Former players of Rodez AF are crafting surprising chapters in leagues across the globe. A report from Centre Presse Aveyron this week reveals that nearly 100 footballers who have worn the Rodez shirt since 2019 have gone abroad to continue their professional careers.
This international trend coincides with a 2026-2027 season where Rodez sits 8th in Ligue 2 with 7 points, recording 2 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses. The team, which has scored and conceded 11 goals, prepares for its next home fixture against 16th-placed Grenoble this Friday, September 11th.
Where are Rodez alumni playing today?
The destinations are varied and sometimes exotic. This summer, Giovanni Haag joined Lion City Sailors in Singapore, the reigning champions set to compete in the Asian Champions League. In January, defender Julien Célestine, aged 29, signed with Jeju SK, a South Korean first-division club based in Seogwipo. Célestine's career is a journey in itself, having taken him to nine clubs across seven different countries, from Belgium to Poland via Mexico.
Other paths illustrate this mobility. Yohan Roche now plays in Greece for Iraklis Thessaloniki, after two seasons in Romania with Petrolul Ploiești. Till Cissokho, loaned to Rodez in the first half of 2025, joined HJK Helsinki last winter, the Finnish record-holder with 33 championship titles.
How have players adapted in Eastern Europe?
Central and Eastern Europe is a recurring destination. Alexis Alégué, who played for Rodez during the 2020-2021 season, has been in the Czech Republic since 2022. After a period without a club, he first joined MFK Vyskov in the second division, then played three seasons in the top flight with Jablonec before moving to Brno this summer. His former teammate Bart Straalman, at Rodez in 2020, also experienced MFK Vyskov before moving on to Finland and then Latvia, where he has lived since January.
Mobility also concerns players with shorter stints. Clément Depres played one season in 2024 for Ratchaburi in Thailand. Jung-Bin Park, who made nine appearances for Rodez between 2022 and 2024, later played in Cambodia before signing with a Malaysian club this summer.
What is the impact on Rodez's recruitment?
These international trajectories point to a pool of players attracted by adventure. Among former Rodez players who featured in Ligue 2, 40 now play in foreign leagues. The latest example is Loris Mouyokolo, loaned to Rodez during the 2022-23 season, who signed this summer with a club in Kaliningrad, the Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania.
To track the current Rodez squad, which sits eight points behind leaders Saint-Étienne, fans can check the squad page. The upcoming match schedule, including the clash with Grenoble, is available on our fixtures page. The next home game is scheduled for September 11, 2026.
