Romain Métanire (born 28 March 1990) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Spokane Velocity.
He has previously played for Minnesota United FC, French clubs FC Metz, Stade de Reims (with whom he won Ligue 2 in 2017–18), and Belgian club KV Kortrijk. Born in France, he plays for the Madagascar national team.
Club career Metz Métanire was born in Metz, but has origins in Réunion. Having joined FC Metz at the age of six, he started his career in the club's reserve team and made his debut in the Championnat de France amateur (CFA) on 11 October 2008, coming on as a substitute in a 1–1 draw away at Colmar. He made three further substitute appearances in the 2008–09 season as the reserve side was relegated to the CFA 2. He made his first start for Metz B in the 5–2 home win over Pontarlier on 15 August 2009. He went on to play 19 matches during the campaign, becoming a regular fixture in the team that gained promotion back to the CFA as winners of their group. He also scored the first goal of his career in the 2–1 victory away at Troyes B on 21 March 2010.
As a result of his performances in the reserve team, Métanire was selected on the substitutes' bench for the match away at Clermont Foot on 29 October 2010. He entered play in the 89th minute, replacing Belgian midfielder Gaëtan Englebert. He again appeared as a late substitute the following week in the home defeat to Le Mans, before returning to the B team. He played 29 CFA matches for the reserves during the 2010–11 season. Métanire was handed his first senior start in the final Ligue 2 match of the campaign, as Metz were beaten 4–3 away to Evian TG.
In the 2011–12 season, Métanire established himself as Metz' first-choice right-back, starting in all of the side's first 21 matches of the campaign.
On 5 February 2016, he scored a goal against AS Nancy in injury time. In reference to the occasion, t-shirts were sold with the message "Je t’aime comme un but de Métanire à la 91e". In his time at Metz, he made 180 league appearances scoring two goals.
Kortrijk On 15 July 2016, Métanire left Metz for Belgian club KV Kortrijk.
Reims On 18 January 2017, after just six months with Kortrijk, Métanire returned to his native France joining Stade Reims on a 1.5-year contract.
Métanire helped Stade de Reims win the 2017–18 Ligue 2 and promote to the Ligue 1 for the 2018–19 season.
Minnesota United On 25 January 2019, Métanire signed with MLS club Minnesota United. Following the 2022 season, his contract option was declined by Minnesota.
Seraing On 6 September 2023, Métanire signed a one-year contract with Seraing in Belgium. On 1 January 2024, Métanire's contract was terminated as he asked to rejoin his family in the US.
Spokane Velocity Métanire joined USL League One expansion club Spokane Velocity on 23 January 2024. He scored the first home goal five minutes into the home opener for Spokane in a 2-1 victory. Spokane opted not to renew his contract following their 2024 season.
International career Métanire was born in France, and is of Malagasy descent. He was called up to the Madagascar national team on 11 August 2018. He made his debut for Madagascar in a 2–2 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification tie with Senegal on 9 September 2018.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsMetz2010–11Ligue 2300000—302011–12Ligue 23202010—3502012–13Championnat National3602030—4102013–14Ligue 23300010—3402014–15Ligue 13401010—3602015–16Ligue 22321010—252Total16126070001742KV Kortrijk2016–17Belgian First Division A18030——210Reims2016–17Ligue 21702010—2002017–18Ligue 23700010—3802018–19Ligue 150———50Total590202000630Minnesota United2019MLS27120—103012020MLS200——20220Total471200030521Career total285313090303103
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsMadagascar201830201990202020Total140
Honours Metz Ligue 2: 2013–14, 2017–18
Minnesota United U.S. Open Cup runner-up: 2019
Individual UNFP Ligue 2 Team of the Year: 2013–14 MLS All-Star: 2019 Knight Order of Madagascar: 2019
References
External links
Romain Métanire career statistics at FootNational