Romaric (footballer)

Koffi Christian Romaric N'Dri (born 4 June 1983), commonly known as Romaric,[2][3] is an Ivorian former professional footballer. A versatile midfielder, he could play as either a defensive or central midfielder.[3][4]

Romaric
Romaric with Sevilla in 2010
Personal information
Full name Koffi Christian Romaric N'Dri[1]
Date of birth (1983-06-04) 4 June 1983
Place of birth Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2003 ASEC Mimosas
2003–2005 Beveren 44 (18)
2005–2008 Le Mans 89 (7)
2008–2012 Sevilla 81 (3)
2011–2012 → Espanyol (loan) 28 (3)
2012–2013 Zaragoza 12 (0)
2013–2015 Bastia 60 (4)
2015–2016 Omonia 30 (0)
2016 NorthEast United 12 (2)
Total 356 (37)
National team
2005–2013 Ivory Coast 44 (4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He played in six countries, mainly France and Spain. He made 149 Ligue 1 appearances in the former for Le Mans and Bastia, and played 121 La Liga games in the latter for Sevilla, Espanyol and Zaragoza.

In an eight-year international career for the Ivory Coast, Romaric went to two World Cups and three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, finishing as runners-up in the 2008 edition of the latter.

Club career

Early years

Born in Abidjan, Romaric started his career at the famed youth academy of hometown club ASEC Mimosas, moving to K.S.K. Beveren in 2003.

In his second season in Belgium, he scored a career-best 13 goals in 32 games, but his team narrowly avoided relegation from the Pro League.

Le Mans

In May 2005, Romaric joined French club Le Mans UC72. In late August, however, he was involved in a serious car accident, fracturing his collarbone and taking a blow to the head close to Liège, in Belgium.[5]

Romaric quickly recovered from his injuries and established himself in the Maine team's starting eleven. In 2006–07, he scored five goals in 35 matches, as Le Mans easily retained its Ligue 1 status (12th position), and was also linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain as a replacement for departing Vikash Dhorasoo in the January transfer window – nothing came of it eventually; in his last season, he reunited at the Stade Léon-Bollée with compatriot Gervinho, a former teammate at Beveren.

Sevilla

On 21 May 2008, Romaric signed for Sevilla FC in Spain, penning a four-year contract for a fee believed to be around €8 and 10 million,[6] and linking up with countryman Arouna Koné. He scored his first La Liga goal on 7 December, in a 4–3 away win against Real Madrid,[7] and finished his first season with 36 matches (30 starts), as the Andalusians were ranked in third position.

Following the arrival of another Ivorian midfielder, Didier Zokora, Romaric saw his minutes significantly decreased. On 9 January 2010, he netted in a 1–2 home loss against Racing de Santander.[8]

Romaric joined fellow league team RCD Espanyol on a season-long loan at the end of the 2011 summer transfer window. Included in the agreement was an option to make the transfer permanent at the end of the campaign, with the player signing a three-year contract.[9]

Later career
Romaric being presented at Zaragoza

On 26 July 2012, Romaric negotiated a release from Sevilla, and signed a two-year deal with fellow league team Real Zaragoza under his former manager Manolo Jiménez.[10][11] He played only 14 total matches, as the Aragonese ended the season with relegation, and was sent off in the ninth minute of a 1–0 home loss to Getafe CF on 6 October for a foul on Mehdi Lacen.[12]

Romaric returned to France and its top flight on 1 August 2013, joining SC Bastia for two years with the option of a third and reuniting with his Le Mans boss Frédéric Hantz.[13] He played the first four matches in the Corsicans' 2014–15 Coupe de la Ligue campaign, but was an unused substitute for the final, a 4–0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain at the Stade de France.[14]

After being released by the side, he remained a free agent through the summer, before moving on 10 September 2015 to AC Omonia of the Cypriot First Division for the rest of the season.[15] The Nicosia-based club reached the final of the domestic cup, losing 2–1 to Apollon Limassol.[16]

On 14 August 2016, Romaric moved countries again, joining NorthEast United FC for the upcoming edition of the Indian Super League.[17]

International career
Romaric playing for Ivory Coast in 2012

Romaric's debut for the Ivory Coast came on 17 August 2005, in a 0–3 friendly loss with France in Montpellier. He was called up for the following year's FIFA World Cup squad, where he appeared in the 1–2 group stage defeat against the Netherlands.[18]

Romaric played for the Elephants in the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, with the tournament ending with a runner-up position after a final loss to hosts Egypt. He scored his first international goal on 29 March 2009, opening 5–0 home win after just 28 seconds against Malawi for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers; the result was overshadowed by a crush that killed 19 spectators.[19]

Romaric was selected for the final stages in South Africa, where he played in all the games in another group stage exit, netting against North Korea at Mbombela Stadium (3–0).[20] He was, however, not included in the squad for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, in which the Ivory Coast finished as runners-up.

International goals
List of international goals scored by Romaric
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.29 March 2009Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Malawi1–05–02010 World Cup qualification
2.7 June 2009Conakry, Guinea Guinea2–12–12010 World Cup qualification
3.25 June 2010Nelspruit, South Africa North Korea2–03–02010 FIFA World Cup
4.9 October 2010Bujumbura, Burundi Burundi1–01–02012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Honours

Club

Sevilla

International

Ivory Coast

References
  1. "FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010 – List of Players" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  2. "Romaric". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  3. "Ndri Romaric". UEFA.com. 1 January 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  4. Gourizro, Giscard (11 August 2011). "Romaric on Lille's radar". Sky Sports. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  5. "Ivorian Romaric injured in car crash". BBC Sport. 30 August 2005. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  6. "El Sevilla ficha al relevo de Keita" [Sevilla sign Keita's replacement] (in Spanish). Merca Fútbol. 21 May 2008. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  7. Gourizro, Giscard (8 December 2008). "Romaric pleased with form". Sky Sports. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  8. "Sevilla lose again at home". ESPN Soccernet. 9 January 2010. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  9. Caferoglu, Livio (31 August 2011). "Official: Espanyol sign Romaric from Sevilla as Luis Garcia joins Real Zaragoza". Goal.com. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  10. "El marfileño Romaric se desvincula del Sevilla para fichar por el Zaragoza" [Ivorian Romaric severs ties with Sevilla to sign for Zaragoza]. La Información (in Spanish). 26 July 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  11. "Romaric off to Zaragoza". Sky Sports. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  12. "Getafe spy victory through red mist". Al Jazeera. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  13. "Bastia snap up Romaric". Eurosport. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  14. "Paris St-Germain beat Bastia 4–0 to win the French League Cup". BBC Sport. 11 April 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  15. "L'Ivoirien Romaric en Chypre" [Ivorian Romaric in Cyprus] (in French). Africa Top Sports. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  16. "Apollon Limassol crowned Cyprus Cup champions". Sigma Live. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  17. "NorthEast United FC sign Ivory Coast international Romaric for ISL-3!". Arun Foot. 14 August 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  18. "Holland survives group of death, eliminates Ivory Coast with 2–1 win". USA Today. 16 June 2006. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  19. "La belle victoire des Éléphants endeuillée : 19 morts et 132 blessés hier au stade Houphouet-Boigny" [The Elephants' beautiful victory becomes mourning: 19 dead and 132 wounded yesterday at the Houphouet-Boigny stadium] (in French). Abidjan.net. 31 March 2009. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  20. "North Korea 0–3 Ivory Coast". BBC Sport. 25 June 2010. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
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