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 (…)

Jean-Joël Perrier-Doumbé

Lacking competition in Auxerre, the Cameroon international decided to look for a news challenge with the “Rouge et Noir”. Often criticized by the fans, Perrier-Doumbé struggled to offer regular high level performances. Unfortunately for him, he got injured just as his performances started to improve, and he even lost his place in the starting eleven to the benefit of another Cameroon player: Stéphane M’Bia. However, he came back well to be one of the best men in the team in 2006. At Mario (…)

Nicolas Douchez

Trained at the Le Havre Academy after a spell at Paris FC, the Paris-born goalkeeper spends four seasons in Normandy, in the shadows of Alexander Vencel, the Slovakian international, without playing a single game with the first team. _Finally loaned to Chateauroux, Douchez seizes the opportunity to accumulate games and experience in Ligue 2. Scouted by Toulouse, he then joins the “Pink City” for a first season as a substitute to Christophe Revault. On his second season, he reveals himself (…)

Players under Contract

Patrice Luzi

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 (…)

Cheick N’Diaye

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.

Florent Petit

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.

Carlos Bocanegra

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 (…)

Abdoulaye Diallo

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 (…)

John Boye

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 (…)

Elderson Uwa Echiejile

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 (…)

Rod Fanni

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.

Petter Hansson

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.

Kader Mangane

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 (…)

Kévin Théophile-Catherine

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

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. (…)

Tongo Hamed Doumbia

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 (…)

Yassine Jebbour

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, (…)

Fabien Lemoine

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 (…)

Jérôme Leroy

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 (…)

Sylvain Marveaux

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 (…)