Romain Salin
Romain Jules Salin (born 29 July 1984) is a French former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He spent most of his professional career in Portugal's Primeira Liga, making 140 appearances for Naval, Marítimo, Rio Ave and Sporting CP, winning a Taça de Portugal and two Taça da Liga titles with the last of those clubs. He debuted in Ligue 1 at age 32, representing Guingamp and Rennes. Club career Early career Born in Mayenne, Pays de la Loire, Salin spent six of his first seven seasons as a senior in Ligue 2, in representation of Stade Lavallois, FC Lorient, FC Libourne and Tours FC. In 2007–08 he was part of the second club's Ligue 1 squad, but failed to make any competitive appearances. Naval In the 2010 off-season, Salin moved to Portugal where he would remain the following six years, signing with Associação Naval 1º de Maio who was coached by compatriot Victor Zvunka. He made his Primeira Liga debut on 14 August, in a 1–0 away loss against FC Porto. Marítimo and Rio Ave After his team's relegation, Salin signed for C.S. Marítimo of the same league on 15 July 2011, moving on a free transfer on a three-year deal as a replacement for Sporting CP-bound Marcelo Boeck. Having spent his first season as back-up to another Brazilian, Peterson Peçanha, he played 22 games in 2012–13, and ten in the that edition of the UEFA Europa League, which ended in group-stage elimination. Salin signed for Rio Ave F.C. in July 2013 on a one-year deal with another season as an option, having been tracked by Sporting and S.C. Braga. He played the first ten matches of the league campaign before being dropped for youngster Ederson in November. In January 2014, Salin returned to Marítimo on a deal until the summer of 2016. He said that he had left the Madeiran club because he thought he was going to sign for Braga on a salary four to five times higher than his previous one. Guingamp In July 2016, Salin returned to his homeland and joined En Avant Guingamp on a one-year contract. His maiden appearance in the French top division occurred on 21 September at the age of 32, in a 1–0 home win over Lorient. This was his one league appearance for the Breton side, though he played all three games in a run to the quarter-finals of the Coupe de la Ligue, winning penalty shootouts away to SC Bastia and Olympique Lyonnais. Sporting CP On 29 July 2017, Salin agreed to a two-year deal at Sporting, replacing the departed Beto as backup to Rui Patrício; it was the third time that the Lisbon club had been interested in him, after 2013 and 2016. His debut on 19 September was a goalless draw at home to his former side Marítimo, in the group stage of his team's eventual conquest of the Taça da Liga. Salin began his second season as first choice after the departure of Patrício, but