120 years of Rennais Stadium, it is also an opportunity to watch the history of the club told by West France. The flagship club of Breton football, the SRFC has often made the front page of the newspaper, whether during the great joys of Rennes or the nights of defeats. For this anniversary, Ouest-France is releasing its historical Unes devoted to the Stade Rennais, with even a copy of L’Ouest-Éclair, the ancestor of the newspaper (it became Ouest-France in 1944).
May 8, 1922: “The final match for the French Football Cup”
On May 7, 1922, Stade Rennais played its first French Cup. He loses it against the Red Star (2-0). In the interwar period, Rennes will return for the second time to the final of the tournament, in 1935, for a new defeat against Marseille this time (3-0).
May 28, 1965: “The Cup and a lap of honor at the Park for Boutet”
One from Ouest-France dated 21 June 1971. © OF
On May 26, 1965, Rennes won its first Coupe de France, in the final replayed against Sedan (2-2, 3-1). Captain Yves Boutet receives the trophy from Maurice Herzog, Minister of Sports. On his return, the team will be welcomed as a hero in Rennes.
1is June 1965: “Friendly meeting Rennes – Nantes in Ouest-France”
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One from Ouest-France dated June 7, 1985. © OF
On May 31, 1965, Ouest-France organized an event between Rennes and Nantes players. The two teams won what at the time some newspapers described as a “Breton double”, with victory in the league for Nantes and the Coupe de France for Rennes. A “friendly meeting”, at a time when the rivalry between the two teams is strong.
September 30, 1965: “Rennes eliminated from the Coupe des coupes”
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One from Ouest-France dated May 7-8, 1990 © OF
Thanks to its victory in the Coupe de France, Stade Rennais is playing its first European Cup, the European Cup Winners’ Cup. But the adventure will be short-lived, since the Bretons are taken out in the first round by Dukla Prague (0-2, 0-0). It must be said that the Czechoslovakian team has in its ranks the 1962 Ballon d’Or, Josef Masopust.
November 12, 1965: “In front of 30,000 spectators, Nantes stopped”
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One from Ouest-France dated 10 May 1998. © OF
On November 11, 1965, Stade Rennais won the derby at home against Nantes (2-0). With a record attendance of 30,000 spectators, the SRUC (Stade Rennais Université Club) put an end to Nantes’ invincibility in D1, the Canaries having conceded no defeat during the first 13 days. Which will not prevent them from being champions again that season, while Rennes finished 6the.
June 21, 1971: “Rennes, a well-deserved cup”
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One from Ouest-France dated 25 August 1999. © OF
With its trainer Jean Prouff, Rennes won its second Coupe de France, six years after that of 1965. In the final, the Bretons beat OL (1-0), where a certain Raymond Domenech played.
June 7, 1985: “Stade Rennais: the party after the feat …”
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One from Ouest-France dated 2 June 2003. © OF
On June 5, 1985, Stade Rennais validated its ascent to D1, one year after having descended. The Reds and Blacks obtain their accession at the end of their dams against the 18e of D1, FC Rouen. On the first leg, they fell 1-0 at home, but qualified on the return to penalties (1-0, 7-6 tab).
May 7, 1990: “Rennes will play in the first division”
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One of the Sports Ouest journal of May 28, 2007. © OF
Relegated to D2 in 1987, Stade Rennais moved up to D1 on May 5, 1990, after a breathtaking scenario. Perfectly tied at the top of group B with Valenciennes before the final day, Rennes must win with a better goal difference than VA to go up (VA has a better attack). The SRFC moves to Lorient and leads 1-0 with five minutes remaining, except that this is not enough since Valenciennes also leads 1-0 on their side in Angers. It was then that at the 90e minute defender Jean-Christophe Cano, injured for a large part of the season, scores Rennes’ second goal with a header, which allows the SRFC to win 2-0 and join the D1.
