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Trained at the AS Monaco academy, Patrice Luzi had a rather original career. He signed for Liverpool, aged 22, having played only one League 1 game, but would not know a better fortune than with England, with one Premier League game in three years. He then tried his luck in Belgium and had two good seasons under the colours of Mouscron and Charleroi. In June 2007, he was recruited by the Stade Rennais to act as substitute to Simon Pouplin. Soon, he profited of Pouplin’s poor form and (…)
Arrived in Bretagne to accelerate his progression, Cheick N’Diaye, former goalkeeper of Noisy-le-Sec, could rely on the presence of experienced goalkeepers such as Isaksson or Revault to up his level. Third choice in the Goalkeepers hierarchy during two seasons, he mainly plays with the Reserves Team, where his jumping ability makes wonders. To gain in experience, he is loaned to Creteil (3rd Division) for a season. Back in Rennes, he becomes the Number 2 Goalkeeper behind Nicolas Douchez.
Young goalkeeper from the Rennes Academy, Florent Petit signed his first professional contract with the club in July 2009. First choice keeper of the brilliant generation that won the 2008 Gambardella Cup, Florent Petit had managed not to go through the whole competition without conceding a single goal. Remaining in the shadow of Nicolas Douchez, and pushed out by the competition of Carasso and Diallo, he left the club in June 2010.
United States’ Bocanegra is a polyvalent defender, capable to play as a left or centre back, arrived in Brittany to bring his experience to the Rennes squad. Born in Upland, California, he rapidly caught the public eye with his performances in Major League Soccer, from his first season with Chicago. Recruited by Fulham, he spent the following five years in thePremier League, playing over a hundred games. Released by the London club, he then decided to move to Brittany. Captain of the USA (…)
Stade de Gerland, November 2009: Abdoulaye Diallo is under Ligue 1’s spotlights aged only 17. Against Lyon, the club’s third goalkeeper did the job as an experienced keeper. He is promised to a great future, and is now expected to respond accordingly. At the moment, he spends most of his time in the Reserve team, where he continues learning his trade. In the goalkeepers’ hierarchy he is third to Nicolas Douchez and Johann Carrasso. In June 2010, he was crowned an U19 European Champion with (…)
Recommended by John Mensah, Ghanaian defender John Boye arrived from his country on a loan agreement. On a trial in August 2008, he showed the qualities that made it a full international, and quickly convinced the Rennes staff to offer him a contract. He eventually was loaned to Rennes for a year, with the aim to consolidate his position with the reserves before aiming for a spot in the first team. In 2009, he signed his first professional contract with Rennes. An essential member of (…)
Recruited after a trial in August 2007, Elderson Echiejiele had already been spotted by the Rennes scouts during the Junior World Cup, a couple of months earlier. Originally a forward and having progressively evolved to become a left full back, Echiejiele kept his attacking abilities but he had to get used to the European style of playing. Therefore, he had to spend time with the reserves team before having a chance to star in Ligue 1. His first professional appearance eventually came in (…)
A genuine right back, Rod Fanni signed with the Stade Rennais to replace Mario Melchiot, back to England. Trained in Martigues and recruited by Lens, he took time to show the skills that made him a member of the French U21 team. Eventually managing to break through in Nice, he confirmed his qualities in Brittany, both defensively and offensively. Now a full International, he is one of the very best French players on his position.
Continuing the recent tradition of Swedish internationals in Rennes, Petter Hansson arrived in Brittany in June 2007, at the end of his contract with Heerenveen. Powerful, dominant in the air and gifted with a strong shooting ability, he often encountered critics for his lack of speed. However, he soon became a cornerstone of the Stade Rennais, becoming the team's captain in 2008. In June 2010, at the end of his contract with Rennes, he joined Monaco and former manager Guy Lacombe.
A very physical midfielder, Kader Mangane spent several years in the Swiss Super League. In August 2007, he was recruited by Lens, managing good performances throughout season despite the club being relegated. Willing to remain on the top flight, the Senegalese international decided to go on with his career in Brittany. Repositioned as a central defender alongside Petter Hansson, Kader Mangane managed an impressive 2008-2009 season, helping the Rennes supporters forget the departure of (…)
A defensive midfielder converted as a right back, the man from Saint Brieuc was a member of the 2008 Gambardella Cup winning team. After he made his way through from the Rennes Academy, Guy Lacombe gave him a first run in the professional team in 2008, for a Coupe de la Ligue game against Le Mans. A few months later, he signed his first professional contract with Rennes. In the early 2010-2011 season, he earned his place in Rennes' first team at the left back position.
