Claude DUBAËLE

Claude Dubaële hailed from the North of France from the Pas-de-Calais region, where he get his first learning experience as a footballer. He was picked up by Stade de Reims in the 1950, but over five seasons, this striker (who was also capable of playing in midfield) was unable to make the breakthrough as a first-team regular with the side from the Champagne region, mainly down to the huge competition for places with talented rivals for a spot in the starting line-up. He would still manage to pick up three French League Champions' medals with them in 1958, 1960 and 1962, and took part in a couple of matches in the European Cup. In September 1963, Dubaële was looking for more gametime, and he signed for Stade Rennais as a replacement for Yves Goujon. He had three excellent seasons with Rennes, notably the 1964/1965 season, where he played a major part in the 1965 French Cup victory, scoring 4 goals in 7 matches. After three successful seasons in Brittany, he joined SCO Angers during their golden era from 1966-1970, and then two seasons at Lille in the years that followed. A clinical and renowned finisher, Dubaële finished his professional playing days at Le Mans en 1973. Subsequently, he would go into football management, firstly with Fossemagne, then he joined the Stade Rennais Academy. At the start of the 1976/1977 season, he was elevated to First Team Manager of Stade Rennais, replacing Antoine Cuissard in the hot-seat. He stayed in the job for a season and half before being released for financial reasons in January 1978. After leaving Rennes for a second time in his career, he took over the Paris Saint Germain Youth Team, and then had further spells with Red Star, Montferrand and finally Condé Sport.