Season 2016/2017

A new cycle began at Stade Rennais on the eve of the 2016/2017 season. Christian Gourcuff became once more the First Team Manager, 15 years after his first spell at the club, taking over from Rolland Courbis. During the close season, the club lost its rising star Ousmane Dembelé (transferred to Dortmund) and recruited few new faces as the squad was already too large, and there were youngsters to promote into the First Team set-up, such as Gnagnon, Diakhaby, Hunou or Saïd. Each player had the opportunity to convince their boss, who whittled down his choices as the weeks progressed. On the pitch, the Red and Blacks had a good season at home, taking 36 points out of 57 possible, but were less impressive away from home, taking just 14 points with only two wins all season, this in spite of yet another win at the Beaujoire in Nantes. In order to prepare the squad in the medium term for Gourcuff’s favoured style of play, Rennes notably sold Kamil Grosicki and Paul-Georges Ntep during the winter transfer window, whilst hiring Morgan Amalfitano and Firmin Mubelé. With a lack of attacking firepower, Stade Rennais strung together draw after draw (10 in the second half of the season alone), and finished 9th in the table. Interest in cup competitions was quickly ended with a 0-7 defeat at Monaco in the League Cup, and a footballing lesson by Paris Saint Germain at home (0-4) in the French Cup.