Louis PINAT

Louis Pinat was a goalkeeper born in the Pas-de-Calais region in the North of France. He settled in Brittany during his childhood, and started playing with JA Saint-Servan in 1941. A versatile player, he would mostly be found in outfield positions, rather than in goal, he would move onto the other club in his community, AS Servannaise. Stade Rennais scouted him on the basis of his athletic capabilities, and he would begin his professional career with Rennes in 1949. In his first two seasons for the Red and Blacks, he would see little action, spending most of his time playing in the Amateur team, primarily as a defender, but also as a striker, or even goalkeeper. But the role of goalkeeper would become his preferred position, and it was in that guise that he would establish himself in the professional First Team for Rennes. First-choice for the 1951/1952 season, he would remain a Rennes player until 1958, and make over 250 appearances for the club, making him the club's record-holder for appearances as goalkeeper in the First Team, a record which would be surpassed by Pierrick Hiard several years later. Known for being excellent with his feet, he would move on to FC Nantes in 1958, to play in the Second Division, and he would spend a season at the club before ending his professional career with Forbach (Second Division), where he became Player/Manager until 1961. He subsequently managed CS Hammam-Lif in Tunisia between 1963 and 1965. During his playing career, he would be awarded a handful of caps for the French B side. He passed away on 30th December 2015, aged 86.