| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | September 18, 1972 | ||
| Place of birth | Épinay-sur-Seine, France | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Playing position | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Saint-Ouen l'Aumône | |||
| 1989–1990 | Nancy | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1990–1997 | Nancy | 231 | (35) |
| 1997–2001 | Paris SG | 101 | (5) |
| 2001–2002 | AEK Athens | 0 | (0) |
| 2002–2004 | Châteauroux | 28 | (1) |
| 2004–2007 | Mons | 74 | (6) |
| National team | |||
| 1991–1994 | France U21 / Olympic | ||
| 2007 | Madagascar | 1 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Éric Rabésandratana (born 18 September 1972) is a retired French-born Malagasy footballer who played mainly as a defensive midfielder - he could also operate as a central defender.
In a 17-year professional career, he appeared in 191 Ligue 1 games over the course of seven seasons (15 goals), in representation of Nancy and Paris SG.
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Born in Épinay-sur-Seine, Rabésandratana was brought up at AS Nancy's youth ranks, being promoted to the first team at age 18, by then manager Aimé Jacquet, who would later manage France. He made his Ligue 1 debut on 8 September 1990, in a 4–1 loss at SM Caen, and remaining an undisputed starter throughout the duration of his spell - in 1995–96, the defensive-minded player scored an astonishing 16 league goals as Les Chardons promoted from Ligue 2, only to be relegated the following year.
In 1997, Rabésandratana moved to Paris Saint-Germain FC, helping to the Cup, League Cup and Supercup in his debut year, and eventually gaining club captaincy; however, with the arrival of new coach Luis Fernández, he gradually lost his importance.[1]
After a turbulent season with Greece's AEK Athens,[2] Rabésandratana returned home and signed with lowly LB Châteauroux, moving two years after to Belgium, with R.A.E.C. Mons, which he helped promote in his second year, and being mainly used as a replacement, but regularly.
Rabésandratana retired professionally in 2007, and focused on obtaining his coaching degree. He began working as a manager with the under-18 team at Jeunesse Sportive Juridiction de Saint-Émilion.[3]
Rabésandratana gained one cap for the land of his ancestors, Madagascar, in a FIFA-recognized friendly with Toulouse FC, also in that year.