In order to bolster their attacking line, Stade Rennais FC was strengthened by the combined arrivals of Razak Boukari and young Dutch striker John Verhoek. Since the club returned to the French top flight in 1994, Rennes has recruited 21 players in the winter transfer window. From Brian Jensen to Djimi Traoré or John Mensah, a look at the successful and catastrophic recruitments made during a winter transfer market often disparaged by many a football observer. Rightly so?
Everyone in Rennes remembers the good-nature of Brian Jensen, arrived mid-December from Brøndby IF (Denmark). Rather worried about a backline that failed to satisfy him entirely (François Denis-Pascal Fugier), Michel Le Millinaire was fervently requesting an addition to this sector. Using their joker, Rennes arranged the loan-move of a six-time capped Danish international, Brian Jensen. With his muscular figure (1m86, 82kg), the Scandinavian brought stability to Rennes’ defence and helper the team manage a smooth survival in the league. His input in the squad was such that Michel Le Millinaire offered him the captain’s armband during the season. Satisfied with his performances, the Stade Rennais then proposed him a three-year contract, tying him to the club until June 1998. But progressively, the competition in the squad became stronger and stronger (Jean-Pierre Cyprien in 1995, Corneliu Papură in 1996) and his playing time went decreasing (24 games in 1995-96, 11 games in 1996-1997). His departure had become unavoidable and he left Rennes in June 1997 to join AS Cannes, before heading back to Denmark and terminate his career in his first professional club: Brøndby IF.
After losing Pierre-Yves André, Stéphane Guivarc’h and Sylvain Wiltord during summer 1997, Rennes’ attack was no longer playing in the heavyweight category, even though Nicolas Goussé allowed Rennes to remain on the surface for the first half of the season (six goals). In a difficult situation in the first division, the Rennes recruitment unit was looking for the rare bird in order to avoid relegation to the second level only four years after their last promotion. The club decided on Kaba Diawara, barred by the Laslandes-Wiltord partnership at the Girondins de Bordeaux. In twelve games, the Guinean international had the time to leave his mark in the club’s history by scoring one of the club’s most important goals ever. Virtually relegated only 20 minutes before the end of the season, since En Avant Guingamp was leading at AS Cannes (1-3), Diawara sent the Stade de la Route de Lorient into raptures by placing a header on a cross from the left by Mickaël Silvestre, against Toulouse FC (1-0). The following season, back at the Girondins de Bordeaux, he won the France championship. Still playing for Arles-Avigon, he has now played for… 17 professional clubs in a rich career that notably saw him wear the Arsenal shirt.
In that season, Rennes show their ambition by recruiting a striker called Shabani Nonda, the club’s most expensive transfer at the time (40 million francs, or about 6 million euros). Freshly named as a coach, Paul Le Guen was given consequent financial means, to the contrary of his predecessors, and recruited top-level players (Jean-Luc Dogon, Christophe Revault…) or big future prospects (Cédric Bardon, Edouard Cissé…). After a first half of the season that saw Stade Rennes take position on the podium, the club’s owner François Pinault invested more money to recruit Nantes’ midfielder Christophe Le Roux. Ironically, FC Nantes had won in Rennes two months later thanks to a splendid free-kick by Le Roux himself, which left Revault motionless (2-3). Precious for his activity and his input in the attacking play, but also for his influence during the difficult moments at the club, the man who ended up playing for most clubs in the West of France (FC Lorient, EA Guingamp, FC Nantes and Vannes OC) was unfairly freed by the Rennes management in June 2002, after they deemed an extension of his contract unnecessary. He would take his revenge a few weeks later, in Guingamp, beating Petr Čech with a beautiful lob during Rennes’ rout at the Roudourou (3-0). Eager to share his experience and his knowledge of the game, he finished his career at Vannes OC, where he played until his 38th year. He is now a scout at FC Lorient.
