Sacha Fernand Henri Opinel (born 9 April 1977) is a French former professional footballer who played as a defender. He made over 200 appearances across France, Scotland, and England, and won an FA Trophy winners' medal in 2008.
Opinel after winning the 2008 FA Trophy Final with Ebbsfleet United
| |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sacha Fernand Henri Opinel[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1977-04-09) 9 April 1977 (age 47) | ||
| Place of birth | Bourg-Saint-Maurice, France | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1991–1997 | Cannes | ? | (?) |
| 1997–1998 | Lille 2 | 11 | (0) |
| 1998–1999 | Ajaccio | 7 | (0) |
| 1999–2000 | Raith Rovers | 22 | (0) |
| 2000–2001 | Plymouth Argyle | 0 | (0) |
| 2001 | Leyton Orient | 11 | (1) |
| 2001–2002 | Billericay Town | 24 | (2) |
| 2003–2005 | Farnborough Town | 56 | (2) |
| 2005–2006 | Crawley Town | 31 | (2) |
| 2006–2009 | Ebbsfleet United | 104 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | Farnborough | 11 | (1) |
| 2010 | → Eastbourne Borough (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2010 | → Burgess Hill Town (loan) | ||
| 2010–2011 | Harlow Town | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Opinel began his career with French clubs Cannes, Lille and Ajaccio before joining Scottish club Raith Rovers in December 1999, where he made over 20 league and cup appearances.[2] He was released by Rovers in December 2000 by mutual consent after a series of on and off-the-field problems.[3] After training with Third Division club, Plymouth Argyle,[4] Opinel was given a short-term contract so that manager Paul Sturrock could take a closer look at him over the 2000 Christmas and New Year period.[5] He made only one appearance for Plymouth in a Football League Trophy tie against Bristol Rovers[6] and was not offered a contract. After a trial at AFC Bournemouth,[7] he joined Leyton Orient in February 2001, where he made eleven appearances in the remainder of the 2000–01 season,[2] scoring one goal against Cardiff City,[8] and helped Orient towards the Third Division play-offs in May 2001.[9]
Opinel then dropped into non-league football, joining Billericay Town at the beginning of the 2001–02 season.[10] He joined Farnborough Town in July 2003,[11] signing a two-year contract in May 2004,[12] but requested a transfer for personal and professional reasons and joined Crawley Town in January 2005 in a deal that saw Farnborough receive a substantial transfer fee as well as having Robert Traynor move from Crawley to Farnborough.[13] Opinel had started over 50 games for Farnborough.[14] Opinel agreed a contract until May 2006 with Crawley and in July 2006, he joined Gravesend & Northfleet (now Ebbsfleet United).[15] He signed a new contract in May 2007 and collected a winners' medal when Ebbsfleet won the FA TrophyatWembley Stadium in May 2008.[16] On 4 June 2009, Opinel re-joined Farnborough.[17]
Opinel is the cousin of former professional footballer Eric Cantona and actor Joël Cantona.[18]
Ebbsfleet United
