Franz PLEYER

Having spent his career as a defender with Stade Rennais between 1933 and 1939, Franz Pleyer (or François Pleyer, following his naturalisation as a French citizen in December 1936) returned to the Red and Blacks in 1945. He arrived to take on the role, initially, of Player/Manager - a position which he held between 1945 and 1947. He then hung up his boots (after having made one last appearance at the age of 40, on matchday 34 of the 1950/1951 season against Marseille) to commit himself full-time to management duties. During his spell as manager, Rennes would reach their highest league position of the era, reaching 4th place in the 1948/1949 season. A dutiful coach, he stayed in the role for seven seasons in the First Division. The 1951/1952 season, where Rennes ended up 15th in the table, would prove to be his last at Stade Rennais University Club, as he stepped down to let Salvador Artigas take over the running of the First Team, alas with much the same result. Pleyer continued his coaching career in Belgium, as Assistant Manager at Standard Liège. He returned to Rennes once more in 1959 as a club scout, and Club Secretary until 1970.