Gaël DANIC

Fully home-grown product of Stade Rennais’ Academy, Gaël Danic first started training with the professional squad in 1999/2000. In spite of making two appearances on the team-sheet under Le Guen, it wasn’t until the next season, to the great surprise of everyone, that he got his first game-time in a Rennes shirt. This left-footed attacking midfielder started the season behind Bigné, Gourvennec, Delaye and Vander in the pecking order. In November, he came on as a substitute at Toulouse, and got his first start at Lens in 2-1 in February 2001. After that, he became first-choice right up to the end of the season, thanks to very encouraging performances. The following season should have been the year where he confirmed his progression, but Gourcuff saw the native of Vannes as surplus to requirements after ten or so games. As time went on, he began to lose confidence, became a bit-part player from the winter onwards. Having won the U18 European Championships in 2000, he was loaned to Guingamp to no real effect, before getting his career kickstarted at Grenoble in Ligue 2.