Sébastien Le Toux

Trained at the Stade Rennais, Sébastien Le Toux won the Gambardella Cup in 2003. Not retained by Stade Rennais a year later, he becomes professional at FC Lorient. In the Morbihan, he only plays about ten Ligue 2 matches in two years, and was eventually, once again, let go by his club. Unemployed during several months, he decided to exile to the United States and signed a contract to play in the USL (The American second division) with the Seattle Sounders. Trained as a defender, he was (…)

Jean-Claude Darcheville

Born in Guyana, Jean Claude Darcheville arrived in mainland France in 1995 to sign for Stade Rennais. After two initial seasons in which he barely played (four games in D1 in two years), he gained more play time in 1997-1998, before moving on loan to Nottingham Forrest. After the English club didn’t keep him, he joined the FC Lorient where he finally broke through. After two seasons with over ten goals scored, he blossomed in D1 and scored nineteen goals. Better, Darcheville played a (…)

Grégory Paisley

Born in Paris and trained at PSG, Grégory Paisley never really made it at the capital’s club. In January 2001, Stade Rennais recruited him to add a little more competition to the left-back position, but there too he struggled to break through. In a season and a half, he only started twenty-five games. After a season-long loan at Le Havre, the club sold him to FC Sochaux. Since then, Paisley played for a few Ligue 1 clubs. In June 2011, he joined Guingamp on a one-season contract.

Julien Féret

Born in the Côtes d'Armor, Julien Féret started his career at the Stade Briochin (Saint Brieuc). Scouted by the Stade Rennais, he joined the club’s academy in 2000. Playing with the Reserve mainly, he came close to obtaining a professional contract but was eventually released by the club. Recruited by AS Cherbourg, he managed a very good 2003-2004 season in the National division, enough to be spotted and recruited in Ligue 2, in Niort and then in Reims. After four (very good) seasons at (…)

Benoît Costil

After three seasons in which he affirmed himself as one of the best, if not the best goalkeeper in Ligue 2, Benoît Costil arrives at the Stade Rennais to replace departing Nicolas Douchez. A great prospect at the Stade Malherbe de Caen, the Normand eventually failed to break through at professional level. Therefore, there is a feeling of revenge for Costil, as he joins Brittany in summer 2011, with a strong desire to show his real ability in Ligue 1.

Kim Källström

Arrived during the winter transfer window of the 2003-2004 season, the Swedish international soon conquered the heart of Rennes’ public with his class and by his repeated decisiveness. A real pacemaker, responsible of the attacking phases, Kim became one of the centrepieces of Laszlo Bölöni’s team. After having delighted the Rennes supporters with many goals and assists, the Swedish finally decided to join the Olympique Lyonnais in June 2006. Regularly called in Swedish national team, he (…)

Stéphane Guivarc’h

Trained in Brest Armorique, Stéphane Guivarc'h started in D1 with the Finistere club. When the club had to bid farewell to professionalism after its bankruptcy, Guivarc'h packed up and arrived close to Brest, at Guingamp. In this club, engaged in D2, he became a promising scorer. His 23 goals scored during the 1994-1995 season seduced AJ Auxerre, who enrolled him in July 1995. His adaptation to D1 was difficult and Guivarc'h only took a minor part in the cup-championship double achieved by (…)

Patrice Carteron

While he played for Saint-Brieuc, Patrice Carteron drew the attention of the Stade Rennais. By a combination of circumstances, both parts failed to agree and Carteron started his professional career with Laval, then in Division 2. Recruited two years later by Stade Rennais, he became the team’s immovable left defender. Defender with a sense of duty, he played about a hundred matches with the red and black jersey, before he was recruited by the Olympique lyonnais. He continued is progression (…)

Petr Čech

After his debut in the Czech championship aged only 17, Petr Čech was revealed during the U-23 European Championship in 2002. As the final went to penalty shoot outs, the tall goalkeeper destroyed all the French hopes to offer the victory to his country. Čech obviously received the attention of many scouts, and decided to continue his career in France, where Stade Rennais was the ideal step. Transferred for 5 million, the goalkeeper would bring in much more to Stade Rennais two years later (…)

