Jimmy BRIAND

In 2001, Jimmy Briand arrived in Brittany, aged 16, from Clairefontaine. In May 2003, Vahid Halilhodzic gave him a dream debut at the Parc des Princes. A week later, he lifted the Gambardella Cup (French FA Youth Cup) at the Stade de France, but he didn’t do himself justice during the era of Bölöni, scoring just 7 goals in three seasons. Pierre Dréossi, however, made him a first-choice striker in 2006/2007. 18 goals later, he gambled with his career by threatening to go on strike, if Rennes denied him his wish of a transfer to Paris Saint Germain during pre-season 2008. After things had been put back into order, Briand went on to have his most successful season, scoring 12 goals and making his international debut with France in October of that year. Unfortunately, on 25th March 2009, he suffered ruptured knee-ligaments during a training camp with the national team, missing the rest of the season, and the French Cup Final. He returned to action at the end of 2010, and got back to his best, but just missed out on a place in the France squad of 23 for the World Cup. He subsequently signed for Lyon for 6 Million Euros.