Maxime Chanot signs new three-year deal

Earlier today, New York City FC announced that Maxime Chanot signed a new three-year deal that will keep him at the club through the end of the 2024 season. The Luxembourg international is one of the cornerstones of New York City’s success, an ironman who played every minute of the playoffs in NYCFC’s run to winning the 2021 MLS Cup.

Imposing, heavily tattooed, and deeply religious, the 32-year-old center-back first signed with NYCFC in 2016, and is the longest-tenured player on the team. Transfermarkt values him at $1.1 million.

A first-choice starter for most of career with NYCFC, Chanot has been spending more time on the bench after the club signed 26-year Brazilian center-back Thiago Martins from Yokohama F. Marinos in February — he might be one of the best defenders in MLS, but Chanot has lost a step in recent years. Still, the experience, intelligence, and leadership he brings to the club are assets that sporting director David Lee feel are worth a three-year contract. “Maxime is a great mentor to our young players and can draw from his experience to help develop the next generation,” Lee said in a statement released by NYCFC.

Hopefully, Chanot will teach that next generation the value of getting a leg cramp so severe in the 86th minute of a game in which you have a narrow lead that you have no choice but to fall to the grass and wave over a teammate from the other side of the field to help stretch out your muscles. That’s a Twitter montage all of us at Hudson River Blue hope to see soon.

In the meantime, here’s a video from NYCFC with the natty Chanot and the always well-tailored Ian Joy chewing the fat at West Village wine bar le Baratin over two glasses of ice water (what?!?).