Samuel MICHEL

When Stade Rennais FC got promoted to Division 1 in 1994, the secured the services of Samuel Michel from Red Star 93 in Paris. This goal-scorer, who Rennes had come across as an opponent on numerous occasions in Division 2, caught the eye of Lefillatre, who saw him as a future leader of the Rennes attack, having scored 52 goals in 5 seasons. After several disappointing weeks in the eyes of boss Le Milinaire, the club went and recruited Grassi as centre-forward, thereby effectively disowning Michel even before the month of August was out. In just 18 appearances, with 10 starts, the native of Amiens scored just two goals, and never threatened to break-up the existing first-choice line-up (Grassi, André and Wiltord). Loaned to Caen, and then Sochaux until 1997, he scored 37 goals in Division 2, and was finally given a chance to shine under David in the 1997/1998 season. But after just two games, he was forced out by the pairing of Goussé and Darcheville, and returned to Red Star in January 1998. The prolific marksman from Division 2, never succeeded in making the step up.