The first-choice goalkeeper for the past five years at Olympique de Marseille, where he is now the club captain, Steve Mandanda was an unused squad member for France at UEFA EURO 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup and remains the understudy to Hugo Lloris for Les Bleus. In April 2012 he helped OM lift the French League Cup for the third successive season.

• Born in DR Congo, Mandanda began his career at Le Havre AC, for whom he made his first-team debut, at Ligue 2 level, in August 2005.

• Enjoyed two promising seasons at Le Havre, where he became France's Under-21 goalkeeper, appearing in all four matches at the 2006 UEFA European U21 Championship in Portugal; had a trial at Aston Villa FC before joining Marseille on loan.

• Expected to provide back-up to Cédric Carrasso at OM but serious injury to the latter enabled him to become the club's No1; seized the opportunity, keeping clean sheets in his first two UEFA Champions League appearances, the second of them against Liverpool FC at Anfield.

• Played for the France B team in February 2008 against the land of his birth but did not make his full debut until 27 May, the day before the UEFA EURO 2008 squad announcement.

• Won the French League Cup and Ligue 1 double in 2009/10, making 36 starts (out of 38) in the latter and all ten in Europe; ever-present again in the 2010/11 and 2011/12 UEFA Champions League group stage.