Lorient vs Bordeaux preview - Planus announces Bordeaux exit

Posted Friday, May 01, 2015 by PA

Bordeaux's quest for a Champions League spot will begin with a heavy heart after long-serving defender Marc Planus announced he will leave the club at the end of the season.

Planus, who made his Ligue 1 debut back in 2002, will make his 299th league appearance on Saturday, when Les Girondins visit Lorient.

In an emotional press conference held on Thursday, Planus confirmed he will leave Bordeaux in the summer, though the club will be hoping he can boost their efforts towards a top-four finish.

Planus told Sud Ouest: "Along with club, I've decided to stop my adventure here. Over 26 years, it was long, magnificent and intense - but let's move on.

"The little boy who came here in 1989 at seven years old has grown. I have not been injured this season, I will continue, I will go abroad."

Planus will leave Bordeaux with an impressive trophy haul as well, having won the Ligue 1 title in 2009, alongside a Coupe de France and two Coupe de la Ligue crowns.

Bordeaux are just five points off a top-four spot, and will also be hoping for a return to winning ways after losing 2-0 to Lille and then drawing 1-1 with Metz.

Lorient, meanwhile, have fresh injury concerns, involving Vincent Le Goff (hamstring) and Yann Jouffre (thigh) - the former is expected to be out for two to three weeks.

Sylvain Ripoll's side climbed out of the relegation zone with their dramatic 5-3 win at Marseille last Friday, but the coach told L'Equipe: "We must no longer be complacent.

"The win did not offer any guarantees for the future but it showed us the way to move forward."