Didier DANIO

Born in Toulon, Didier Danio was initially developed at the National Football Institute in Vichy before starting his career in earnest with Auxerre in 1981. This midfielder by trade would be pressed into service as a striker by Auxerre, alongside the likes of Ferreri or Szarmach. In the five seasons spent with the Burgundy side, he would never become considered to be a first-choice starter, but was seen as a reliable squad member, playing over 20 matches each season. He would even get to make several appearances for Auxerre in Europe.An experienced player with top-flight experience, he joined Stade Rennais for the 1986/1987 season, where he would regularly be deployed as a left-sided attacking midfielder. Unfortunately, Rennes would experience a nightmarish season, finishing bottom of the table, and he left the club at the end of that season. In 1987 he moved on to Reims in the Second Division, where he would spend three seasons, and became a first-team favourite. In 1990, Nancy - who had just been promoted back to the First Division - signed Danio to add his experience to the squad. After helping his club to safety in his first season, he was powerless to prevent Nancy from relegation in the second, at which point he decided to leave the team from the Lorraine region of France in 1993. He went on to bounce back with Lorient, who had just been relegated to the French Third Division, and were looking for reinforcements. He spent two seasons there, finishing with a promotion back to the Second Division in the latter. He retired from the professional game at the end of the 1994/1995 season.