Paul LE DREN

Paul Le Dren was born in the Finistère region of Brittany, and began playing football with US Pont-l'Abbé in the 1940s. A probing winger, he was recruited in 1948 by Stade Rennais, aged 19. Initially, he would be blooded by the Amateur team at Rennes, before making his debut with the professional side in the 1949/1950 season in the league, even scoring his first goal. It would be from the 1950/1951 season onwards that he would establish himself in the starting eleven with the Breton side. He would be selected to play alongside players such as Grumellon and Combot, and he would prove to be an effective player. His versatility would see him moved into a midfield role, alternating between attack and playmaker, for the remaining seven seasons with Rennes. From the 1956/1957 season, however, he would see his game-time reduced, mainly down to the competition for places with the likes of Dombeck, Gaulon and Lambert. In his last season with the club, he was virtually frozen out altogether, and so he decided to end his professional career in 1958, returning to his roots in Pont l'Abbé, where he became First-Team Manager.