Kader MANGANE

Transferred to Rennes in the Summer transfer window of 2008, Kader Mangane arrived to bolster the midfield at the club. But at half-time in the opening game of the season against Marseille, with Rennes trailing 1-3, Manager Lacombe tried Mangane out at centre-back. He was one of the architects of a memorable second-half comeback by Stade Rennais to end up with a 4-4 draw. After that, Mangane was indispensable, and the Senegal international became one of the very best defenders in Ligue 1. At the height of his form, he lost control of himself in a clumsy tackle on Lacourt of Valenciennes, and broke his leg. The Disciplinary Commission punished him with a three-month ban, which meant that he missed the rest of the season, including the French Cup Final. When he returned for the 2009/2010 season, he marked his comeback with his first goal for the club against Boulogne in a 3-0 success, and became a key member of the squad. He was named Club Captain by Frédéric Antonetti in 2010/2011, but after a disappointing season, mainly due to repeated injury problems, he signed for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia in July 2012 for 3 Million Euros.