Mahi KHENNANE

Mahi Khennane was born in Algeria, and began his footballing journey in his native country, with the Gallia Club de Mascara. Technically gifted and physically imposing striker, he joined Stade Rennais in 1956 on the advice of his president, who knew well the Management of the Red and Blacks. He would initially sign an apprentice professional contract, before turning professional in earnest a few months later. In his first season with Stade Rennais, he would primarily be used as a right-winger, before being deployed in a more central rôle as centre forward in the seasons that followed. In 1958/1959 he would finish fourth-best top goalscorer in the First Division with 23 league goals, and was then fifth in the goalscoring charts for 1961/1962 season, notching 18 goals in the league. Being excellent in the air, he was given the nickname "Golden Head", and he was voted best player in France, and was awarded the "Golden Star" award by "France Football" magazine in 1961. In that same season, he was given the call-up to the French national team on three occasions (against Switzerland, Belgium and Bulgaria.) After six seasons with Rennes, he gave his consent to sign for Toulouse and play in the city nicknamed the "Pink City" ("la Ville Rose") in 1962. In his first season with the Violets, he finished 4th with Toulouse, scoring 22 goals in that time. He would remain in Toulouse for three seasons, before moving onto Nîmes in 1965/1966. He would continue his career with spells at Red Star and then Lorient, where he would be reunited with former Rennes teammates such as Boutet, Ascencio and Darchen. In 1968, he decided to return to his native Algeria, where he converted to football management. He would come back to Brittany in 1971, as Player/Manager for Saint-Malo's Amateur side, and then for CS Penmarch for seven years. After that, he returned to his first club, Gallia Club Mascara, with whom he would win the national league title in 1984. Mahi Khennane is currently the 3rd-Best goalscorer in the history of Stade Rennais with 88 goals to his name, just behind Grumellon and Rodighiero. He retired to Rennes; where he still follows the Red and Blacks' scores with keen interest.