Guingamp - Stade Rennais : The History

En Avant Guingamp was officialy founded in 1912, and had to wait for a few years before reaching the Division d’Honneur (the highest regional level, in 1929). The Armorican club was then mostly known for a string of good performances in the Coupe de France (notably playing against the Racing Club de France or Sochaux). In 1969, the Guingamp youth team managed the performance to beat the Stade Rennais and the FC Nantes in the Gambardella Cup before losing (1-0) AS Saint-Etienne in quarter-finals.

Noël Le Graët arrived at the direction of the club in june 1971, as Guingamp were swamped in the DSR (Regional Divisions). During the 1972-1973 season, En Avant Guingamp managed one of the biggest upsets in the Coupe de France by successively eliminating four professional division 2 teams (Laval, Brest, Le Mans and Lorient). The epic was to end in the last 16 round, with two defeats against the Rouen “Red Devils” (0-5 in Rennes, 3-0 in Rouen). However, building on this outstanding performance, Guingamp went from promotion to promotion to reach the French second division in 1976-1977. The EAG finished second in the third division, only behinf the FC Nantes reserve, and was automatically promoted. An historical success for a small town of just 8,000 inhabitants.

Three seasons later, the En Avant de Guingamp reached the podium in the second division (behind Tours and Rennes), but they were denied access to the top-flight in the promotion play-offs. In 1984, Noël Le Graët’s club received the professional status. En Avant de Guingamp were now firmly installed in the second league and managed several very good seasons, managed by Raymond Kéruzoré (1981 to 1986). At the end of the 1985-86, the Armorican team reached the third position for the second time, thanks especially to the incredible efficiency of striker Andrzej Szarmach, with 26 goals in one season. However, Guingamp was once more beaten in the play-offs (by Alès (0-3)). The following seasons would not be as successful, and Guingamp was a victim of the second division reformation (A Super D2 with 22 clubs) and relegated to National 1 (then the third division) after finishing the 1992-1993 season in 13th position. After 16 consecutive seasons at the French second level, the Avant de Guingamp discovered a new league and were left in the darkness of the amateur league.

The relegation was to prove beneficial to the club though. Francis Smerecki arrived to the club and immediately gave their chance to the Academy’s youngsters (Laspalles, Rouxel, Carnot…). The result was immediate, EAG flew over the league and lost only one game in the season against Évry (0-1, Game Week 32). The attack partnership between Rouxel and Guivarc’h (49 goals between them) put the defences to the sword. Building on the promotion, Guingamp went on with an outstanding season for their return in second division and finished second, gaining automatic promotion to the top flight. History was on, and for their first season in Division 1, En Avant Guingamp managed a respectable 10th position in the final standing, equalling the record of the fewest goals conceded at home (5) in a season. The Roudourou had become an impregnable fortress.

Building on this brilliant first season, the EAG went on to win the UEFA Intertot Cup (beating the Rotor Volgograd in the final, 1-0) and qualify for the UEFA Cup. Guingamp would eventually fall against Italy’s Inter Milan (0-3, then 1-1 at Giuseppe Meazza) in September 1996. A few months later, the En Avant reached the Coupe de France finale, the competition in which the club revealed itself to the footballing nation in 1973, only to lose in the final at the Parc des Princes against Nice (1-1, pen. 3-4). The defeat was cruel, and Guingamp would not recover. The club finished the next season at the 16th position and came back to the second division only three years after their promotion. They would remain there for two years before returning to the top flight, especially thanks to the attacking partnership Fiorèse/Samuel Michel. The 2002-2003 season was the best in Guingamp’s history (7th in the final standing), thanks to the outstanding duo Malouda/Drogba. Guingamp was even close to reaching a qualifying spot for the Champions League!

Unfortunately, the next season was very different for the club. Losing many key players in the summer break, the Armorican team ended the League in 18th position and was relegated back to Ligue 2. En Avant de Guingamp was stuck at the second level and remained in Ligue 2 for six seasons before being relegated to National (3rd level) last season. In the meantime, Guingamp managed to win their first national trophy, the Coupe de France, against Rennes, their Breton neighbour, but Noël Le Graët’s club was unable to digest this incredible success.

