Ross County's Routis ready for Highland adventure
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CHRISTOPHER Routis has already had two unbreakable football memories – now he aims to drive Ross County on to more success in Scotland by chipping in with goals and energy.
The French defender/midfielder was snapped up by Staggies boss Jim McIntyre at the very end of last season along with keeper Aaron McCarey and defenders Kenny van der Weg and Erik Cikos as he began to shape the current League Cup holders for the new campaign.
The 26-year-old, who replaced injured midfielder Martin Woods in Saturday’s 1-1 Betfred Cup draw against Raith Rovers, which they lost on penalties, was a team-mate of County defender Andrew Davies at Bradford City two years ago.
He came off the bench at Stamford Bridge as League One side City sensationally came from behind to sink Jose Mourinho’s Blues out of the FA Cup in one of the most astonishing games with a rousing 4-2 win.
However, he told the North Star that was even topped by his first club, Servette in Switzerland storming back from nowhere in their Challenge League to clinch promotion to the Super League behind champions Lausanne.
He recalled: "I won promotion via the play-off with my first club, Servette in Switzerland. That was special because I was just 20, but also because of the way in which won promotion. With around five or six games to go we were 14 points behind but we went on a fantastic run, it was crazy. We didn’t win the (Challenge) league, but we won the play-off against the last team from the league above (AC Bellinzona). It was unbelievable because of the scenario."
He revealed that Davies played his part in selling the Staggies to him.
He said: "I played with Andrew for one year when we finished seventh in the league and we had a great adventure in the FA Cup.
"In that Chelsea game, I came on at around 87 minutes and there were seven or eight minutes of stoppage time and we won 4-2. It was unbelievable. That was like a dream.
"I spoke to Andrew before I came here and he told me only good things about this club, the staff and the manager, so what’s why I came and I am already enjoying it."
McIntyre is clearly impressed by the options offered by Bordeaux-born Routis, but has ear-marked him mostly for a central role in the side.
Routis said: "I have mostly been a defender, a centre back, but in England I played a few games in midfield. I like playing in midfield because I enjoy going forward. I like to go box to box and you need to be really fit for that.
"I want to score goals and you have more chances to do that from midfield.
"The manager told me I can play centre back or right-back if he needs me, but he said I have come here to play in midfield. I think I can progress in that position here."
Routis dropped by the Global Energy Stadium to conclude his deal in late May and he said the ground improvements around the place since then has been noticed by the players on their return from their pre-season trip to Hungary.
He explained: "I signed here just as the last season had finished and I can see that the club have been working so hard, making a lot of effort to improve the infrastructure in and around the stadium.
"It’s really good to be here as a player. The chairman has made a big effort to make the players feel good here."
