First team

Arrived in Rennes at 14, Yann M'Vila is one of the jewels of Stade Rennes’ Academy. A midfielder, excellent at recovering the ball and organising the play, he soon earned his reputation as a wonderkid, which he strengthened with multiple caps in the French youth national teams and a final victory in the 2008 Gambardella Cup. After being launched in the deep-end with the professional team, in 2009 by Frédéric Antonetti, M'Vila soon became an key-member of the Rennes team, affirming himself as an essential starter. His performances attracted the attention of France’s head national coaches: after only thirty games in Ligue 1, Raymond Domenech pre-selected him for the World Cup in South Africa, but finally let him out of the final squad. A few weeks later, Laurent Blanc gave him his chance with Les Bleus. After a few convincing performances in the national squad, he had earned his place and a new status at the Stade Rennais. He is now one of the flag-carriers of his training club, its most famous and its best recognized player.

His transfer was a long soap opera in summer 2009. Alexander Tettey was highly rated by Pierre Dréossi and Frederic Antonetti, before eventually signing after two months of negotiations. A Norwegian international with Ghanaian origins, he was recruited as a substitute to Stéphane M’Bia. An essential man in Rosenborg’s midfield, Tettey arrived in Brittany with a mission to hold the same role (or even more) in Rennes. High hopes were placed on him, but the opening stages of his first season with Rennes were plagued with injuries, and the player struggled to make his way into the first team, despite obvious qualities.

Born in Congo, Lucien Aubey grew up in the Île-de-France (Greater Paris) region. After a short spell at the Paris FC, he did most of his training in Cannes. In 2001, he was recruited by Toulouse, relegated in National (3rd division) on administrative grounds. In Toulouse, Aubey took part on a continuous accession from 3rd division to 3rd place in Ligue 1. Recruited by Lens in 2007, the strong, very physical defender had a hard time in the North of France, first being hit by a nasty injury before a disappointing loan to Portsmouth (Premier League). Arrived in Rennes to revive his career, Aubey had to accept the status of Super-substitute, behind the unmovable central defence made of Hansson and Mangane. Excluded from Frederic Antonetti’s tactics, he was eventually released from his contract by Rennes in January 2010, and signed a contract with Turkish first division team Sivasspor.

Technical ability and vision, these are the qualities that best sum up Kévin Bru. Younger brother of Jonathan, also trained in Rennes and Gambardella Cup winner in 2003, Kévin Bru had his first taste of professional football in January 2007. An essential element of the Reserves, he signed his first professional contract with Rennes within the same month. However, he didn’t have the chance for more first-team football and was loaned a year later to Chateauroux, and then to Clermont (both Ligue 2), in order to complete his learning to the highest level. In January 2010, he was released and signed a 18 months contract with Dijon (Ligue 2).

Recruited in Summer 2006, Bruno Cheyrou wasn’t unanimously welcomed in Rennes. However, after a difficult start, he imposed himself as a leader in the midfield. Very technical, left footed, he is at his best in central position, either just ahead of the defensive line or right behind the forwards. The former Liverpool man had a difficult second season, Guy Lacombe even trying him as a Centre Back, with little success. His 2008-2009 season was more successful, even though he didn’t manage to establish himself as an incumbent starter. In Summer 2009, he was a victim of Yann M’Vila’s outbreak in the first team, and his playing time was restricted to the minimum. In January 2010, he was released from Rennes and signed an 18-month contract with Anorthosis Famagusta (Cyprus).

Junichi Inamoto was the first Japanese player to sign for the Stade Rennais. With 70 international caps to his name, he played in the 2002 (Japan) and 2006 (Germany) World Cups. After starting his career at Gamba Osaka, he came to England in 2001, but never really managed to break into the Premier League. After a short spell at Galatasaray (Turkey), he spent two years in Frankfurt (Germany). After his contract expired, he signed for Rennes in June 2009, with the aim of making it to a first eleven position ahead of the 2010 World Cup. However, Inamoto’s playing time was largely limited due to Yann M’Vila unexpected outbreak in the first team. After only 6 months in Rennes, he was released in January 2010 and signed for the Japanese club Kawasaki Frontale.

Arrived in summer 2005, the striker took a season to get used to his new team. In 2006-2007, he proved himself by scoring 15 goals with the Reserves, despite being regularly positioned on the left flank of the attack. Quick, powerful, a good dribbler and a rather efficient goal scorer, he was logically offered a first professional contract. After an unconvincing first season, he was loaned to Clermont in 2008-2009 to gather some professional experience. Back in Rennes in the summer of 2009, he failed to make his place in Rennes’ very dense attacking sector. However, in March 2010, he signed an extension of his contract until June 2013, with hopes to finally break into Rennes starting eleven.

Ismaël Bangoura arrived in Summer 2009 to reinforce Rennes forward line. An explosive, very quick and skilled striker, he signed from Dynamo Kiev for a fee of 11M€. Very familiar with the French leagues, he had played for the Gazelec Ajaccio in the third League, before signing for Le Mans, then a newcomer in Ligue 1. In Le Mans, Bangoura proves himself a highly valuable player, and attract many interests. In 2007, the Dynamo Kiev is eventually obtaining his transfer and attracts the player to Ukraine. There, the Guinean made his place smoothly, scoring close to 30 goals in two seasons. After scoring for his first league game with Rennes, Bangoura struggled to live up to the expectations, managing 6 goals and 3 assists over the season, but failing to impress the fans and the management alike.

Trained at Rennes’ Academy, Jimmy Briand has all the qualities of a modern striker. His pace and his explosive power are amongst the qualities that seduced all of his coaches so far. However, Jimmy struggled to impose himself as a regular starter for the club. For three years, he remained a substitute to strikers such as Frei and Utaka. In 2006-2007, eventually, he became one of Rennes’ main offensive weapons. Since then, he impressed by his power and fighting spirit on the front of Rennes’ attack, despite a recurrent lack of composure in front of the goals. Regularly called up to the French National Squad by Raymond Domenech, he saw the end of his 2008-2009 season wasted by a cruel knee injury during a training session with Les Bleus. Back on the pitch at the end of 2009, Briand progressively comes back to his best and to Rennes, starting eleven. In February 2010, he reached an agreement with the club’s management to extend his contract for another 3 years, allowing Rennes to perceive a fee on a possible transfer at the end of the season.

Observed for 2 years by the Stade Rennais, Asamoah Gyan arrived in Brittany in July 2008. The Ghanaian international player (who scored the first ever goal for Ghana in a World Cup, in 2006) had signed for Udinese Calcio (Italy) in 2003, and was loaned to Modena the following year. He spent 2 years there, scoring 15 goals in 52 Serie B games. Back to Udinese, Gyan scored 10 goals in 31 games, but his final season was plagued by a nasty injury. Recruited by Rennes, he spent most of his first season on the sidelines because of constant injuries. A deceiving first season, but the Ghanaian still managed time to offer a glimpse of his (immense) potential. After following a specific fitness program in summer 2009, he started the 2009-2010 with a fully recovered ability, and made his mark immediately as the leader of Rennes’ offensive line-up. He finished the 2009-2010 season with 13 goals to his tally, and went on to reach the 2010 World Cup's quarter finals with Ghana, scoring 3 goals in the process.