Former players

Recruited during the 2007 winter transfer window, Olivier Thomert had the heavy mission to replace Olivier Monterrubio on the left wing of Rennes’s squad. Often disliked by a fair share of Rennes Supporters, who criticized his nonchalance and his limited technical ability, Olivier Thomert eventually managed to impose his very athletic presence on the starting eleven. Even though he couldn’t compare to the elegance and technical skills of “Rubio”, the former Lens player had the ability to be decisive, and was never reluctant to bring a heavy defensive work to the team. A discrete, but highly useful contribution to his team’s good functioning. Regularly booed by the Rennes fans after a catastrophic end of the 2008-2009 season, Thomert never found his place in Frederic Antonetti’s plans. In January 2010, he was eventually released from his contract and signed for Le Mans, his first professional club, on a free transfer.

After Marco Grassi and Alexander Frei, another striker came from Switzerland in December 2006. Julian Esteban, a young and talented striker from Servette Geneve, seemed a bright prospect for the Stade Rennais. Targeted by a number of clubs, Esteban, of Spanish ascent, decided to join Rennes to continue learning. Unfortunately, his first years in Rennes were spoilt by repetitive injuries, preventing him to prove his talent. In July 2009, he was loaned to his first club to try and manage recovering some playing time and footballing sensations. Unfortunately, another serious injury striked him in January 2010, just a few weeks after an encouraging return to competitive football.

A very rangy defender, Bira Dembélé worked his way through the Stade Rennais’ youth team. Excellent in the air, thanks to his height and an impressive jumping ability, Dembélé still needs to improve his game with the ball. Pairing with Prince Oniangue to compose a highly efficient central defense with the Reserves, Bira Dembélé took profit of numerous injuries in the professional squad to play his first games in Ligue 1, in January 2008. His performances were good enough to convince the management to offer him a first three-year professional contract. In summer 2009, he was loaned to Boulogne sur Mer, recently promoted to Ligue 1, to gather some professional experience. There, he made his place as a regular in the first team, scoring his first professional goal in the process. Back to his training club in 2010, Dembélé was left on the sidelines by Frédéric Antonetti and played the whole 2010/2011 season with the Reserve. At the end of his contract in June 2011, he joined Sedan.

A forward born in Franche-Comté, Yoann Lasimant joined Rennes’ Academy rather late, aged nearly 17 years. He took profit of his first two seasons to make his way as a first choice in attack, both in the U18 and CFA squad. A winner in the 2008 Gambardella Cup, he was called in the professional squad by Guy Lacombe for the first time, for a game in Nancy. At the end of the 2008-2009 season, he signed his first professional contract, and was soon loaned to Sedan, in order to win playing time in Ligue 2. Unable to become a regular in Sedan, Lasimant was later released by the club June 2010.

Born in Saint Malo, Maxime Le Marchand has been playing for the Stade Rennais for many years. A left midfielder converted into a left fullback, his progress was slowed down by several bad injuries. This didn’t prevent him to be in the 2008 Gambardella Cup winning squad and become U18 France champion. After signing his initial professional contract, he was loaned to Le Havre for the 2009-2010 Ligue 2 season. His composure and his technical skills helped him to become a regular in the first team. He was fully transferred to Le Havre in June 2010, shortly after the end of his loan.

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)

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.