Téji Tedy Savanier (born 22 December 1991) is a French professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ligue 1 club Montpellier, of which he is the captain.
![]() Savanier with Montpellier in 2021 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Téji Tedy Savanier[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1991-12-22) 22 December 1991 (age 30)[2] | ||
Place of birth | Montpellier, France | ||
Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Montpellier | ||
Number | 11 | ||
Youth career | |||
1998–1999 | RC Saint-Georges-d'Orques | ||
1999–2000 | AS Saint-Martin Montpellier | ||
2000–2003 | Centre Éducatif Palavasien Foot | ||
2003–2006 | Castelnau Le Crès FC | ||
2006–2010 | Montpellier | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2010–2011 | Montpellier B | 29 | (7) |
2011–2015 | Arles-Avignon | 105 | (7) |
2014–2015 | Arles-Avignon B | 4 | (0) |
2015–2019 | Nîmes | 124 | (21) |
2019– | Montpellier | 80 | (22) |
National team | |||
2021 | France Olympic | 4 | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:00, 18 September 2022 (UTC) |
Formed at his hometown club Montpellier HSC, Savanier had only played for the reserve team when in 2011 he joined AC Arles-Avignon of Ligue 2.[3] His first professional goal was his only of that season, opening a 3–0 home win over RC Lens on 24 September.[4]
In August 2015, Savanier moved to fellow Ligue 2 club Nîmes Olympique on a one-year deal with a clause allowing a second season.[5] Two years later, he extended his link until 2020.[6] In 2017–18, he helped the Crocodiles to second place and promotion to Ligue 1 for the first time since 1993.[3] He and teammates Umut Bozok and Rachid Alioui made the league's Team of the Year at the Trophées UNFP du football.[7]
In 2018–19, his debut top-flight season, Savanier helped Nîmes come 9th. He led the league in assists with 14, ahead of Ángel Di María and Nicolas Pépé on 11 each, and surpassed only by Eden Hazard (15) in Europe's five largest leagues.[8] Near the start of the season he was involved in a controversy in a 4–2 home loss to Paris Saint-Germain F.C. in which he was sent off for a foul on Kylian Mbappé, who was also given a red card for pushing him in retaliation.[9]
In July 2019, Savanier returned to Montpellier for an estimated €10 million fee, a club record.[10] He became a key part of the team under manager Michel Der Zakarian.[11]
After the retirement of 43-year-old club veteran Vitorino Hilton, Savanier succeeded him as captain of Montpellier in 2021.[12] In December that year, he was UNFP Player of the Month for his two goals and two assists.[13]
Savanier was named as one of three overage players for the French Olympic team for the 2020 tournament in Japan.[14] In the second group game, he scored the added-time winner in a 4–3 victory over South Africa.[15]
Born in Montpellier to a Romani family, Savanier still lives with his parents in Figuerolles, a banlieue of the city.[3][16] When he played for Arles, one hour away, he rented with his mother.[3]
Individual
Montpellier HSC – current squad | |
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France men's football squad – 2020 Summer Olympics | ||
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2017–18 Ligue 2 UNFP Team of the Year | |
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