Giovanni PELLEGRINI

Giovanni Pellegrini was a striker who was born and raised in Saint-Malo, and joined Stade Rennais in 1959. Of Italian ancestors, he would make his first appearance as a professional footballer against Lens, on 11th November 1959, on Matchday 15 of the 1959/1960 season in the First Division. That season, he would go on to make 14 appearances in total, scoring four goals. In the two seasons that followed, he would be dropped to play in the amateur team of SRUC, and didn't play a part in any of the First Team matches in that time. During his time with the amateurs, he was played mainly on the left wing, and he was called back into the First Team for the 1962/1963 season under Antoine Cuissard. This would finally give the long-awaited kick-start to his career, and he established himself as first-choice in the starting eleven for Rennes. Scoring ten or so goals each season, he was one of the key members of the Stade Rennais side who lifted the French Cup in 1965, notching 8 goals during their cup run. When Jean Prouff arrived, he played in a more withdrawn role within the manager's favoured 4-2-4 formation. After netting no fewer than 79 goals in 177 matches, he became one of the most prolific scorers ever in the history of Stade Rennais. He would move on in 1967, and although receiving offers from numerous professional clubs, Pellegrini opted to sign for Montmorillon.in the Third Division. He spent eight seasons there before returning to the amateur section of his hometown club, Saint-Malo, where he would end his playing career in 1978. After hanging up his boots for good, he returned to live in Rennes, where he passed away on 27th September 1989 following a brave struggle with cancer.