Struggling to recover from their elimination in the Intertoto Cup against Juventus Turin (2-0, 2-2), Rennes was crying for reinforcement in this first half of the season where results were far to reach the club’s expectations. Without playmaker Franck Gava, suffering with a toenail infection, the Stade Rennais was still managing a few vintage performances at home against the Girondins de Bordeaux (2-1), AS Monaco (2-1) or Saint-Etienne (4-1).However, the Rennes staff started following a former player from the club: Jocelyn Gourvennec. Lacking game time at Montpellier HSC, the Breton returned to his training club, without causing the sort of effervescence that accompanied his departure in June 1994 to… FC Nantes.
Those were the infamous « samba » times, when the trio composed of Hubert Guidal, Gérard Le Fillâtre and Jean-Michel Moutier splashed the cash relentlessly and attracted the likes of Luís Fabiano, Severino Lucas, Mario-Hector Turdó and Vânder to the Stade Rennais. With Julien Escudé, and sometimes Vânder in charge of the left back position, Rennes looked out for a specialist at left back. And the club chose Grégory Paisley, pushed towards the exit at Paris Saint-Germain. The player’s spell at Rennes would not be a success and both his arrival and departure were welcome in absolute discretion. To his defence, he didn’t arrive at the best of times, with a club in turmoil, notably around the future of Paul Le Guen.
Prime choice of the Pinault family, Christian Gourcuff made the short trip from Lorient to Rennes and signed a long-term contract with Stade Rennais FC (5 years). A change of philosophy at all levels, as Yoann’s father managed a clever recruitment of players that would not be expected to have any adaptation issues (Eric Durand, Olivier Monterrubio, Frédéric Piquionne). Despite promising performances against AS Monaco (3-0) or the Girondins de Bordeaux (1-0), Rennes was soon in difficulty and piled up the poor performances. An essential player the previous season, Cyril Chapuis, who didn’t fit in Gourcuff’s tactics, was sold to Olympique Marseille. Meanwhile, Rennes hired Toifilou Maoulida to strengthen their attacking line. An investment that would only profit a while later, as it would take until the 2005-2006 season to see Maoulida blossom in Brittany, under László Bölöni’s management.
But it is especially at midfield that Stade Rennes managed the good deals, by signing Laurent Batlles and Olivier Sorlin. Both would become accessory in the club remaining in the top flight, by bringing their technic and power to Rennes’ midfield.
First season for Pierre Dréossi as the club’s general manager. Wishing to reduce the squad and the club’s wage bill in the first place, the club’s direction didn’t enter the transfer market in any rush and waited for the right moment. The recruitments of Andrés Fleurquín, Georgi Ivanov, Gabriel Loeschbor and Petr Čech, followed. Only the latter would give any sort of satisfaction to the Rennes fans and staff alike. Disappointed with the performances of Bulgarian forward Georgi Ivanov, Rennes prospected for the winter transfer market, and managed the transfer of a young Swiss hopeful, Alexander Frei. Barred by the emergence of Frédéric Piquionne who played exceptional football in this second half of the season, he was pushed to the right wing, spoiling most of his natural qualities. The following season, Alexander Frei sprung to life when László Bölöni replaced Vahid Halilhodžić (so did Olivier Monterrubio). He would go on scoring 50 goals in 116 matches with Rennes.
Missing fluidity at midfield, the club recruited Cyril Jeunechamp at this position before re-positioning him one step lower and help him become one of Stade Rennes’ best full backs of the last decade. Not the most gifted of players, but he compensated with a superb attitude and an exceptional mental force. The two players were not alone to join the “Rouge et Noir” during that transfer window, since Frédéric Jay also arrived in Rennes. On his case, a question remains to be answered: how did the club not question the opportunity of this recruitment, when Guy Roux himself did not bulge at the idea of releasing the player and let him sign in Rennes on a free transfer…
After Alexander Frei, Stade Rennes became a pool of future great players. This time, the Bretons decided on a midfielder from Djurgårdens IF (Sweden). A box to box midfielder with a great physical ability, technically above average, putting in an enormous work-rate at the centre of the pitch, he would be the great recruit of this winter transfer window. The Swede’s first games were brilliant, before he started to tire down a bit. Struggling with recurrent little injuries, he reached another dimension the following season, becoming a key holder of Rennes’ game before signing for Olympique Lyonnais in June 2006, for a fee around 8 million euros. Today, the Swedish international remains an example in all aspects. Whether it is in terms of adaptation, humility, individual progression or natural qualities, he remains one of the best centre midfielders in the Pinault era.
