Romain Jules Salin (born 29 July 1984) is a French former footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
He spent most of his professional career in Portugal's Primeira Liga, making 140 appearances for Naval, Marítimo, Rio Ave and Sporting CP, winning a Taça de Portugal and two Taça da Liga titles with the last of those clubs. He debuted in Ligue 1 at age 32, representing Guingamp and Rennes.
Club career Early career Born in Mayenne, Pays de la Loire, Salin spent six of his first seven seasons as a senior in Ligue 2, in representation of Stade Lavallois, FC Lorient, FC Libourne and Tours FC. In 2007–08 he was part of the second club's Ligue 1 squad, but failed to make any competitive appearances.
Naval In the 2010 off-season, Salin moved to Portugal where he would remain the following six years, signing with Associação Naval 1º de Maio who was coached by compatriot Victor Zvunka. He made his Primeira Liga debut on 14 August, in a 1–0 away loss against FC Porto.
Marítimo and Rio Ave After his team's relegation, Salin signed for C.S. Marítimo of the same league on 15 July 2011, moving on a free transfer on a three-year deal as a replacement for Sporting CP-bound Marcelo Boeck. Having spent his first season as back-up to another Brazilian, Peterson Peçanha, he played 22 games in 2012–13, and ten in the that edition of the UEFA Europa League, which ended in group-stage elimination.
Salin signed for Rio Ave F.C. in July 2013 on a one-year deal with another season as an option, having been tracked by Sporting and S.C. Braga. He played the first ten matches of the league campaign before being dropped for youngster Ederson in November.
In January 2014, Salin returned to Marítimo on a deal until the summer of 2016. He said that he had left the Madeiran club because he thought he was going to sign for Braga on a salary four to five times higher than his previous one.
Guingamp In July 2016, Salin returned to his homeland and joined En Avant Guingamp on a one-year contract. His maiden appearance in the French top division occurred on 21 September at the age of 32, in a 1–0 home win over Lorient. This was his one league appearance for the Breton side, though he played all three games in a run to the quarter-finals of the Coupe de la Ligue, winning penalty shootouts away to SC Bastia and Olympique Lyonnais.
Sporting CP On 29 July 2017, Salin agreed to a two-year deal at Sporting, replacing the departed Beto as backup to Rui Patrício; it was the third time that the Lisbon club had been interested in him, after 2013 and 2016. His debut on 19 September was a goalless draw at home to his former side Marítimo, in the group stage of his team's eventual conquest of the Taça da Liga.
Salin began his second season as first choice after the departure of Patrício, but following injury against Portimonense S.C. in October 2018 he was surpassed by loanee Renan Ribeiro. The club completed a domestic cup double, with him playing all three league cup group fixtures, and the 2–0 victory at C.D. Feirense in the quarter-finals of the Taça de Portugal on 16 January 2019.
Rennes Salin went back to his country's top flight in June 2019, signing for Stade Rennais F.C. for two years. In December 2020, having made seven appearances that season, he added another year to his contract; he subsequently tied himself to the Roazhon Park club until 2024.
Salin did not play at all in 2022–23, but was sent off on 21 August in a 2–1 home win against AC Ajaccio for two yellow cards for dissent while on the substitutes' bench. On 13 May 2023 he featured for the reserve team in the 3–0 victory over visiting US Granville in the Championnat National 2, as two of their goalkeepers had been moved into the main squad.
Marítimo return On 13 July 2023, days before his 39th birthday, Salin returned to Marítimo. He signed a one-year deal, with the team now in the Liga Portugal 2. On 27 August, after his residence in France was robbed with his family inside, he asked the club to terminate his contract so he could return to his home country; a few days later, he announced his retirement.
Career statistics +Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague cupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsLaval2003–04Ligue 2000000——00Lorient2004–05Ligue 2900000——902005–06Ligue 2201000——302007–08Ligue 1000010——10Total1101010——130Libourne (loan)2006–07Ligue 22100030——240Tours2008–09Ligue 210000———1002009–10Ligue 22400010——250Total3400010——350Naval2010–11Primeira Liga2700020——290Marítimo2011–12Primeira Liga300050——802012–13Primeira Liga2200000100—320Total2500050100—400Rio Ave2013–14Primeira Liga1000000——100Marítimo2013–14Primeira Liga140————1402014–15Primeira Liga2703030——3302015–16Primeira Liga2800030——310Total6903060——780Guingamp2016–17Ligue 1105000——420Sporting CP2017–18Primeira Liga002020——402018–19Primeira Liga90103050—180Total90305050—220Rennes2019–20Ligue 14000102000702020–21Ligue 115000—20—1702021–22Ligue 11010—20—402022–23Ligue 10000—00—00Total20010106000280Marítimo2023–24Primeira Liga200010——30Career total2340130250210002930
Honours Sporting CP Taça de Portugal: 2018–19 Taça da Liga: 2017–18, 2018–19
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