Season 1953/1954

Having failed in the relegation play-offs against Strasbourg the previous season, Stade Rennais found themselves in the Second Division for the 1953/1954 season, with the objective of bouncing straight back to the top flight. There were lots of movements, both in and out of the club during the close-season, with some players leaving, notably in attack and in midfield, with some key players leaving Rennes: Mansat, Vaast, Combot (out with a long-term injury) and Nikitits. On the arrivals front, Rennes would bring in a strong attacking line-up, with the signings of Caeiro, Bengtsson and Gomez, as well as the former international Baillot. Having lost the first game of the season against Angers on a technicality, the Red and Blacks would have an indifferent start to their campaign, winning just four of their first nine league games. Consigned to a place in mid-table, Stade Rennais University Club would then put together a run of twelve victories, between matchdays 10 and 28, which would push them back up to fifth spot in the table (the best they would achieve that season). Alas, the Rennes players would be unable to get onto the podium, mainly down to a run of five games without a win. The Red and Blacks would eventually finish in sixth, eleven points behind the top three. They would end up with the fourth-best attack, and sixth-best defence. Rennes' French Cup run would be short-lived, knocked out in the Round of 32 by Besançon. A 1-2 defeat against a team who were 14th in the Second Division at the time.