Jean-Christophe THOMAS

Newly-promoted to Division 1, Stade Rennais FC was on the lookout for experienced players to start the season 1994/1995. As well as signing Fugier and Rousset, the Red and Blacks also signed a third player from Marseille: Jean-Christophe Thomas. Just a year after he came on in the Champions League Final against Milan (1-0), the midfielder was brought straight into Le Milinaire’s starting line-up, alongside Lambert, Ohrel and Gourvennec. An unsung hero, the player who was developed at Sochaux, played most of the time on the left-hand side of a midfield diamond. Undisputed first-choice in his first season at Rennes (34 appearances, of which 1 as substitute), Thomas scored two goals in a 2-1 away win at Bastia and a 2-2 draw at Auxerre. In 1995/1996, he struggled much more to keep his place in the First-Team starting line-up, with competition from Huard. He started 21 matches and made 29 appearances as substitute, before joining Saint-Etienne during the Summer of 1996.