Maccabi Netanya Signs Benin National Team Defender Olivier Vardan
Israeli Premier League club Maccabi Netanya announced on Monday the signing of Olivier Vardan, a 30-year-old defender and a player for the Benin national team. The move comes shortly after the team's key defender, Saba Khvadagiani, suffered a severe anterior cruciate ligament tear.
Vardan, who stands at 1.90 meters tall, brings significant experience, having made 243 appearances for Bulgarian club Ludogorets Razgrad. He was part of the Ludogorets squad that faced Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Europa League recently. Last season, Vardan played in 22 league matches and 10 Europa League games, scoring a total of five goals across all competitions.
Internationally, Vardan has earned 46 caps for Benin, including being a starter during their run to the quarterfinals of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. His career also includes stints with French club Sochaux, Bordeaux's reserve team, a transfer to Spain's Alavés, and a loan spell at Belgian club K.V. Oostende. He developed in the youth system of French club RC Lens.
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