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Trained in Laval, Djimi Traoré was soon recruited in Liverpool by Gerard Houiller, who placed high expectations on the left back. Despite the several trophies earned in England, especially the 2005 Champions League, Traoré never really managed to find his place in the team, and had to look for new horizons, in Charlton first, then Portsmouth. Looking for a substitute to departing Erik Edman, Rennes recruited him during the 2008 winter transfer window to cover the left back position. Arrived on a loan, he failed to convince the staff and returned to Portsmouth at the term of his loan.

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.