Previous meetings

The history of encounters between Rennes and Guingamp goes back to the rise of the Armorican club. “En Avant” played at regional level until the sixties, while Rennes was a regular presence in the Division 1. Guingamp managed a few nice performances in the Coupe de France, but never played against the Stade Rennais. In 1977, the EAG managed the performance to be promoted in Division 2. They joined the Stade Rennais, starting their up-and-downs period between the first two French leagues.

In D2, the derbies would oppose both teams regularly over 16 years. Rennes won most of the time, with 7 victories in 11 encounters. The first competitive game was showing that trend, with Rennes winning haplessly at Le Roudourou (5-1, with four goals by Alain Richard).

In 1995, Guingamp was promoted to D1 for the first time, and joined the Stade Rennais again. In the top flight, the opposition was much more balanced. The derbies were the occasion to inflict the opponent some very painful defeats, such as Rennes’ historical win in Guingamp (6-1).

In the cups, there weren’t many confrontation between Rennes and Guingamp (only three Coupe de France games, only one in Guingamp). The two teams have never met in the Coupe de la Ligue. This will therefore be a Premiere.

* Guingamp (standing on the left, Raymond Kéruzoré), 1982-1983.

Last encounter at the Roudourou

En Avant Guingamp 0 - 2 Stade Rennais FC
Ligue 1, Game Week 22
Saturday, Januray 31st, 2004 , 8:00 p.m.

Stade de Roudourou
Attendance : 15 488 spectators

Goals : Arribagé (70’) and Barbosa (79’) for Rennes

- En Avant Guingamp : Le Crom - Guillaume, Kouassi, Colleau (Jouffre, 79’), Laspalles, Saveljic - Michel (cap), Le Roux - André, Bardon - Bourhani.

- Stade Rennais FC : Cech - Tanagro, Arribagé (cap), Faty, Le Lan - Barbosa, Didot, Monterrubio - Piquionne (Bru, 85’), Frei (Vairelles, 57’), Briand (MVuemba, 69’).

General Summary

Summary of Guingamp - Stade Rennais games in Division 1 : 7 games, 2 Rennes victories, 2 draws, 3 Guingamp victories. 9 goals to Rennes, 7 to Guingamp.

Summary of Guingamp - Stade Rennais games in Division 2 : 11 games, 7 Rennes victories, 2 draws, 2 Guingamp victories. 18 goals to Rennes, 7 to Guingamp.

Last ten Guingamp - Stade Rennais

- 31/01/2004 (Ligue 1) : Guingamp - Stade Rennais : 0-2 (Arribagé & Barbosa)
- 17/08/2002 (Division 1) : Guingamp - Stade Rennais : 3-0 (Malouda (2) & Le Roux)
- 16/02/2002 (Division 1) : Guingamp - Stade Rennais : 1-1 (Bardon / Le Roux pen.)
- 17/03/2001 (Division 1) : Guingamp - Stade Rennais : 1-6 (Fiorèse / Delaye (2), Lucas, Echouafni, Chapuis & Arribagé)
- 16/11/1997 (Division 1) : Guingamp - Stade Rennais : 1-0 (Rouxel)
- 22/11/1996 (Division 1) : Guingamp - Stade Rennais : 1-0 (Jozwiak)
- 20/04/1996 (Division 1) : Guingamp - Stade Rennais : 0-0
- 22/08/1992 (Division 2) : Guingamp - Stade Rennais : 1-1 (rg : Musisi)
- 10/02/1990 (Division 2) : Guingamp - Stade Rennais : 0-1 (Van den Boogaard)
- 04/02/1989 (8ème tour CDF) : Guingamp - Stade Rennais : 1-3 (rg : Cano, P. Delamontagne & Van den Boogaard)

Nota : rg = Rennes goal scorers

Sources :
- Wikipedia
- Stade Rennais Online

Photos : forum footnostalgie