25/26 Preview #16: Stade Rennais
last season
It was a second consecutive season of disappointment for Rennes. Accustomed to regularly featuring in European competition, they have now missed out in the last two years. Les Rennais, in search of a spark, burned through two managers. Julien Stéphan began the season but was swiftly replaced by Jorge Sampaoli before the winter break. The former Marseille manager didn't last long either, and by January, the Breton club were already on their third manager of the year. Habib Beye steered Rennes away from any relegation trouble, but it was another mid-table finish for the Breton club and another season of disappointment.
the coach: Habib Beye
Beye is a very familiar face in French football. Since retiring from professional football, he is as accustomed to the dugout as he is the TV studio. During his time at Red Star, he juggled TV consultancy with his managerial duties. He has since committed to the latter. His spell at Red Star, during which he led the club from the National 1 into Ligue 2 BKT, earned him admirers from clubs in Ligue 1 McDonald's.
It is Rennes who have given him his first taste of managing in Ligue 1 McDonald's. Beye is very open publicly in dissecting and analysing his footballing ideology. Like many of the new wave of managers, his game is based on instilling a possession-based approach, and he hopes that this will be the key to getting the best out of a Rennes side that has underperformed relative to expectations in recent years.
key arrivals
For the third consecutive summer, there has been significant turnover at Rennes. Frédéric Massara oversaw last summer's transfer window, overseeing an overhaul of the playing squad. However, he has now been replaced by Loïc Désiré, who has also had his work cut out. Valentin Rongier and Quentin Merlin have both arrived from OM, whilst Lilian Brassier, who spent the second half of last season on loan at SRFC, has made his move from Marseille permanent.
Quentin Merlin, Valentin Rongier et Przemysław Frankowski : les trois nouveaux atouts Rouge et Noir officiellement présentés à la presse 🔴⚫️ pic.twitter.com/x7hZ7Y5eJX
— Stade Rennais F.C. (@staderennais) August 11, 2025
There is also a familiar face returning to Ligue 1 McDonald's with former Lens defender Przemyslaw Frankowski arriving from Galatasaray. More arrivals are expected before the closure of the window.
key departures
Désiré has been even busier working on outgoings. Adrien Truffert, Lorenz Assignon, Azor Matusiwa, Kyogo Furuhashi, Kazeem Olaigbe, Henrik Meister, Baptiste Santamaria, Albert Gronbaek, Leo Ostigard, Warmed Omari, and Steve Mandanda have all left in a mass clear-out. It will therefore be a new-look Rennes side that will look to fight further up the table in Ligue 1 McDonald's this season.
remember when...
Les Rennais, despite regularly fighting at the top of the table, are not so accustomed to winning silverware. Prior to winning the Coupe de France back in 2019, their last title, also the Coupe de France, was back in 1971. That win in 2019, against overwhelming favourites PSG, will forever go down as one of the best moments in the club's history. Rennes went 2-0 behind to Les Parisiens, before clawing it back to 2-2 and then winning 6-5 on penalties. Ismaïla Sarr's winning spotkick has gone down in Rennais folklore.
cult hero: benjamin bourigeaud
Rennes develop plenty of top talent. Ousmane Dembélé, Eduardo Camavinga, and Désiré Doué have all recently come through the ranks, establishing themselves in the first-team before making big-money moves away from the club.
Au Roazhon Park, une fresque signée Aéro en l'honneur de Bourige 🎨#Bourige14 pic.twitter.com/2ZGVvXO8mj
— Stade Rennais F.C. (@staderennais) October 5, 2024
Benjamin Bourigeaud did not come through the ranks, but he is cherished as one of their own. With 311 appearances, he ranks as the seventh-most capped player for the club, whilst his 66 goals rank him fifth in the club's all-time ranking. His seven-year spell at the club came to an end in 2024, but he returned last season to bid a proper farewell to the club. A former club captain, he showed how much Rennes meant to him in an emotional interview towards the end of his time, with the club in a difficult situation. When he returned, Rennes' fans showed how much he meant to them, too.
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