Bratislav MIJALKOVIC

After qualifying for the first time in the club’s history for the Intertoto Cup, Stade Rennais cast their net out far and wide to find reinforcements for the side during the close season in 1996. In an area where the defensive lynchpin Cyprien had departed for Neuchâtel, and the emblematic skipper Denis’ career was going downhill, the Red and Blacks gave Bratislav Mijalkovic a trial. He came recommended by his compatriot and former team-mate Pandurovic. This Serbian centre-back trained on a few occasions in Dinard under the watchful eye of Colleu. On the 22nd June 1996, he was given his debut at Hapoël Tel-Aviv in the Intertoto Cup and played the entire match (the Intertoto Cup rules allowed trialists to be included in the teams). In spite of helping his side to a 2-0 win, Mijalkovic was released by the club on medical grounds, this despite being nicknamed the “Baresi of the Carpathians” by President Ruello. The club ended up signing Papura and Smith. So, after a week in Brittany, and one full appearance to his name, the Serbian returned home before having a more conclusive trial at Perugia in Italy.