Your legendary starting eleven!

The legendary starting eleven and their substitutes, chosen by the Rouge et Noir fans.

Petr Čech 
New goalkeeper for the Czech Republic's national A team, Petr Čech was signed by Stade Rennais F.C. in the summer of 2002, at the age of 20, from Sparta Prague. From the moment he arrived, he showed off his talent, imposing his size in goal with a combination of power and agility. His new teammates at La Piverdière quickly noticed the international class of the young Petr. In his first season, he confirmed all his qualities and was named best goalkeeper in the league. After 18 months in Brittany, he left to rack up dozens of trophies and personal honours across the Channel with Chelsea and Arsenal. Having won unanimous praise during his time at the club, Petr Čech is the number one asset in the supporters' legendary eleven.

Cyrille L'Helgoualch, President of the Stade Rennais History Club: ‘Petr is one of the greatest goalkeepers to have played for Stade Rennais, particularly in terms of his career. Other goalkeepers have been just as good, but we're talking about one of the best in the world here. He improved significantly with every game.’


 

Romain Danzé
2001 marked the beginning of a long relationship of trust and loyalty between the Breton club and the Finistère native. A promising Breton footballer who came up through Ploufragan, the Douarnenez native made his mark at the Rouge et Noir training centre thanks to his versatility, intelligence and impressive running ability. A player with a steely mentality who managed to recover from two cruciate ligament ruptures, ‘La Danze’ rose over the years to become a Rouge et Noir legend, ending his career with 376 matches for SRFC, the club's second-highest record. In gratitude for his service and loyalty, the number 29 was retired from the list of numbers.

‘La Danze! We're talking about the undisputed. Why? Because he's one of those players that, when you're a coach, you put first on the team sheet. These are players who are always very reliable and rise to the occasion.’

 
 

Kader Mangane
The Rouge et Noir fans love combative players. Kader embodied this expectation from the stands perfectly between 2008 and 2012. Not content with being his team's defensive pillar for four years, Kader also scored 11 goals for Stade Rennais F.C., a statistic that underlines his essential role in the legendary starting eleven. Athletic and charismatic, the Senegalese international wore the Rouge et Noir armband for two seasons. He was appreciated by everyone at La Piverdière. Despite the setback at the Stade de France in 2009, ‘Kadou’ left an indelible mark during his time in Brittany.

‘It may seem surprising, but Kader was the rock. He left behind the image of a true defender, very tough at the back and a very good player. He deserves it!’

 
 

Nayef Aguerd
A member of a golden generation from the 2018-2024 European era, Nayef Aguerd arrived in 2020 after two seasons in Dijon, where he perfected his skills as a modern defender. Whether intercepting, restarting play, building attacks, in the air or sometimes in the opponent's 18-yard box, his hard work for the team won over the Breton public. Committed and endearing, the Moroccan international earned his place in the legendary starting eleven in just two years.

‘He made those around him better. I would have picked him too. He is the modern defender par excellence, complete. Centre-backs are asked to be technically sound and calm, and they responded to all that.’

 
 

Ramy Bensebaïni
Ramy is cut from the same cloth as Nayef. Combative, talented and an irreproachable teammate. On the left wing, the Constantine native is uncompromising, with sharp tackles, long strides and pinpoint passes. Approachable and charismatic, Ramy Bensebaïni has made a lasting impression on Stade fans. Before his departure for Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2019, a few weeks after defeating PSG at the Stade de France, the Algerian international was close to reaching the 100-match mark in red and black.

‘He also appears because he was the player of the 2018/2019 season. Beyond his talent, because he had an exceptional season, we are also emotionally attached to him, as he was one of the key players in the French Cup victory. He is an elegant left-back.’

 

Benjamin André
The man who lifted the trophy in Saint-Denis is hailed as a hero after five full seasons (184 matches, 10 goals, 13 assists). Since arriving from Ajaccio, ‘Benji’ has established himself as an essential cog in the Rennes machine, regardless of the coaches or tactics. A valiant ball-winner, he was given the captain's armband at the start of his fourth season in red and black, as an additional reward for his commitment to defending the club's colours. The combination of the Nice native's strong character and the demanding Breton fans sealed an unbreakable bond, marked by historic successes.

