Defenders

Trained at Paris Saint-Germain, Chris Mavinga left the French capital very early to wear the prestigious red shirt of Liverpool, aged only 18. Within an overcrowded staff, the young defender (able to play at centre or on the left) only played with the Reserve, but his caps with the French youth national teams allowed him to shine. In 2010, he won the U19 Euro alongside Abdoulaye Diallo. Loaned to Genk for the second half of the 2010-2011 season, Mavinga eventually found his place in the first time and was crowned Champion of Belgium. Without real perspectives when he returned to Liverpool, he decided to return to France by signing for Stade Rennais, where he will compete for a place on the left side of the defence.

A young defender arrived from Senegal, Pape Malick Kandji joined the Stade Rennais during the 2010-2011 season. After a satisfying trial, the Breton club offered him a professional contract effective from January 2011. The player, who admits he comes to Rennes to continue his training, will first play with the Reserve before - maybe- stepping up to Ligue 1 level.

Trained at Le Havre, Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik decided to reach another step by joining the Stade Rennais in June 2010. Gifted with “rare physical aptitudes for a Ligue 1 player”, according to Frédéric Antonetti, the U21 international will try to get time on the pitch and get a chance to disturb the pre-existing hierarchy. The nephew of François Oman-Biyik, famously a striker for the « Rouge et Noir » during the 1990-1991 season, the former Le Havre player will try to make himself a name in Rennes.

Arrived to the Stade Rennais from Nice, Onyekachi Apam joins Frédéric Antonetti, his coach on the Cote d’Azur between 2006 and 2009. The Nigerian, hired for a fee of about 4.5 million euros,facing the daunting task to replace Petter Hansson, the former captain, transferred to Monaco in June 2010. Expected to complete the club’s central defence alongside Kader Mangane, his integration to the team was slowed down by a persistent knee injury.

Recommended by John Mensah, Ghanaian defender John Boye arrived from his country on a loan agreement. On a trial in August 2008, he showed the qualities that made it a full international, and quickly convinced the Rennes staff to offer him a contract. He eventually was loaned to Rennes for a year, with the aim to consolidate his position with the reserves before aiming for a spot in the first team. In 2009, he signed his first professional contract with Rennes. An essential member of Rennes' reserve team, he extended that contract by one year, and is now at the club until June 2011. Despite a succession of poor performances with the Reserve, he was called to the professional squad by Frédéric Antonetti to cater for the injuries of several regular starters. Unexpectedly, the Ghanaian revealed himself in Ligue 1 by showing physical and defending abilities rarely seen when he played with the Rennes reserve.

A genuine right back, Rod Fanni signed with the Stade Rennais to replace Mario Melchiot, back to England. Trained in Martigues and recruited by Lens, he took time to show the skills that made him a member of the French U21 team. Eventually managing to break through in Nice, he confirmed his qualities in Brittany, both defensively and offensively. Now a full International, he is one of the very best French players on his position.

A very physical midfielder, Kader Mangane spent several years in the Swiss Super League. In August 2007, he was recruited by Lens, managing good performances throughout season despite the club being relegated. Willing to remain on the top flight, the Senegalese international decided to go on with his career in Brittany. Repositioned as a central defender alongside Petter Hansson, Kader Mangane managed an impressive 2008-2009 season, helping the Rennes supporters forget the departure of favourite John Mensah. With Petter Hansson departing to Monaco in June 2010, Kader Mangane was named captain of the professional squad for the following season.

A defensive midfielder converted as a right back, the man from Saint Brieuc was a member of the 2008 Gambardella Cup winning team. After he made his way through from the Rennes Academy, Guy Lacombe gave him a first run in the professional team in 2008, for a Coupe de la Ligue game against Le Mans. A few months later, he signed his first professional contract with Rennes. In the early 2010-2011 season, he earned his place in Rennes' first team at the left back position.

Romain Danzé followed the typical journey of a modern professional footballer. A member of the Pre-Academy center in Ploufragan (along with Yoann Gourcuff among others), he then joined the Stade Rennais Academy. A hard-worker, down to earth, Danze signed a first professional contract in May 2006. Struggling to make his way into the first team, the midfielder was very prompt to catch every given opportunity. His total commitment and his versatility eventually seduced all his coaches. Despite not being a regular starter, the player from Finistere became a first choice to cover for many positions. His efforts were recompensed in 2009, when Frederic Antonetti made him the first choice on the left back position instead of Carlos Bocanegra. During the 2010-2011, his status changed when Rod Fanni expressed his desire to leave the club, and he became a full time starter in Rennes' defence

A skilled midfielder from the INF Clairefontaine, Yassine Jebbour quickly made his mark at the Stade Rennais, as a member of the club’s Academy. Regularly playing for the “Rouge et Noir” youth teams, in age categories above his, he signed his first professional contract aged only 17. Repositioned as a right back during his training, Jebbour became an essential player in Laurent Huard’s Reserve squad, and is progressively making his way into the professional squad. After his Ligue 1 debut, in December 2010 against Valenciennes, Jebbour went on to be receive his first cap as a Morrocan U21 international. He is most likely to be loaned next season, an option he had already asked to be considered at the beginning of 2011. But at the time, Stade Rennais had refused his request.