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 (…)

Christophe Revault

As Isaksson left for the Premier League, Rennes’ management had to compensate his departure by recruiting a new goalkeeper. Eventually, Christophe Revault came back to Rennes, where he had already played between 1998 and 2000. 34 years old, he came as Simon Pouplin’s substitute, offering him all his help and experience for the 2006-2007 season. In June 2007, he decided to leave and come back to his first ever club, Le Havre AC

Adailton

Just crowned an U20 World Champion with Brazil, a team he was captaining, Adailton arrived in Rennes in summer 2004. Gifted with a great sense of anticipation, a good tackler and very strong in the air, Adailton had everything to succeed in Brittany. A regular starter during his first Rennes season, he was the main victim of John Mensah’s arrival and Grégory Bourillon’s emergence in central defence. Left with the Reserves, his misfortune worsened when he was victim of a serious knee injury, (…)

Guillaume Borne

An usual starter for Rennes' U18 Rand occasionanaly the Reserve, Guillaume Borne benefited of a series of injuries in the first team’s defence, to see his Ligue 1 career launched on a derby against Lorient, in December 2006. After he signed his first professional contract in June 2007, the man from Tarn disappointed for his second season at the highest level, only appearing in 10 occasions for the professional team, and failing to impress with his performances. After a disappointing loan in (…)

Grégory Bourillon

Trained at the club’s academy, this athletic player can equally play as a defensive midfielder or as a central defender. Often injured during his early Ligue 1 career with Rennes, he actually managed to make his way into the first team, player as an anchor in midfield, and despite the competition at this position. In winter 2006, he is pushed back to play along John Mensah in central defence, immediately forming a very complementary partnership with the Ghanaian. Considered as a high (…)

Amadou Coulibaly

Arrived in Rennes in summer 2005, Amadou Coulibaly was soon left on the sidelines after a serious injury, which condemned him to a nearly void first season. The powerful right back tried his best afterwards, to try and get his chance in the first team, but numerous injuries hindered his ambitions in Rennes. He eventually left the club in 2007, two years after he first arrived, with no appearance in the professional team and only a handful of games with the Reserve.

Erik Edman

Arrived in Rennes at the end of a disastrous month of August 2005, the Swedish international full back brought immediate stability to a very shaky defence. Regular in his good performances and highly professional, Erik Edman was one of the most valuable players in the “Rouge et Noir” squad during his first season in Brittany. Unfortunately, he then failed to live up to his initial performances, and Pierre Dréossi opened the door to his exit in January 2008, when he was transferred back in (…)

Jacques Faty

A member and Captain of the 2003 Gambardella Cup winning team, “Doudou” Jacques Faty has confirmed the hopes put on him, little by a little. His good performances in Renne’s central defence made him a regular in the French U21 selection. However, Mensah’s recruitment and Bourillon’s repositioning as a centre back left him mainly on the bench, casting a gloom over the end of his 2005-2006 season. Tempted to leave the club during the 2006 summer, Jacques Faty eventually decided to stay in (…)

Gilbert Manier Muvunyi

Mario Melchiot

Mario Melchiot, a 29 years old Dutch international, joined Rennes in July 2006, signing a one year contract in Brittany. Trained at the Ajax Amsterdam, he also played for Chelsea FC and Birmingham City FC. At the end of his contract with Birmingham, relegated in the Championship, Melchiot decided to use the French Ligue 1 to bounce back his career. At the end of an excellent season, he eventually decided to go back to England, signing a contract with Wigan to many supporters’ dismay A (…)

Abdeslam Ouaddou

A Moroccan international Abdeslam Ouaddou struggled to prove he had the ability to be in charge of Rennes’ defence. The target of many criticisms during his stay in Rennes, particularly because of his many defensive blunders, he was left on the bench by the combination of an injury and the emergence of Mensah and Bourillon’s partnership. At the end of his contract, he eventually decided to sign in Greece, for Oympiakos Piraeus, before coming to Ligue 1 soon, signing in Valenciennes.