Elliot Grandin (born 17 October 1987) is a French former professional footballer who played as a winger
Grandin can also play as a central attacking midfielder. He notably played in the Premier League for Blackpool and previously in France for Caen, Marseille, Nice and Grenoble. He also played for CSKA Sofia, Astra Giurgiu, Ermis Aradippou, Fréjus Saint-Raphaël, JS Saint-Pierroise, as well as stints back in England with Crystal Palace, Shrewsbury Town and Grimsby Town. Grandin has played for France at under-21 level.
Grandin began his career at his hometown club, Caen and signed his professional contract at the club. He made his debut for the first team in the 2004–05 season, making just one substitute appearance, on 28 May 2005 in a 3–2 defeat to Istres as Caen were relegated from Ligue 1 to Ligue 2. This turns out to be his only appearance of the season. In opening game of the 2005–06 season, Grandin started the season well when he scored his first goal for Caen, in a 3–2 loss against Créteil. Grandin scored his second goal of the season, in a 5–0 win against Valenciennes in the first round of the Coupe de la Ligue on 22 September 2005. He once again scored against them for the second time this season, losing 2–1 on 15 September 2006. A month later on 10 February 2006, Grandin scored his third goal of the season, in a 1–0 win against Sète. The club finished fourth in Ligue 2, missing out on promotion to Ligue 1 on goal difference. With his playing time at SM Caen increased, he made a total of nineteen league appearances, scoring three goals (twenty–two appearances and scoring four times in all competitions).
In the 2006–07 season, Grandin scored his first goal of the season, in a 1–0 win against Créteil-Lusitanos on 7 November 2006. He then scored his second goal of the season, in a 3–2 win against Dijon on 22 December 2006. Two weeks later on 7 January 2007, Grandin scored his third goal of the season, in a 2–1 loss against Valenciennes in the first round of the Coupe de France. As he became a first team regular at the club, Grandin was part of the Caen squad that finished as runners-up and won promotion to Ligue 1 after beating Libourne 2–1 in the last game of the season. At the start of the 2007–08 season, Grandin continued to be in the first team for the side despite finding his playing time, coming from the substitute bench. He then scored his first goal of the season, as well as, setting up one of the goals, in a 5–0 win against Bordeaux on 24 November 2007. Grandin also scored two more goals, coming from Coupe de la Ligue matches against Toulouse and Lyon. His performance attracted interest from Marseille. By the time he departed from Caen, Grandin made a total of 55 league appearances for the club and scoring six goals.
On 28 January 2008, midway through the 2007–08 season, Grandin joined Marseille for €400,000. However upon leaving Caen, he was criticised by manager Franck Dumas.
In his first match for the club against Monaco in the last 16 of the Coupe de France, he made an assist for the second goal scored by Mathieu Valbuena, in a 3–1 win. Grandin's debut for Marseille came on 9 February 2008 against Nice and started the match, playing 89 minutes before being substituted, in a 2–0 win. On 17 May 2008, the last day of the season against Strasbourg, he came on as a substitute after an injury to striker Mamadou Niang, and sent his pass set up to Nasri to score as Marseille won 4–3 and so qualified for the preliminary round of the Champions League. At the end of the 2007–08 season, Grandin made eight league appearances, most of them as a substitute.
In the 2008–09 season, Grandin was in the starting line-up in the first game of the season at Rennes, scoring Marseille's fourth goal in stoppage time, in a 4–4 draw. On 13 August 2008, he made his European debut in the third qualifying round of the Champions League, in a single-goal victory at Norwegian side Brann. Four days later on 17 August 2008, Grandin scored his second goal for the club, in a 4–0 win against Auxerre. In the return leg against Brann, he helped Marseille win 2–1 to advance to the next round of the UEFA Cup tournament. However, Grandin then fell out of favour into the plans of Eric Gerets and lack of playing time in Marseille. As a result, he was linked a move away from the club in the January transfer window, with clubs, such as, Grenoble, Le Havre and Strasbourg were interested in signing him. By the time Grandin departed from Marseille, he made a further eight appearances, scoring twice.
Grandin joined fellow Ligue 1 side Grenoble on loan for five months on 30 January 2009. He made his debut on 7 February 2009, starting the whole game, in a goalless home draw with Valenciennes. Grandin became a first team regular for the club, rotating in playing either midfield and striker positions. He made a total of eight appearances before returning to Marseille at the end of the season. Having been told by new manager Didier Deschamps of being in a new plan ahead of the new season, Grandin was linked a move away from Marseille, with Standard Liège, Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham City interested in signing him in the summer transfer window. On 18 August 2009, it was reported by L'Équipe that he would go on trial in England with Premier League club Stoke City five days later and that Stoke had first option on the player for around €1 million. After returning to France, Marseille released Grandin from his contract on 2 September. The club later called him as one of the worst signings.
On 5 January 2010, Grandin was reportedly in negotiations with Romanian Liga I club Rapid Bucharest, and was believed to be about to sign for the club; however, on 20 January he signed an 18-month contract with Bulgarian A PFG club CSKA Sofia, after they gave him an improved offer that gave him 30% of any future sale proceeds.
However, Grandin suffered a setback with an injury during the winter break and was sidelined for a month. He made his competitive debut for the club on 13 March 2010 against Sportist Svoge, scoring the opening goal and providing an assist in a 4–1 win. Grandin then scored his second goal for CSKA Sofia, in a 4–2 win against OFC Sliven on 10 April 2010. He scored two goals in two matches between 24 April 2010 and 2 May 2010 against Slavia Sofia and Lokomotiv Sofia. Grandin became a first team regular for the club, and helped CSKA Sofia finish second. Despite missing a total of three matches later in the 2009–10 season, he made a total of ten league appearances and scored four goals.
Ahead of the 2010–11 season, his performances attracted interest from clubs around Europe. But Grandin wanted to stay at CSKA Sofia, only to later to have a change of heart. He played in the opening match of the 2010–11 season, a 1–0 home defeat to local rivals Levski Sofia in the first Eternal derby of the season, on 1 August 2010. Four days later on 5 August 2010, Grandin played in a 2–1 win over Northern Irish IFA Premiership side Cliftonville at Windsor Park, Belfast, in the Third qualifying round of the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League, in what turned out to be his last appearance for the Reds.
On 11 August 2010, Grandin signed for newly promoted Premier League club Blackpool on a two-year deal, with the option for a third year.
Three days after signing for the club, he made his debut as Blackpool made their bow in the Premier League and set up a goal for Marlon Harewood, who scored twice in a 4–0 win over Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium. Since joining the club, Grandin was involved in the first team, playing in the midfield position and spoke positively of manager Ian Holloway's personality and tactics. He then played a role in two separate matches against West Bromwich Albion on 1 November 2010 and then against Bolton Wanderers on 27 November 2010 by assisting both matches that saw Blackpool earn a draw and win respectively. However, Grandin suffered a hamstring injury during a match against Sunderland on 28 December 2010 and was substituted in the 19th minute, as the club lost 2–0. But he made his return to the starting line–up against Liverpool on 12 January 2011 and played 64 minutes before being substituted, in a 2–1 win. On 12 February 2011, Grandin scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 home draw with Aston Villa. Shortly after, Grandin suffered a hamstring injury that saw him miss two matches. He then made his return to the starting line–up against Blackburn Rovers on 19 March 2011 and played 66 minutes before being substituted, in a 2–2 draw. However, Blackpool were relegated to the Championship after losing 4–2 against Manchester United in the last game of the season. At the end of the 2010–11 season, Grandin made twenty–four appearances and scoring once in all competitions.