May 10, 1998: “The Rennais are happy, the Stadium remains in Division 1”
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One from Ouest-France on April 21, 2013 © OF
15e (out of 18) before the last day of D1, Stade Rennais plays its maintenance against Toulouse, May 9, 1998. To stay in the first division, he must do as well as Guingamp, traveling to Cannes. The Costarmoricans lead 2-1 in the second half (3-1 final score), which forces Rennes to win against Toulouse. Deliverance comes to the 75e minute, when Kaba Diawara propels his head into the Toulouse net (1-0). The Franco-Guinean can exult and take off his jersey, the SRFC remains in D1.
August 25, 1999: “Rennes comes out with its head held high against Juve”
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April 29, 2019 from Ouest-France © OF
At the start of the 1999-2000 season, Stade Rennais contested the Intertoto Cup. He will reach the final, where he loses without demerit against Juventus Turin of Zinédine Zidane, even hanging a draw in the return leg at home (0-2, 2-2).
June 2, 2003: “Stade Rennais: the bright future of young people”
Stade Rennais has won three French Cups, but also three Gambardella Cups (1973, 2003, 2008). On May 31, 2003, the youngsters of the SRFC won in the final against Strasbourg (4-1). Among the Breton scorers, we find some Yoann Gourcuff and Jimmy Briand.
May 28, 2007: “You must not shy away from your pleasure! “
In the race to qualify for the first time in its history in the Champions League, Rennes must beat Lille away on the final day of Ligue 1. This May 26, 2007, the Rouge et Noir believe in their dream by leading 1-0, but LOSC equalizes in added time (90 + 2e), thanks to a header from Nicolas Fauvergue (1-1). All Rennes residents can take their heads in their hands, we will have to wait thirteen more years before seeing the first qualification in C1 …
May 11, 2009: “Guingamp la jubilation, Rennes la tristesse”
On May 9, 2009, Rennes returned to the Coupe de France final for the first time in 38 years. Opposite is the neighbor Guingampais, then in Ligue 2. And the Rennais get their feet in the carpet, losing 2-1 after leading the score. The start of the “lose club” era.
April 21, 2013: “Still missed! “
Four years after the disappointment in the final of the Coupe de France, Rennes has the opportunity to restore its image in the final of the Coupe de la Ligue. On April 20, 2013, the Bretons faced AS Saint-Étienne in the final. But a goal from Brandao, scored in the 18e minute, will be enough to flinch the Rennais (1-0), who leave again empty-handed from the Stade de France.
May 3, 2014: “Breizh Final at the Stade de France”
Five years after the defeat against Guingamp in the final of the Coupe de France, Rennes has the opportunity to take revenge at the same stage of the competition, on May 3, 2014. Whatever happens, it will still be a Breton team that will win the trophy.
May 4, 2014: “Without even deluding yourself …”
Unlike the 2009 final, Stade Rennais completely missed its match against Guingamp this time, losing 2-0. This is the club’s third defeat in the national cup final over the last five seasons …
February 22, 2019: “Qualified! “
On February 21, 2019, Rennes wrote the most beautiful page in its European history, eliminating Real Betis in 16e Europa League final, after a crazy double confrontation (3-3, 3-1). The adventure will stop one round later against Arsenal (3-1, 0-3), where the SRFC will lose with the honors.
April 28, 2019: “They did it! “
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One from Ouest-France dated September 30, 1965 © OF
Rennes finally put an end to its 48-year-old streak without a trophy on April 27, 2019, by winning the Coupe de France. In the final, the Bretons brought down the PSG of Neymar and Mbappé after an epic match (2-2, 6-5 tab). With a talk by Julien Stéphan at half-time that has become legendary …
April 29, 2019: “Welcome as heroes! “
The day after their victory in the Coupe de France, Rennes are celebrated in the streets of Rennes by tens of thousands of supporters. Forty-eight years after that of 1971, the trophy is back in the city.
August 12, 2020: “In the big leagues”
By finishing 3e of L1 2019-2020 (stopped at 28e day due to the health crisis), Rennes obtained its ticket for the 3e preliminary round of the Champions League. But thanks to favorable results from European teams in the Europa League (the four qualified for the semi-finals, Sevilla, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Shakhtar Donetsk, were qualified in C1 via their championships), the Red and Black obtained the 11 August 2020 their ticket for the group stage.
READ ALSO. IN IMAGES, IN PICTURES. 120 years of Stade Rennais. These players have made the history of the club
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