Season 1954/1955

After a disappointing 1953/1954 season, where Rennes finished a long way away from their expected place in the table, they would start a new season in the Second Division with a new President. Louis Girard was elected at the head of the Stade Rennais University Club in place of Félix Florio, who had spent two seasons in the rôle. During the close-season, the Red and Blacks had lost some key players, such as full-back Nuevo, midfielder Gondoin, and striker Le Gall. Rennes would make few new recruits, but would enjoy the return of Grumellon, who was part of the "golden era" two years previously. Stade Rennais would get off to the perfect start in the league, with seven wins (two of which by default), and two draws in their first nine matches. They were fighting with Sedan for top spot in the second tier, and would be stuck in second until matchday 26, before dropping to third in the table after a run of disappointing results. The second half of the season would be less accomplished that the first half, losing six matches, compared to just two in the first half of the 1954/1955 season. Rennes would finish third in league, possessing the fourth-best defence and attack. That meant that they had to take part in the play-offs, where they would miss out against Lille (0-1; 1-6). Despite their disappointment, the Red and Blacks were offered a lifeline of promotion to the top flight, after Red Star (who finished second in the table), were denied promotion because of suspected corruption. Rennes would choose not to take promotion by default, as they didn't feel that they were adequately equipped to take on the First Division. In the French Cup, Stade Rennais' run would be short-lived, as they were knocked out in the round of 32 against a team who were fourth in the Second Division, Le Havre beating Rennes 2-0. A noteworthy effort that season by Caeiro, Rennes' centre-forward, who scored 30 goals, and finished third in the table of leading goalscorers in the league, which was just over a third of all league goals scored by Rennes that season.