Romain Métanire

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".

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

International

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