Frédéric GUIMARD

Born in Nantes, Frédéric Guimard joined Rennes Academy of Football in 1986. Aged just 16 years, 11 months and 17 days, Patrick Rampillon, handed him his debut in professional football against FC Metz in 1987. He became, at that time, the youngest player ever to play a match in the professional side at Stade Rennais (a record which has since been beaten by Eduardo Camavinga in 2019). This was to prove to be a false dawn for him, however, as he was to play just a handful of matches with Rennes. Between 1987 and 1990, he managed a total of 33 appearances in the Second Division, whilst never making it as a first-team regular. In his last season with Rennes (when they gained promotion back to the First Division), he only played twice, and left the club in 1991. The following year, he left to join Amiens in the Second Division, where he achieved much more game-time (26 appearances.) Hi finally found joy and blossomed, from a sporting perspective, playing for Red Star, where he amassed 120 apperances between 1992-1996, and then for Troyes, with 79 matches and 2 goals between 1996-1998. Guimard spent most of his professional career in the Second Division, with three appearances in the First Division with Rennes, of which his debut will linger in the memories longest.