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 (…)

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 (…)