Anthony Réveillère

Playing at SCO Angers, he was noticed by Stade Rennais who would recruit him before he turned 17 and invite him to join the club’s Academy. After a year and a half with the academy squad he started in Division 1 in February 1998. This would be the beginning of a substantial professional career. Réveillère played 5 full years in the Stade Rennais colours, and became one of its key defensive elements. Eager to evolve, he was loaned to Valencia for 6 months in 2003, but failed to convince the (…)

Saliou Lassissi

Arrived very young at Stade Rennes, Saliou Lassissi is trained in Rennes’ academy before playing with A team in 1996. This young Ivorian becomes then the club’s revelation during 1996-1997 season, thanks to big performances. Unfortunately, he confirms feebly his level during 1997-1998 season and is transferred to Parma. The Italian club, which imagines him as a “new Thuram”, doesn’t trust him immediately and loans him to Sampdoria and then to Fiorentina. There, Lassissi confirms his (…)

Ousmane Dabo

After his beginnings in Mayenne, with Stade Lavallois, Ousmane Dabo joined Stade Rennais aged 13. He made the training at the club's Academy, and his qualities soon brought him to knock at the door of the professional group. In 1995 he was only 18 when he is started in Division 1, breaking through the professional ranks. But, like the defender Mikaël Silvestre who progressed at the same time, Dabo remained under a probationary contract. When Stade Rennais proposed him a professional (…)

Yoann Gourcuff

Arrived in Rennes with his father Christian, Yoann Gourcuff become quickly one of the most promising player of the rennes squad, and participate activily to the successful way during Gambardella 2003 Courted by many big european clubs he decides to stay in brittany, signing his first professional contract at only 17. After a quick integration in the professional group and with 80 games started with the first team, he chooses at 20 years old not to extend his contract to join one of the (…)

Olivier Sorlin

Loyal between the loyals, Olivier Sorlin stayed during eight years in the Rennes team, playing over 200 games under the black & red colours. He is a versatile midfielder and able to play with both foots, the native of Saint-Etienne has the ability to handle the strong and weak periods of his team with a very good conversation of the ball and a quality of pass just as good. Left off by Guy Lacombe in the begining of season 2008-2009 he is loaned in january 2009 to PAOK Salonique then (…)

John Verhoek

Will John Verhoek follow the steps of Erik van den Boogaard, Stade Rennes’ prolific Dutch striker in the 1980s? Recruited during the winter transfer window in January 2011, the young striker will have to prove his goal scoring abilities and confirm the qualities he has shown in the Dutch second division.

Pape Malick Kandji

A young defender arrived from Senegal, Pape Malick Kandji joined the Stade Rennais during the 2010-2011 season. After a satisfying trial, the Breton club offered him a professional contract effective from January 2011. The player, who admits he comes to Rennes to continue his training, will first play with the Reserve before - maybe- stepping up to Ligue 1 level.

Razak Boukari

Trained in Châteauroux, where he had his first professional experience in Ligue 2, Razak Boukari spent a long time in Lens. In Artois during four years and half, he built the reputation of a sometimes brilliant often inconstant player for himself. Recruited in January 2011 to strengthen a struggling Rennes attacking line, he will have the mission to confirm in Rennes the potential seen since he came to professional football.

Víctor Hugo Montaño

Revealed during the 2003 U20 World cup, in which he played for Colombia, Víctor Hugo Montaño arrived in France in 2004. After scoring fifty goals in a bit more than 60 games in his home country with his club of Los Millonarios, Montaño indeed signed a contract for Istres, freshly promoted to Ligue 1. Although he managed to gain some playing time (33 games, including 11 starts), he finished the season with only 2 goals to his tally. While Istres was relegated at the end of the season, the (…)

Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik

Trained at Le Havre, Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik decided to reach another step by joining the Stade Rennais in June 2010. Gifted with “rare physical aptitudes for a Ligue 1 player”, according to Frédéric Antonetti, the U21 international will try to get time on the pitch and get a chance to disturb the pre-existing hierarchy. The nephew of François Oman-Biyik, famously a striker for the « Rouge et Noir » during the 1990-1991 season, the former Le Havre player will try to make himself a name in Rennes.

