Season 1968/1969

After a disappointing season, there was little movement on the transfer front on the eve of the 1968/1969 season. Indeed, with a huge deficit on the bank account, Stade Rennais were forced to be very serious with their money, with cheap recruits from the region, and from lower divisions. That's how Lenoir, Kerbiriou, Cosnard and the very young Kéruzoré ended up playing for the Red and Blacks. On the departures side of things, two key players packed their bags and left Rennes in Calmettes and Lavaud. On the field, the club got off to a decent start to the new season, remaining unbeaten over the first six league matches, climbing to second place in the table in the process, but thereafter the going got tougher, and Rennes slid inexorably towards mid-table obscurity. The team had a prolific attack (5th-Best in the league), and a leaky defence (16th-ranked), and they struggled to achieve any success on their travels, managing just one victory away from home all season. They would ultimately finish the season in 11th place out of 18, their worst position that season. Their French Cup adventure was stopped in its tracks early on, losing 2-3 after extra-time to the eventual winners Marseille in the Round of 32.