Grégory VIGNAL

Grégory Vignal was loaned to Stade Rennais FC by Liverpool in August 2003, after the departure of numerous full-backs during the summer. Réveillère, Escudé, Jay, Paisley and Le Bris had all left the club. The recruitment team, headed up by Dréossi threw his hat in the ring to sign the player, who had been developed at Montpellier to complete a squad which already had Diatta, Grenet and Le Lan. After shaking off a stubborn injury, Vignal got his first start at home to Nice (0-0) in mid-October, in the absence of Le Lan. Technically adept, but less so in terms of his tactical awareness, and attitude, this left back didn’t convince his boss, and forced Bölöni to make some cosmetic changes for this position. Jeunechamp was successfully converted to play there, and Vignal was invited to leave the club in the Winter transfer window, in particular because of numerous behavioural issues. When he returned to Liverpool, he was sent straight back out on loan to Espanyol in Barcelona.