Romain Danzé followed the typical journey of a modern professional footballer. A member of the Pre-Academy center in Ploufragan (along with Yoann Gourcuff among others), he then joined the Stade Rennais Academy. A hard-worker, down to earth, Danze signed a first professional contract in May 2006. Struggling to make his way into the first team, the midfielder was very prompt to catch every given opportunity. His total commitment and his versatility eventually seduced all his coaches. (…)
This young Châteauroux-trained defensive midfielder was the surprise recruit of the 2009 summer transfer window. Until then, Tongo Hamed Doumbia played for the Châteauroux Reserves in the French fifth division, appearing for only 5 minutes with the first team in Ligue 2. After his arrival in Brittany, he signed a first 3-year professional contract, with the mission to prove his ability with the reserve to apply for a place in the professional squad. In January 2010 however, the combined (…)
A skilled midfielder from the INF Clairefontaine, Yassine Jebbour quickly made his mark at the Stade Rennais, as a member of the club’s Academy. Regularly playing for the “Rouge et Noir” youth teams, in age categories above his, he signed his first professional contract aged only 17. Repositioned as a right back during his training, Jebbour became an essential player in Laurent Huard’s Reserve squad, and is progressively making his way into the professional squad. After his Ligue 1 debut, (…)
The only member of the Squad to be born in the Ille-et-Vilaine department, Fabien Lemoine went through all the youth teams at the Stade Rennais. A defensive midfielder, gifted with a good ability to play forwards, he signed his first professional contract in June 2007. Rarely used over his first few months as a professional, he is brought in the first team by Guy Lacombe and quickly becomes a regular starter, pushing Etienne Didot and Bruno Cheyrou to the bench. He has now become a key (…)
A very physical and technically skilled attacking midfielder, Jérôme Leroy had a travel-rich football career. From Paris to Sochaux, calling at Guingamp, Lens or Jerusalem, he had a strong career, marked by a few gut reactions which gave him the image of a temperamental player, sometimes criticized for his instability. After having terminated his contract with Sochaux, despite having realised a very good season crowned with a Coupe de France success, Jérôme Leroy signed in Rennes for the (…)
A talented, Vannes born player, Sylvain Marveaux plays his football as an attacking midfielder, both at left and centre positions. Very quick and technical, he was often compared to Olivier Monterrubio on his early years. Trained at the club’s Academy since 2001, he soon became an essential member of the Reserves Team, and he signed a first 3 years professional contract for the Stade Rennais in 2006. With five Ligue 1 goals for his first season in the top flight, Sylvain Marveaux started (…)
Arrived in Rennes at 14, Yann M'Vila is one of the jewels of Stade Rennes’ Academy. A midfielder, excellent at recovering the ball and organising the play, he soon earned his reputation as a wonderkid, which he strengthened with multiple caps in the French youth national teams and a final victory in the 2008 Gambardella Cup. After being launched in the deep-end with the professional team, in 2009 by Frédéric Antonetti, M'Vila soon became an key-member of the Rennes team, affirming himself (…)
His transfer was a long soap opera in summer 2009. Alexander Tettey was highly rated by Pierre Dréossi and Frederic Antonetti, before eventually signing after two months of negotiations. A Norwegian international with Ghanaian origins, he was recruited as a substitute to Stéphane M’Bia. An essential man in Rosenborg’s midfield, Tettey arrived in Brittany with a mission to hold the same role (or even more) in Rennes. High hopes were placed on him, but the opening stages of his first season (…)
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 (…)
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 (…)
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 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 (…)
Arrived in summer 2005, the striker took a season to get used to his new team. In 2006-2007, he proved himself by scoring 15 goals with the Reserves, despite being regularly positioned on the left flank of the attack. Quick, powerful, a good dribbler and a rather efficient goal scorer, he was logically offered a first professional contract. After an unconvincing first season, he was loaned to Clermont in 2008-2009 to gather some professional experience. Back in Rennes in the summer of (…)
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 (…)
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 (…)
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 (…)
Born in 1988 in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), Jirès Kembo Ekoko arrived in France very young. Starting his career in Bondy (Greater Paris Area), he soon joined the INF Clairefontaine. Three years later, he moved to Britanny and Rennes’ Football Academy. The powerful striker quickly found his marks in Rennes, and soon became a major pied of the Reserves squad, scoring goal after goal during two seasons. After signing a first professional contract, and despite obvious qualities (…)
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 (…)
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 (…)