Simon POUPLIN

Simon Pouplin arrived at the Stade Rennais Academy on his 15th birthday, and was part of the golden generation who won the Gambardella Cup (French FA Youth Cup) in 2003, without having played a single match, owing to the competition from Chaigneau. Before that, the goalkeeper – who hails from Cholet – had made his first appearance on a First-Team team-sheet under Manager Gourcuff on the last day of the 2001/2002 season in Division 1. In 2002/2003, he was fifth-choice goalkeeper at the club, and he progressed to third-choice in the following season, where he came on for Cech in March 2004, and then became the understudy to Isaksson for the 2004/2005 season. With the Swedish goalkeeper injured, Pouplin played in 22 matches, stopping a penalty at the Beaujoire Stadium in Nantes, to help his side earn their first victory (2-0) in Nantes for 41 years. In July 2006, he became first-choice keeper thanks to his shot-stopping ability and his excellent skills with the ball at his feet. He kept that position his until the arrival of Lacombe at the end of 2007. The new Manager somehow preferred Luzi, which led to Pouplin signing for Freiburg in July 2008.