John Mensah

«Strong, Rigorous, Powerful» : These ase the words J.J. Perrier Doumbé used to sum up John Mensah’s qualities. The Ghanaian international was loaned to Rennes in late January 2006, to stabilise a defensive line often struggling to cope during that season. The “Rock from Djiporta” soon proved his recruiters right, and was immediately loved by the Rennes support. The instant success of his loan was soon materialised, when he signed a three years contract with the club from Brittany. (…)

Samuel Souprayen

A central defender, equally able to play as a left full back, Samuel Souprayen is one of the most promising young Rennes players at his position. Captain of the 2008 Gambardella Cup Winning squad, simple, efficient, down to earth, Samuel Souprayen has all it takes to make it to the highest level. He will now have to keep on improving, in order to make his way into Frédéric Antonetti's tactics.

Hicham M’Laab

Fabrice Catherine

An experienced goalkeeper, born and trained in Caen, Fabrice Catherine joined the Stade Rennais for the 2007-2008 season. Arriving as the third choice keeper, he kept himself fit and ready to cover any unavailabilities of Simon Pouplin or Patrice Luzi, while working closely with the young keepers from the Reserve and Academy. Having previously played for Sedan, Laval, Tours, and even Estoril in Portuguese second division, Fabrice Catherine signed a one year contract with Rennes in July (…)

Aurélien Hérisson

Andreas Isaksson

Recruited very early by the Juventus Turin, Andreas Isaksson came back to Sweden, at Djurgardens IF, before eventually arriving in Rennes. Formerly Van der Sar’s substitute in Italy, the Swedish international came to replace former Rennes favourite Petr Cech, in the supporters’ hearts and on the pitch. Sometimes decisive, the Swede lacked of regularity to live up to the club’s great expectations. After two seasons in Rennes, Isaksson was transferred to Manchester City. He is now playing is (…)

Simon Pouplin

At the end of an interesting spell as Andreas Isaksson’s substitute, Simon Pouplin soon became Rennes’ first choice goalkeeper. His former mentor, Christophe Lollichon, talking about him, recognised he had an “obvious talent. He is someone who always analyses his performances, always looks for what is best and works hard to reach it». His 2007-2008 season, however, was much harder to manage, so much that Patrice Luzi ended up taking over the number one spot. When Nicolas Douchez arrived in (…)

Christophe Revault

As Isaksson left for the Premier League, Rennes’ management had to compensate his departure by recruiting a new goalkeeper. Eventually, Christophe Revault came back to Rennes, where he had already played between 1998 and 2000. 34 years old, he came as Simon Pouplin’s substitute, offering him all his help and experience for the 2006-2007 season. In June 2007, he decided to leave and come back to his first ever club, Le Havre AC

Adailton

Just crowned an U20 World Champion with Brazil, a team he was captaining, Adailton arrived in Rennes in summer 2004. Gifted with a great sense of anticipation, a good tackler and very strong in the air, Adailton had everything to succeed in Brittany. A regular starter during his first Rennes season, he was the main victim of John Mensah’s arrival and Grégory Bourillon’s emergence in central defence. Left with the Reserves, his misfortune worsened when he was victim of a serious knee injury, (…)

Guillaume Borne

An usual starter for Rennes' U18 Rand occasionanaly the Reserve, Guillaume Borne benefited of a series of injuries in the first team’s defence, to see his Ligue 1 career launched on a derby against Lorient, in December 2006. After he signed his first professional contract in June 2007, the man from Tarn disappointed for his second season at the highest level, only appearing in 10 occasions for the professional team, and failing to impress with his performances. After a disappointing loan in (…)

Grégory Bourillon

Trained at the club’s academy, this athletic player can equally play as a defensive midfielder or as a central defender. Often injured during his early Ligue 1 career with Rennes, he actually managed to make his way into the first team, player as an anchor in midfield, and despite the competition at this position. In winter 2006, he is pushed back to play along John Mensah in central defence, immediately forming a very complementary partnership with the Ghanaian. Considered as a high (…)

Amadou Coulibaly

Arrived in Rennes in summer 2005, Amadou Coulibaly was soon left on the sidelines after a serious injury, which condemned him to a nearly void first season. The powerful right back tried his best afterwards, to try and get his chance in the first team, but numerous injuries hindered his ambitions in Rennes. He eventually left the club in 2007, two years after he first arrived, with no appearance in the professional team and only a handful of games with the Reserve.

Erik Edman

Arrived in Rennes at the end of a disastrous month of August 2005, the Swedish international full back brought immediate stability to a very shaky defence. Regular in his good performances and highly professional, Erik Edman was one of the most valuable players in the “Rouge et Noir” squad during his first season in Brittany. Unfortunately, he then failed to live up to his initial performances, and Pierre Dréossi opened the door to his exit in January 2008, when he was transferred back in (…)

Jacques Faty

A member and Captain of the 2003 Gambardella Cup winning team, “Doudou” Jacques Faty has confirmed the hopes put on him, little by a little. His good performances in Renne’s central defence made him a regular in the French U21 selection. However, Mensah’s recruitment and Bourillon’s repositioning as a centre back left him mainly on the bench, casting a gloom over the end of his 2005-2006 season. Tempted to leave the club during the 2006 summer, Jacques Faty eventually decided to stay in (…)

Gilbert Manier Muvunyi

Mario Melchiot

Mario Melchiot, a 29 years old Dutch international, joined Rennes in July 2006, signing a one year contract in Brittany. Trained at the Ajax Amsterdam, he also played for Chelsea FC and Birmingham City FC. At the end of his contract with Birmingham, relegated in the Championship, Melchiot decided to use the French Ligue 1 to bounce back his career. At the end of an excellent season, he eventually decided to go back to England, signing a contract with Wigan to many supporters’ dismay A (…)

Gaëtan Caro

Abdeslam Ouaddou

A Moroccan international Abdeslam Ouaddou struggled to prove he had the ability to be in charge of Rennes’ defence. The target of many criticisms during his stay in Rennes, particularly because of his many defensive blunders, he was left on the bench by the combination of an injury and the emergence of Mensah and Bourillon’s partnership. At the end of his contract, he eventually decided to sign in Greece, for Oympiakos Piraeus, before coming to Ligue 1 soon, signing in Valenciennes.

Vincent Pajot

Trained as a defensive midfielder, Pajot is characterised, on the pitch, by high work rate and disconcerting maturity for a player of his age. A member of the 1990 generation and a 2008 Gambardella Cup winner, Pajot went on to become one of the base-men in Laurent Huard’s Reserve team, even receiving the captain’s armband for the 2009-2010 season. At the term of his intern contract, he signed his first professional deal for a year, with an option for another two years. Eager to toughen up (…)