 30|url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/soccer/mls/montreal-impact/impact-sign-veteran-french-defender-rod-fanni-to-contract-through-june-30|access-date=6 March 2018|work=Montreal Gazette|date=5 March 2018}}{{cite news|title=Montreal Impact sign France international center-back Rod Fanni|url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/3408217/montreal-impact-signs-france-international-center-back-rod-fanni|access-date=6 March 2018|work=ESPN FC|date=5 March 2018}}

International career

Fanni made his debut for the France national team against Tunisia on 14 October 2008 in a 3–1 victory. Despite stiff competition from players such as Bacary Sagna and François Clerc, Fanni was named regularly in Raymond Domenech's squad as second choice right-back behind Sagna.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

Personal life

Fanni's family originates from Benin. 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.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}

Honours

File:Rod Fanni - TdC 2011.jpg with Marseille]]

Marseille

Coupe de la Ligue: 2010–11, 2011–12{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}
Trophée des Champions: 2011{{cite web|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/match-direct/trophee-des-champions/2011/lille-om-live/219943 |title=Résultat et résumé Lille - Marseille, Trophée des Champions, Trophée des Champions, Mercredi 27 Juillet 2011 |publisher=lequipe.fr|access-date=28 February 2021 }}

Individual