Flavien Tait has brought a 14-year professional career to a close at the age of 33, ending a journey that took him from Châteauroux to Ligue 1, European nights with Rennes and a final spell abroad in Turkey.
The move
The midfielder announced his retirement on Wednesday through Instagram, having been without a club since leaving Rodez in January.
“After 14 years in professional football, the time has come to close a huge chapter in my life and announce the end of my career,” Tait wrote. “I feel enormous pride and deep gratitude to have been able to live my childhood dream.”
His final club appearance came during a brief stay at Rodez. Tait joined the Ligue 2 side and played five matches before departing two and a half months later in January.
Reflecting on his decision, he said football would remain a lasting part of his life: “A page turns today, but everything football has given me will stay with me forever.”
The French season around it
Tait began his senior career at Châteauroux in 2012, making 79 appearances before moving to Angers four years later. He played 87 times for the SCO, where he first established himself in Ligue 1.
Rennes signed him in 2019, and the move delivered the most prominent period of his career. Across four seasons in Brittany, Tait made 129 appearances and scored 12 goals.
He also experienced European competition with Rennes, featuring in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League. Tait described those campaigns as the biggest European emotions of his career, calling them unforgettable moments.
In 2023, he left French football for Samsunspor. He made 41 appearances across two seasons with the Turkish club before returning to France for his short Rodez spell.