Arrived from Chievo Verona for a six month loan with a purchase clause, John Mensah was the surprise package of that winter market. Unsure at first, the Rennes supporters would take a few games to understand the player was anything but underrated. Well inspired, Pierre Dréossi had felt the good opportunity and quickly proposed him a three years contract. Disturbed by many injuries, Mensah still played 67 matches in the Rennes shirt. Bought for just over two million euros, Stade Rennais managed a great profit by selling him to Olympique Lyonnais in June 2008
Another unexpected transfer during this transfer window, Olivier Sorlin’s comeback. After leaving to Monaco on a free transfer six months earlier, he backed off because of adaptation issues and a meagre game time in his new club. Returning to Rennes, he became an essential member of Rennes’ team once again. However, under Guy Lacombe’s management, Sorlin’s influence started to fade and he changed horizons by signing in Greece, at PAOK Salonika. After a season and a half abroad, he came back for a last challenge in Ligue 2, at Evian Thonon-Gaillard.
Finalised since several weeks, Julian Esteban’s transfer took effect as planned during the 2007 winter transfer window against a transfer fee in the region of four to five million euros. From his first training sessions, the youngster discovered the huge gap between what he experienced in his country of birth and the realities of one of the top five European leagues. Victim of recurrent injuries, he would only play eight games with the professional team, for a total of 105 minutes. Far from being faultless, especially when life hygiene is concerned, Esteban left Stade Rennes in August 2010. Released by Rennes, he returned to Servette FC after his loan move from the previous season. The situation has remained the same for the former Swiss U21 international back in Switzerland, as he constantly goes back and forth from the injury clinic to the pitches of Challenge League : seven games, for four starts (360 minutes played).
He would not be the only headline in this winter’s recruitment. Indeed, in the final hours of the transfer window, Olivier Thomert joined Rennes from Lens for five million euros, while Olivier Monterrubio, gone from an indisputable starter to a back-up player went the other way to the North. During his first games with Rennes, Thomert would not manage to live up to his predecessor’s performances, particularly because of a number of injuries that prevented his progression. Criticised for his poor attacking input, he brought stability to Guy Lacombe’s eleven through his defensive work however. The main target of Rennes’ supporters after the Saint-Denis catastrophe against EA Guingamp (2-1), the former Lens player would never recover from this difficult episode, whether it is in human or sportive terms. Eager to escape, Thomert found his destination in January 2010 when he signed at Le Mans, before discovering the Liga with Hércules Alicante, a club in which he competes for a slot in the starting eleven, besides David Trézéguet.
To replace Erik Edman, transferred to Wigan, Stade Rennes FC first took information on Portsmouth’ left back Djimi Traoré. Discussioons would result on a loan of the former Laval man, with a purchase clause. Not exactly conquered by the performances of the 2005 Champions League winner (with Liverpool), Rennes would renounce to their purchase option and let Traoré return to the Premier League. His spell in Rennes wasn’t a complete failure, but it seemed the club was expecting for more from an element already confirmed at the international level. Also, Pierre Dréossi was already planning the recruitment of Carlos Bocanegra.
The big surprise came when Rennes hired Zambian international Félix Katongo. To make his integration in France easier, the club was even ready to recruit his older brother, Chris, a striker at DSC Arminia Bielefield, in the Bundesliga. With Rennesm he would only play one Coupe de la Ligue game, against Le Mans UC (2-2, 4-3 pen.). Loaned to Chateauroux, he was excluded from the professional squad for rather obscure reasons. After playing at the Mamelodi Sundowns FC, in South Africa, where he was coached by former Ballon d’Or Hristo Stoichkov, he signed a contract with Al Ittihad Tripoli SC, in the Lybian league, in August 2010.
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