Romain DANZÉ

In the Summer of 2006, having spent 5 seasons with the youth teams at Rennes, Romain Danzé signed his first professional contract. The native of Finistère was able to make the breakthrough into the professional squad thanks to his application, his versatility and his 100% commitment to the cause. After a winning debut at Lille in the League Cup (2-0) in October 2006, he scored his first senior goal and winner against Valenciennes just three months later. Lacombe selected him in virtually every position on the flanks from defence to attack in the 2008/2009 season, and he was in the starting line-up of the Rennes team that lost the French Cup Final to Guingamp that year. When new boss Antonetti arrived in 2009, he became settled in the role of right-back, and became Vice-Captain to club skipper, Kader Mangane in 2010. Undisputed first-choice in 2011/2012, he became the object of an exceptionally interminable soap opera involving the supporters and Directors of the club to finally extend his contract at Rennes until 2016, and become the Club Captain in the process. After some cup runs with tragic endings in 2012 (defeat to Quevilly in the Semi-Final), 2013 and 2014 (defeated in finals), he renewed his contract once more to 2019. Loyal to the end, he was forced to hang up his boots after his first season without playing in 2018/2019, during which he held aloft the French Cup with new skipper Benjamin André. For the last match of the season against Lille on 24thMay 2019, he watched the Roazhon Celtic Kop unveil a remarkable tifo, and had songs to celebrate his career in an emotional farewell to the Red and Blacks after 18 seasons as a Rennes player. Danzé is the record holder for the number of matches played by a Rennes player in the top flight, and second overall for appearances in all competitions. A club legend, he was retrained as a coach in the club’s Academy setup.