[3][4] Merlen never played in a professional division during his career, but participated in the 2000 Coupe de France final with Calais.
[citation needed] The final score eventually turned out to be a 2–1 victory in the favor of Nantes.
Earlier in the tournament, he scored the game-winning goal off a free-kick in their 2–1 win over top-flight Strasbourg in the quarter-finals.
[5] Merlen participated in a commemorative rematch against Nantes 20 years later at the Stade de l'Épopée in Calais.
[6] In April 2023, Merlen was sacked as the manager of Régional 1 club Grand Calais Pascal FC.