Lucien Aubey

Born in Congo, Lucien Aubey grew up in the Île-de-France (Greater Paris) region. After a short spell at the Paris FC, he did most of his training in Cannes. In 2001, he was recruited by Toulouse, relegated in National (3rd division) on administrative grounds. In Toulouse, Aubey took part on a continuous accession from 3rd division to 3rd place in Ligue 1. Recruited by Lens in 2007, the strong, very physical defender had a hard time in the North of France, first being hit by a nasty injury (…)

Kévin Bru

Technical ability and vision, these are the qualities that best sum up Kévin Bru. Younger brother of Jonathan, also trained in Rennes and Gambardella Cup winner in 2003, Kévin Bru had his first taste of professional football in January 2007. An essential element of the Reserves, he signed his first professional contract with Rennes within the same month. However, he didn’t have the chance for more first-team football and was loaned a year later to Chateauroux, and then to Clermont (both (…)

Bruno Cheyrou

Recruited in Summer 2006, Bruno Cheyrou wasn’t unanimously welcomed in Rennes. However, after a difficult start, he imposed himself as a leader in the midfield. Very technical, left footed, he is at his best in central position, either just ahead of the defensive line or right behind the forwards. The former Liverpool man had a difficult second season, Guy Lacombe even trying him as a Centre Back, with little success. His 2008-2009 season was more successful, even though he didn’t manage to (…)

Junichi Inamoto

Junichi Inamoto was the first Japanese player to sign for the Stade Rennais. With 70 international caps to his name, he played in the 2002 (Japan) and 2006 (Germany) World Cups. After starting his career at Gamba Osaka, he came to England in 2001, but never really managed to break into the Premier League. After a short spell at Galatasaray (Turkey), he spent two years in Frankfurt (Germany). After his contract expired, he signed for Rennes in June 2009, with the aim of making it to a first (…)

Ismaël Bangoura

Ismaël Bangoura arrived in Summer 2009 to reinforce Rennes forward line. An explosive, very quick and skilled striker, he signed from Dynamo Kiev for a fee of 11M€. Very familiar with the French leagues, he had played for the Gazelec Ajaccio in the third League, before signing for Le Mans, then a newcomer in Ligue 1. In Le Mans, Bangoura proves himself a highly valuable player, and attract many interests. In 2007, the Dynamo Kiev is eventually obtaining his transfer and attracts the player (…)

Jimmy Briand

Trained at Rennes’ Academy, Jimmy Briand has all the qualities of a modern striker. His pace and his explosive power are amongst the qualities that seduced all of his coaches so far. However, Jimmy struggled to impose himself as a regular starter for the club. For three years, he remained a substitute to strikers such as Frei and Utaka. In 2006-2007, eventually, he became one of Rennes’ main offensive weapons. Since then, he impressed by his power and fighting spirit on the front of (…)

Asamoah Gyan

Observed for 2 years by the Stade Rennais, Asamoah Gyan arrived in Brittany in July 2008. The Ghanaian international player (who scored the first ever goal for Ghana in a World Cup, in 2006) had signed for Udinese Calcio (Italy) in 2003, and was loaned to Modena the following year. He spent 2 years there, scoring 15 goals in 52 Serie B games. Back to Udinese, Gyan scored 10 goals in 31 games, but his final season was plagued by a nasty injury. Recruited by Rennes, he spent most of his first (…)

Fabrice N’Guessi

Winner of the Best Player award in the Junior African Nations Cup in January 2007, Fabrice N'Guessi arrived in Rennes the following summer, aiming to impress with his technical and physical skills, but also with his goalscoring ability. At the end of a rather average season with the Reserves, learning the ways of European football, he was loaned to Créteil to keep on learning, make his mark in the third division team and maybe brighten his future with Rennes. Unfortunately, his loan spell (…)

Mickaël Pagis

This experienced striker broke onto the main stage only late in his career, playing his first Ligue 1 game when he was already 28 years old. Before that, he had spent several years between the Ligue 2 and National championship, continuously showing his goal scoring ability. Recruited by Sochaux, he soon become a valuable Ligue 1 player and was highly esteemed by the fans and managers alike, as he was later in Strasbourg and Marseille. In 2007, he joined Rennes and brought his experience (…)

Moussa Sow

Let on the side of the first team for many seasons, Moussa Sow had a rather discrete start to his professional career, only showing glimpses of his talent during three seasons. A rather positive loan experience in Sedan (Ligue 2), in 2007/2008, allowed him to gain some useful playtime and score a few goals, and his return to Rennes was marked by a renewed goal-scoring ability. Often decisive, Moussa Sow was one of the biggest satisfactions of the 2008-2009 season, and the striker was (…)

Olivier Thomert

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 (…)

Julian Esteban

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 (…)

Bira Dembélé

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 (…)

Yohann Lasimant

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 (…)

Maxime Le Marchand

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 (…)

Emerson

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 (…)

Stéphane N’Guema

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 (…)

Alexander Frei

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 (…)

Benjamin Moukandjo

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 (…)

Damien Le Tallec

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 (…)

Daniel Moreira

An highly experienced player, with over 300 games in Ligue 1, Daniel Moreira’s profile seemed ideal to replace Rennes favourite, Alexander Frei. With 69 goals in 10 Ligue 1 season, his partnership with John Utaka was full of promise, especially since the two men had already partnered with success for the RC Lens. However, in Brittany, Daniel Moreira lost all sort of efficiency, not managing to score a single goal in two seasons. Loaned to Grenoble in 2008-2009, he was transferred to (…)

Sylvain Wiltord

Ten years after, Sylvain Wiltord’s return in his first professional team was one of the “feel good stories” of the 2007 summer. A prodigal son of the Stade Rennais, “Nino” has experienced everything, from his beginnings in Division 2, all the way up to a European Championship title and a World Cup final with France. After long negotiations with Lyon, the 92-caps man came back to his initial red and black colours, to help Rennes become one of the strongest places in the French football (…)

John Utaka

In Rennes, he was THE attraction of the 2005 summer transfer window. John Utaka, twelve goals during the 2004-2005 season (including a hat-trick against Rennes) was arriving on the banks of the Vilaine, to bring his pace and strength to the team. Rather unconvincing in the first half of the 2005-2006 season, especially in front of the goals, “John U” showed all his potential following two hat tricks in two games, against Lens and Lyon. His rising form pulled Rennes forward for an incredible (…)

Olivier Monterrubio

Olivier Monterrubio joined the Stade Rennais in Summer 2001, from the local arch-rival FC Nantes. The left-footed midfielder managed a very quick adaptation on Rennes’ attacking line, and was soon accepted and loved by his supporters. Despite a very average second season, and a difficult relationship with the coach, Vahid Halilhodzic, “Rubio” went on to become a key member of Rennes’ squad. Finishing the league with the most assists in three consecutive seasons, his association with (…)

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. (…)

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 (…)