Twelve former Rennes players without a club

It is often said, that professional footballers live in a different world to most of us. But besides the money, celebrity and pleasures, there are also many players struggling to try and find themselves an employer. The National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP) are counting more than two hundred players without a club this summer, including twelve former Rennes men. Round-up.

Mickaël Buzaré (34, right back)

Trained in Brest, he signed with the Stade Rennais in June 1996, but did not play a single game with the first team due to the hard competition from Philippe Brinquin and Patrice Carteron. After two blank years in Rennes, he signed for Laval where he remained for twelve seasons! Last season however, the Laval management signalled him his contract would not be extended after 328 matches with the “Tango”. Now unattached, the current recordman of games played with Laval could be an interesting option for a Ligue 2, National or CFA side.

Jean-Marie David (28, striker)

Trained at the club’s Academy, David never played at a level higher than Ligue 2, with Lorient. He then joined the AS Vitré (CFA) before spells at Paris FC, Gueugnon and Rouen. Currently unemployed, his finishing quality could draw the interest of National or CFA teams.

Tony Heurtebis (35, goalkeeper)

After five years in Nantes, the Saint-Nazaire man did not extend his contract on the Erdre banks, where he experienced two relegations in the noughties. Never considered as a first choice goalkeeper since he turned pro, except in Troyes (2000-2005) and Brest (2005-2006), Heurtebis had to wait long before he was given a chance during the 1997-1998 season. The following year however, Revault arrived in Brittany and became the clear first choice in the goalkeepers’ hierarchy. Benefiting of his team mate’s injury towards the end of the season, his performances were tainted with numerous mistakes, including a famous blunder during a game in… Nantes.

Christophe Himmer (34, midfielder)

He certainly is one of the least known former Rennes players, but Himmer played at the Stade Rennais for one season (2001-2002). Never used in Rennes under Christian Gourcuff’s management, he made most of his career in average Ligue 2 or National teams, playing for Nîmes, Tours or Sète. In March 2009, he was already part of a list of players training at the UNFP.

Romuald Marie (22, right back)

Trained at the Stade Rennais, he played for two seasons with the “Rouge et Noir”’s reserve, where he was used at about every defensive position. At the end of his trainee contract, he signed a professional contract with Cannes, which he left in June. A few weeks ago, he was in trial at Le Havre but the Normand club did not keep him. His youth could allow him to bounce back easier than most the other players in this list.

David Merdy (35, forward)

Last year, Merdy played for Plouguerneau in DRH (9th level). Trained in Rennes, he played seven Division 1 games with the “Rouge et Noir” between 1995 and 1997. Once a goal scorer against Lucerne (1-2) in the Intertoto Cup, Merdy joined smaller teams (Troyes, Béziers, Romorantin, Rodez, Bergerac) and tempted his chance abroad in Kilmarnock (2001-2002). Also able to play at midfield, the former Rennes striker is keeping fit with the UNFP, before maybe putting his long career to an end.

Ulrich Le Pen (36, left winger)

His hasn’t got the legs he used to have, but Le Pen is still gifted with intelligence on the pitch, which could profit to many French teams. After a last spell in Laval (Ligue 2), his contract wasn’t extended and he is now looking for a new team. Trained in Rennes, he played at the club for five seasons before he left for Laval, Lorient, Ipswich Town, Strasbourg and again Lorient and Laval. A left winger, also able to play behind a striker, he decided to sign in Mayenne last year for family reasons. If he wasn’t offered a contract this summer, he could very well decide to end his career.

Patrice Luzi (30, goalkeeper)

It was expected! Struggling with recurrent back problems since months, Luzi’s competitiveness had become close to nothing. Left out of the squad by Antonetti last year, the Corsican goalkeeper was left at the bottom of the goalkeepers’ hierarchy, even behind Abdoulaye Diallo or Florent Petit. Recruited by Pierre Dréossi in June 2007, he replaced Simon Pouplin during the second half of the next Ligue 1 season to remain in place. Very irregular in his performances, he played his last game under Guy Lacombe’s management against Le Mans in the Coupe de la Ligue, with a completely missed intervention that brought to Geder’s equaliser. Not highly popular among the fans either, his contract wasn’t extended at the end of last season.

Steven Pelé (28, centre back)

Arrived in summer 1999 from Gueugon, Pelé joined Rennes and became an U19 European Champion in 2000, along with team-mates Gaël Danic and Jean-Félix Dorothée. His career in Rennes did not confirm these great beginnings though, as he failed to play any professional game with the Stade Rennais. Transferred to Istres in June 2004, he then played with Grenoble, Guingamp and Strasbourg, being relegated to National with the Alsacian club last season. At the end of his contract in June, he left Strasbourg to try and give his career a new beginning.

Florent Petit (20, goalkeeper)

Two years ago, Petit was promised a brilliant future in Rennes. A winner of the 2008 Gambardella Cup along with Yacine Brahimi, Yann M’Vila or Kévin Théophile-Catherine, having not conceded a single goal in the competition, Petit was offered a one season professional contract in June 2009, with an option for two additional years. Twelve months later, he was released from the club, especially because of Abdoulaye Diallo’s breakthrough. Since this summer, he trains at the UNFP, despite trials in Grenoble and Reims in August. Difficult to imagine he could not bounce back in a club playing in National or above.

Grégory Vignal (29, left back)

Time is missing to look back at Vignal’s career, as he already left his eleventh club this summer. A true globe-trotter, his time in Rennes was a real flop. Left aside by the rest of the squad, and especially Abdeslam Ouaddou, who came to blows with his defence partner at La Piverdière, he remained in Rennes for a season only, before discovering the Spanish, Scottish, German and English leagues. This summer, Vignal had trials at Cardiff City (Wales) and Sheffield Wednesday (England). Trained in Montpellier, he hasn’t spent more than a season in a club since 2003. Talk about stability!

- NB: a free agent for part of this summer, Jonathan Bru signed a contract with Portuguese second division side Oliveirense. Finally, Xavier Dudoit stopped his career as a football player to become Romorantin’s manager, in National.