Former Players : Gourcuff still profits to Rennes

Bordeaux has lost Yoann Gourcuff this Wednesday, after he joined Lyon for a fee of at least 22 million euros, and until June 2015. Trained at the Stade Rennais, he will discover his third French club, with a spell at Milan AC in the meantime.

Gourcuff, birth of a talent

In the 90’s, a kid called Yoann followed his dad, Lorient’s manager, to join the professional squad’s training. These players can now say they saw a future great in the making, a raw talent who later became one of the best players in the French League.

In 1999, the Breton joined the Ploufragan pre-academy, where he would only stay for two years. In June 2001, Gourcuff Jr. entered the Rennes Academy as his father took control of the professional squad with a long term five year contract. Immediately, the Ploemeur kid impressed every one with his technique and his vision.

Two years later, he won the Gambardella Cup alongside players such as Grégory Bourillon, Jimmy Briand, Jacques Faty or Stéphane N’Guéma, beating Strasbourg (4-1) in the final at the Stade de France. Born in 1986, Gourcuff was already upgraded for this tournament, as the rest of the squad was born either in 1984 or 1985. It would take more to impress him.

Decisive, he scored the opener with a deflected twenty meters free-kick, before Briand and N’Guéma finished the work and wrapped a trophy Rennes had not won since 1973. Sign of the times, his father Christian was part of the previous victory, alongside Jean-Luc Arribart and Pierrick Hiard.

Intelligent, mature and always reaching steps before the others, Gourcuff signed his first professional contract aged 17. A rare privilege for a young footballer, when most start with a two years trainee contract before being offered a professional deal. The Stade Rennais were keen on signing a player already targeted by many European clubs, after the Ousmane Dabo – Mickael Silvestre case.

A hate-love relationship

In January 2004, Lazslo Bölöni introduced him to the professional world for a Coupe de France game against Croix-de-Savoie (0-2). Fifteen days later, he discovered Ligue 1 against Auxerre (0-2), replacing Cédric Barbosa for the last fifteen minutes of the game.

Two months later, his manager told him he was to start the game against Bordeaux. Immediately, he called his father who came from Lorient to see his son starting his first Ligue 1 game at the Route de Lorient. Starting at midfield, Gourcuff showed much activity and was very close to opening his tally, when his shot hit Ulrich Ramé’s crossbar.

Under “Coach Bölöni”’s management, Gourcuff waited patiently before becoming an essential member of the first squad. After two seasons as a super substitute, he took a new status in 2005-2006. Just crowned a U19 European Champion with France, he went on to form an exciting trio at midfield with Etienne Didot and Kim Källström.

Against Monaco (0-2), he was accessory in Didier Deschamp’s sacking as the principality club’s head coach, scoring the second goal – his first with the professionals - with a blast under the bar. Gaining in influence, Gourcuff takes more and more importance in the team’s organisation, linking efficiently the Rennes midfield and attack. With a magnificent goal against Toulouse (4-1) and many classy performances, he managed a high standard second half of the season.

One of the brightest prospects in French football, he revealed himself to all observers during a game by the “Rouge et Noir” in Lyon. On that evening, Rennes managed one of their most achieved games in the last decade with a 4-1 victory. Positioned as a right midfielder, Gourcuff put Abidal to the sword and crowned an impressive performance with a goal and two assists. Many big ambitious European clubs such as … Lyon, approach the young Rennes midfielder.

During this season, the whole city is animated with the incredible 8 games winning streak between February and April (club’s record). Lacking experience and composure however, Rennes failed to make the difference in the key moments and finished fourth as success seemed ready to happen. In the shadows, the Stade Rennais faced Gourcuff’s refusal to extend his contract, for reasons more personal than professional.

Talented, but spiteful...

A year after his arrival in Rennes, Yoann was shocked with the way his father was treated as the Stade Rennais coach. Criticised for his lack of results, Gourcuff only remained a year in Rennes. For a long time, the Morbihan born youngster considered his future, but his father eventually convinced him to remain at the club’s Academy.

At the end of the 2005-2006 season, a year before the end of his contract, the youngster was in a strong position and faced with a choice: Continue with Rennes or leave. A new contract was ready to be signed on Pierre Dréossi’s desk, but Gourcuff was remembering his father’s eviction too well. Forced to sell him or to see him leave on a free transfer a year later, the Rennes management set a 5 million euros price for his transfer.

A fan of Milan AC, he signed in Lombardy labelled as the future Zidane. His beginnings were promising, but the competition was tough at midfield with Massimo Ambrosini, Genaro Gattuso, Kaka or Andréa Pirlo. Unable to make his way into the first team, Gourcuff added the 2007 Champions’ League to his palmares. Eager to play, however, he decided to return to France to finally launch his career.

In Bordeaux, Gourcuff reached a new step, and faced new responsibilities related to his qualities. During his first season, everything worked well for the French football’s playboy, he is elected the “best player of the 2008-2009 season” by his peers. A 2009 France champion, the player knew a much harder second season in Laurent Blanc’s team, despite his new international status.

A quick transfer deal

After a difficult World Cup, marked by the Knysna bus strike and a sending off against South Africa, Gourcuff felt the need to change places and join a club where he could reach a new level, especially on the European level. The transfer market situation not helping however, offers are not really arriving to match his club’s asking price: 26 million euros.

Eager to finally recruit a player they had been coveting for years and capture a profile missing in their squad, Lyon questioned Bordeaux over the possible transfer of their playmaker. This week, a deal was struck between the teams for a transfer indemnity of 22 million euros and various additional bonuses.

Rennes will also profit of this situation, as the “Rouge et Noir” can make use of a FIFA regulation ruling that a “Solidarity contribution has to be paid to any clubs involved in the player’s training and education”. Gourcuff is arrived at the club aged 15 and left aged 19, Rennes will therefore perceive 0.5% of the transfer for the seasons including his sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth birthday, plus 0.25% for his fifteenth year. In summary, Rennes can claim 2.25% of the 22 million euros transfer fee for his transfer from Bordeaux to Lyon, or 495,000 euros. No information is available however, whether the 4.5 million of possible bonuses are included in the solidarity mechanism.

Aged 24, Gourcuff arrives in a team he considers as a « Christmas present », which will hope to come back to national success and confirm last year’s results in the Champion’s League. A perfect wedding somehow, this is exactly what the former Rennes midfielder has come to look for.