Stéphane Dalmat

His transfer was long to conclude, but Stéphane Dalmat eventually joined the Stade Rennais, his eleventh club. Good with both his feet, very technical, he is expected to bring the power and tonicity the Breton midfield was missing. A great hope of French football, emigrated abroad very early in his career (Inter Milan), the former U21 international never confirmed. After three good seasons at the FC Sochaux, he joins the “Rouge et Noir” for a new challenge. Maybe his last…

Georges Mandjeck

After three seasons in Germany, in Stuttgart and Kaiserslautern, Georges Mandjeck joined the Stade Rennais in summer 2010. A cameroon international, the young holding midfielder signed a four seasons contract with the Rouge et Noir for a transfer fee of 1.4 million euros. However, because of Yann M'Vila's talent, he is forced to wait for a chance to get in the first team.

Onyekachi Apam

Arrived to the Stade Rennais from Nice, Onyekachi Apam joins Frédéric Antonetti, his coach on the Cote d’Azur between 2006 and 2009. The Nigerian, hired for a fee of about 4.5 million euros,facing the daunting task to replace Petter Hansson, the former captain, transferred to Monaco in June 2010. Expected to complete the club’s central defence alongside Kader Mangane, his integration to the team was slowed down by a persistent knee injury.

Johann Carrasso

Trained at Montpellier, Johann Carrasso was accessory in the club’s promotion to Ligue 1 during the 2008-2009 season. However, a bad injury during the season’s final game made him lose his place in the first team. He subsequently had to go back through a long re-education process, and was mainly left to play with the Reserve team. In summer 2010, he joined the Stade Rennais as Nicolas Douchez’ substitute. A very talented and ambitious second choice, he certainly is the club’s future at the (…)

Jimmy Nirlo

As a physical defensive midfielder, Jimmy Nirlo signed his first professional contract with Stade Rennais. Arrived in July 2006 from his native Franche-Comte, Nirlo has progressively and seriously improved his skills with the reserve team. After winning the French championship of reserve teams with Rennes in May 2007, he signed a professional contract in 2008. After 6 months and no appearances with the first team, he is released by Stade Rennais and signed up with a Greek second-division club.

Cédric Barbosa

Regularly used during the 2003-2004 season, Cedric Barbosa suffered a serious injury during a friendly game in August 2004. After months without playing, the former Montpellier player struggled after his injury and spent most of the 2005-2006 season on the bench or with the reserve team. At the end of his contract last June, Cedric had difficulties to find a club. Finally the player aroused the interest of Troyes managers and signed a one-year deal with them.

Arthur Sorin

A 2003 Gambardella Cup winner along the likes of Gourcuff, Faty or Briand, Arthur Sorin was awarded a first one-year professional contract in 2005. Loaned to Vannes OC, then in the French 3rd division, Arthur earns playtime but fails to gain the staff’s confidence. Back from his loan, Sorin joins the Reserve and plays a few games only, while searching for a new club. In Januray 2007, he signed a two year contract for Swedish club Kalmar FF, before being recruited by Danish side Aarhus.

Djimi Traoré

Trained in Laval, Djimi Traoré was soon recruited in Liverpool by Gerard Houiller, who placed high expectations on the left back. Despite the several trophies earned in England, especially the 2005 Champions League, Traoré never really managed to find his place in the team, and had to look for new horizons, in Charlton first, then Portsmouth. Looking for a substitute to departing Erik Edman, Rennes recruited him during the 2008 winter transfer window to cover the left back position. Arrived (…)

Yoan Pivaty

Alain Rochat

Alain Rochat arrived in Brittany in June 2005. Despite promising performances with the U21 Switzerland team, of which he was the captain, the young Swiss-Canadian player started his “Rouge et Noir” career in the most catastrophic manner, notoriously blaming himself for the rout against Nancy (6-0) early that season. Afterwards, he mainly played with the Reserve Team. Failing to get into Pierre Dréossi’s tactics too, he was loaned and eventually transferred to FC Zurich, back in Swiss first (…)

Laszlo Sepsi

Loaned to Rennes during the 2005 summer, Laszlo Sepsi, a U21 Romanian international, joined his fellow national Laszlo Bölöni at the club. Mostly playing with the Reserve, despite a few appearances with the professional squad, he displayed good technical skills and a resolutely offensive spirit, but also a sometimes hazardous positioning on the pitch. After Bölöni’s departure to AS Monaco, Sepsi wasn’t kept by the club, and went back to his country to play with Gloria Bistriţa, a Romanian (…)