‘He arrived on tiptoe and left lifting the cup. A boss in midfield, he is a player who has not necessarily received the recognition he deserves. He is one of those players who would have deserved to play for the French national team.’
 
 

Eduardo Camavinga
Eduardo perfectly embodies the excellence of Rennes' training programme and the values that define our institution: pride in our region, humility and pushing ourselves to excel. In April 2019, as the club prepared to win its third national title, the Rouge et Noir fans witnessed the emergence of the young Cama, who was only 16 years and 4 months old at the time. His precociousness, talent, enthusiasm on the pitch and infectious smile were a hit. Having spent his childhood in Fougères, he radiates energy to everyone around him, and supporters know that they will have to enjoy every moment, every appearance by the midfielder – 88 matches in red and black – as he will soon be joining one of Europe's biggest clubs.

‘Eduardo is the embodiment of Rennes' youth academy, with his smile and abilities that are above all others his age. When we saw him arrive in the squad, we knew immediately that we were dealing with a gem. We loved loving him.’


 

Benjamin Bourigeaud
Hearing your name chanted in the stadium or around town guarantees your place among the legends of SRFC. Benjamin Bourigeaud arrived modestly in the summer of 2017, leaving Lens behind to take on the challenge in Rennes. Polite, with impeccable hair, the number 14 made a good impression as soon as he arrived at La Piverdière. Thanks to his right foot and his generosity, he quickly proved that SRFC had made the right choice. The 2019 Coupe de France, epic trips to London, Seville, Jablonec... He has been part of all of SRFC's great conquests. After 311 caps, 66 goals and as many assists, a legend among legends, his presence in the starting eleven is a given.

‘He's everyone's favourite. We realised that when he wasn't at his best, the team's effectiveness declined. He's a player who sets the tempo for the group.’


 

Olivier Monterrubio
Making the journey from La Beaujoire to Route de Lorient is never easy. After spending ten years with the rival team, the Gaillac native moved to the Breton capital in 2001. His left foot quickly charmed not only the regulars at Route de Lorient but also the sceptics. Thanks to his consistent performances, he established himself for a long time, playing 216 matches, scoring 41 goals and delivering 33 assists, many of them to Alexander Frei, with whom he formed one of the most formidable duos in the French league. Rubio played for SRFC for six seasons, winning the hearts of Rennes supporters.

‘A left foot, an outstanding ability to eliminate opponents and deliver crosses. A player like few others at the time, a gem in the team, a player with great intelligence on the pitch. He richly deserves his place in this eleven.’

Alexander Frei
He is the sharp blade of the Swiss Army knife. Four letters that, depending on the generation, have resonated in the stadium or later in nostalgic stories. A prolific goalscorer in his home country, the Basel native joined the French league in the winter of 2003. In Rennes, Pierre Dréossi, then General Manager, wanted to make him the spearhead of the Rouge et Noir attack. The first six months were spent adapting, and it was under László Bölöni that the offensive festival began. Alex Frei finished his first full season with 20 goals, the second-highest scorer in the first division. The following season, he finished top of the scoring charts again with 20 goals. Whether with his right foot, left foot, head or from any position, his skill and goal-scoring instinct were almost always on target. As incisive on the pitch as he was in front of the media, the Swiss international was never one to mince his words. Stubborn and hard-working, the Nati player already had the soul of a Breton before making the Stade de la Route de Lorient his home ground.

‘Alex Frei is an ultra-intelligent player who is skilful in front of goal. The qualities of players like him cannot be learned, they are innate. We are talking about an extraordinary player here. He had a feel for football! That's rare.’

 
 

Ousmane Dembélé
Like his Swiss predecessor, Ousmane Dembélé has that extra something, that love of a job well done, where every move can turn a match around. That bewildering magic that shocks the senses. Football fans discovered him one evening during SRFC / Bordeaux, in his second professional appearance. Effortless and unpredictable, even he doesn't know which way to turn. Trained at the Rouge et Noir Academy, his coaches constantly reminded him of his unique talent and the destiny that awaited him. Ten years before winning the Ballon d'Or, he scored a legendary hat-trick in the derby against Nantes, single-handedly emptying the opposing stands.

‘From there to thinking he would win the Ballon d'Or, we might not have imagined it, but he was the player who could do everything. I saw him join the group in training on the eve of European Cup matches, he was giving everyone a hard time, incredible in small spaces.’