First team

Announced as a «Sporting Gamble» by Frédéric de Saint-Sernin, Emerson’s experience in the French League turned a real disaster. Virtually unknown in Europe, the Brazilian striker had been terrorising defences in Japan and Qatar, scoring impressive numbers of goals throughout his career. Aged 28, he arrived in France to try and prove his value in a club where Brazilians had never managed to find success. Emerson was not to be the one. Joining a squad with high attacking potential, he never managed, or was not given the chance, to put himself up as a first eleven player. Quickly bored of waiting for his opportunity, he left back to Qatar only 4 months after his arrival, having only played 6 games as a substitute.

A 2003 Gambardella Cup winner, Stéphane N’Guema’s early career was plagued by numerous injuries. A really unfortunate situation, as the youngster had been the good surprise of the early 2003-2004 season. He then experienced real difficulties to come back to his best and the professional team, only grabbing rare appearances for three seasons At the end of a perfectly blank 2006-2007 season, he was released on a free transfer and signed a contract with Istres, then playing in National (3rd league)

At his arrival in Rennes, Youssouf Hadji joined Laszlo Bölöni, who had offered him his first games in the French first league with Nancy. Rarely included in the starting eleven, Mustapha Hadji’s little brother started his Rennes career on a high, scoring three goals for his first three games (including one in the 2005/2006 UEFA Cup). Despite his visible envy, he never managed to convince neither Laszlo Bölöni nor Pierre Dréossi, the latter leaving him on the substitute bench on a regular basis during the 2006-2007 season. In 2007, he was transferred back to his first club, Nancy, where he got back on track after being repositioned at centre forward by Pablo Correa. In four and a half seasons, he scored close to forty goals for the Lorrains. At the end of August 2011, when the Rennes management failed to transfer Turkish striker Mevlüt Erding, Youssouf Hadji finally returned to Brittany, where he signed a new two years contract. A “comeback” in which he will hope to make up for his first failed spell with the “Rouge et Noir”

Arrived in Rennes during the 2003 winter transfer window, Alexander Frei took some time to find his marks under Vahid Halilhodzic’s management, scoring only one goal in 13 games. However, once launched by Laszlo Bölöni, on a League Cup evening in Auxerre, the Swiss international could not stop scoring, netting 41 goals in two seasons, even becoming Ligue 1’s top goal scorer in the 2004-2005 season. Targeted by the Borussia Dormund for several seasons, and despite a last season plagued by injuries, Alex Frein eventually signed with the German side after the 2006 World Cup, ending a beautiful love story with the Stade Rennais.

Presented as a future great striker, even labelled the “new Samuel Eto’o”, Benjamin Moukandjo never managed to live up to these high expectations. Arrived in Rennes in July 2007, his first season was spoilt by numerous injuries, and he never managed to become a regular in the Reserves team. Loaned to Sannois Saint Gratien, in National (3rd level), he didn’t succeed in getting much playing time there either. In Summer 2009, he was transferred to Nimes (Ligue 2), hoping to relaunch his career and finally make himself a place in professional football.

Anthony Le Tallec’s young brother is one of the best strikers in his generation. A strong-minded striker, he relies mostly on his impressive heading ability, but also on very solid technical skills. After many years playing for the youth teams in Le Havre, he joined Rennes’ Academy aged 15. Two years later, he became the youngest professional player in the team. Disappointing on the pitch (4 goals in 21 games with the reserves, for his last season in Rennes) and (too) impatient to get his share of professional football, he left the Stade Rennais to try and get a chance to shine in Dortmund, Germany.

An highly experienced player, with over 300 games in Ligue 1, Daniel Moreira’s profile seemed ideal to replace Rennes favourite, Alexander Frei. With 69 goals in 10 Ligue 1 season, his partnership with John Utaka was full of promise, especially since the two men had already partnered with success for the RC Lens. However, in Brittany, Daniel Moreira lost all sort of efficiency, not managing to score a single goal in two seasons. Loaned to Grenoble in 2008-2009, he was transferred to Boulogne-sur-Mer in August 2009.

Ten years after, Sylvain Wiltord’s return in his first professional team was one of the “feel good stories” of the 2007 summer. A prodigal son of the Stade Rennais, “Nino” has experienced everything, from his beginnings in Division 2, all the way up to a European Championship title and a World Cup final with France. After long negotiations with Lyon, the 92-caps man came back to his initial red and black colours, to help Rennes become one of the strongest places in the French football landscape. Unfortunately, the beautiful story went sour after Guy Lacombe’s arrival. Often pushed out of the professional squad, Wiltord eventually decided to leave again in winter 2009, and joined Marseille on a 6 month deal. In 2009-2010, he signed a contract for Ligue 2 side Metz, where he still plays at the moment.

In Rennes, he was THE attraction of the 2005 summer transfer window. John Utaka, twelve goals during the 2004-2005 season (including a hat-trick against Rennes) was arriving on the banks of the Vilaine, to bring his pace and strength to the team. Rather unconvincing in the first half of the 2005-2006 season, especially in front of the goals, “John U” showed all his potential following two hat tricks in two games, against Lens and Lyon. His rising form pulled Rennes forward for an incredible come back in the League table. A very inconstant player, the Nigerian knew some difficulties in his second season, but he still was one of Rennes’ best attacking assets, scoring twelve goals over the season. In July 2007, he was finally recruited by Portsmouth after long negotiations, for a fee of more than 10 millions euro.

Olivier Monterrubio joined the Stade Rennais in Summer 2001, from the local arch-rival FC Nantes. The left-footed midfielder managed a very quick adaptation on Rennes’ attacking line, and was soon accepted and loved by his supporters. Despite a very average second season, and a difficult relationship with the coach, Vahid Halilhodzic, “Rubio” went on to become a key member of Rennes’ squad. Finishing the league with the most assists in three consecutive seasons, his association with Alexander Frei was arguably the best in France, and he delighted the fans with his pace, his technical ability and his inch-perfect deliveries. Promoted as Rennes’ captain, longest serving member of the squad, he started the 2006/2007 season as irremovable member of the squad. Unfortunately, a string of poor performances caused questioning about the Gaillac man. Eager for a new challenge, he decided to sign a contract with Lens in January 2007, to the dismay of many Rennes supporters.