Veteran Bastia goalkeeper Mickeal Lanndreau has broken Jean-Luc Erroti’s tally of 602 games in Ligue 1, France’s top division by playing in Wednesday’s draw with local rivals Ajaccio.
Most of the 34-year-old’s appearances occurred where it all started, Nantes. Coming through the club’s impressive academy the young Frenchmen made his debut against current side Bastia in 1996 and went on to make a further 335 appearances. The then 17-year-old started as he meant to go on, with a clean sheet. No one was able to force the youngster out of the starting lineup and as a consequence of being an ever present in the Nantes side he was made captain of Les Canaries. He enjoyed great success at the club winning back to back French Cup trophies in 1999 and 2000. He gained three trophies in three years as he played a major part in Nantes title winning season playing 33 out of 34 possible games in the to help his side secure their eighth Ligue 1. This was to be his last trophy with his boyhood team, Landreau also missed a penalty in the French Cup Semi-Final which cost his side a place in Europe something he insists he has no regrets about. He left before the start of the 2005/2006 season due to an apparent players revolt lead by Landreau in 2005 after the club had just finished a point above the relegation zone; their worst ever season in Ligue 1.
Paris was Mickeal’s next destination despite interest from Arsenal and AC Milan. Insisting after he put pen to paper on a four year deal, that playing for Paris Saint-Germain would give him a better chance of being selected for France’s national team. Quickly establishing himself as the first choice goalkeeper, Landreau never missed a league game for PSG in his three years in the French capital. Fellow countryman Gregory Coupet joining him at PSG in 2009 cast doubt over his starting place at the club, Lille were aware of the situation and put in a £1.7m bid for the experienced shot stopper. This was accepted and Landreau made his way to Lille.
Just five days into his time at his new club he suffered a major setback and was sidelined until October due to injury. After making his debut in a 2-0 win over Grenoble there was no possibility that anyone at the club was going to take the number one jersey off him. Another Ligue 1 title was about to come his way ten years after his first, winning it with Lille in the 2010/11 season playing alongside familiar faces Edin Hazard and Gervinho. He once again played in every single game he could have that season and also lifted his third French Cup to make it a historic double for Les Dogues (56 years after their last trophy) and Landreau. He represented his team in the Champions League before departing to current club Bastia, the team whom he made his debut against, for the start of this season.
Jean-Luc Erroti was in Bastia on Sunday evening to warm up with the man who was then equalling his record. Erroti spent his entire career at Monaco between the years of 1975 and 1995 winning nine France caps in the process, something Landreau can also better. The boy from Western France has earned a total of eleven caps for his country with his debut coming against Mexico in the 2001 Confederations Cup. He has been unfortunate with the amount of quality keepers proceeding him during his career. He is now third in the pecking order behind Hugo Lloris and Steve Mandanda, the keeper did manage to book a place to Germany for the 2006 World Cup but didn’t manage to get a game.
His record breaking game finished 1-1 courtesy of goals from Raspentino and Eduardo but there will surely be many more chances to get yet another clean sheet to add to his impressive collection as his appearance tally continues to grow.