Club 02/04/2021
Christophe Berra Signs For Raith Rovers
The squad building continues at Stark’s Park, and Raith Rovers are pleased to announce the pre-contract agreement that has been set with Hearts captain and former Scotland cap Christophe Berra, on a 2 year deal starting next season.
Christophe has extensive experience, and management team John McGlynn and Paul Smith moved quickly to secure his services following the announcement recently that his time at Tynecastle will come to an end when the current season is completed.
Christophe will take on an important role in the team, applying his experience in the development of young defenders like David McKay and Tom Lang as the club build on the progress made at Stark’s Park in the last two seasons, pushing the team on to the next level.
The 36 year old centre back came through the ranks at Heart of Midlothian, breaking into the team in 2003 and staying until 2009 – amassing 146 appearances and 5 goals before a £2.3 million transfer to then Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers in early 2009.
Promotion to the English Premier League was secured in Christophe’s first season in the Midlands, with a 3 season stay in England’s top flight following – during which time he played directly against the likes of Aguero, Torres, Drogba and Rooney as Wolves consolidated their position in the top flight.
After Wolves relegation from the top flight in 2012, Christophe played his final season for Wolves in the English Championship – in all, he made 154 appearances for Wolves.
Ipswich Town was the next stop for Christophe, where he spent 4 seasons in the Championship – playing 186 games and scoring 14 goals for the Tractor Men.
Christophe was first selected for the Scotland National team in 2008 and by 2017 he had been capped 41 times, scoring 4 goals under national team managers George Burley, Craig Levein and Gordon Strachan.
Christophe returned to Hearts in 2017, playing 117 more games and scoring 7 goals (as well as a 6 game loan spell at Dundee last season) up to and including last weekend. In total, he has played 599 1st team club matches in his career.
Rovers manager John McGlynn spoke to www.raithrovers.net and said “I’m delighted to sign Christophe, and I’m looking forward to working with him next season”