A historic occasion

A few weeks ago, the media machine was started by the access on top of the league of the Verts from Saint-Étienne. First on the standing, for the first time in 28 years, Saint-Étienne was taking profit of draws between Toulouse and Monaco and between Rennes and Paris.

Tonight, at the Stade de la Route de Lorient, the Rennais will have the chance to put a long negative streak to an end, forty years without occupying the championship leader’s position.

To find the trace of a Stade Rennais in first position, let’s get back to early October, 1970. Jean Prouff was then managing the team for his sixth season in charge. Stade Rennes were coming out of a catastrophic 1969-1970 season, entangled in sportive and financial difficulties, but in a recovering process: young attacking talents such as Raymond Keruzoré or Serge Lenoir were mentored by a defence of old, experienced players, behind which Marcel Aubour multiplied miracles on his goal-line.

After three draws in their first three games, Rennes started earning success after success. To goals against Nîmes (2-0), a victory in Nice (1-0), a large win over Bordeaux (3-0), and Rennes came to the lead at the end of the 6th game week, on September 9th, 1970.

It would take nearly a month before Jean Prouff’s player abandoned their leadership. Two convincing victories followed against the Red Star (5-1) and Strasbourg (2-0), but two defeats came along. After a first warning in Angers (1-2, with a goal by Albert Poli, who later played for Rennes), the Rouge et Noir were forced to abandon their first position in their Stade de la Route de Lorient after receiving a thumping by… the AS Saint-Étienne (0-3), on October 11th, 1970. Salif Keita, with a brace, and Jean-Michel Larqué were the goal scorers in Rennes’ rout.

The rest was more joyous. About nine months later, Louis Cardiet was lifting the club’s second Coupe de France towards Colombe’s skies. The league, in which Rennes had abandoned any ambitions, was finished in 11th position however, with four draws and seven defeats in the last eleven game weeks.

In forty years, the Stade Rennais went through difficult times, nearly disappeared, went up and down, and started to play a major role in the top-flight again.

Sometimes unlucky, often disappointing, the “Rouge et Noir” spoiled many occasions to reach this first position again. Last year, after Rennes hammered Boulogne-sur-Mer (3-0), two Bordeaux goals in the injury time against Lens (4-1) deprived Frédéric Antonetti’s players of this honour. Until today? Against Toulouse, in front of their fans, Stade Rennes have all the cards in hand to finally put this too long streak to an end.

Photos : Forum Footnostalgie