Opinel began his career with French clubs Cannes, Lille and Ajaccio before joining Scottish club Raith Rovers in December 1999, where he made over 20 league and cup appearances. He was released by Rovers in December 2000 by mutual consent after a series of on and off-the-field problems. After training with Third Division club, Plymouth Argyle, Opinel was given a short-term contract so that manager Paul Sturrock could take a closer look at him over the 2000 Christmas and New Year period. He made only one appearance for Plymouth in a Football League Trophy tie against Bristol Rovers and was not offered a contract. After a trial at AFC Bournemouth, he joined Leyton Orient in February 2001, where he made eleven appearances in the remainder of the 2000–01 season, scoring one goal against Cardiff City, and helped Orient towards the Third Division play-offs in May 2001.
