Stéphane GRÉGOIRE

Spotted at Thouars (his main club), Stéphane Grégoire made the step-up to the top flight in 1997, joining Stade Rennais. To repay the club’s faith for his first professional contract aged 29, he had an excellent pre-season, and pleasantly surprised his coach David. As early as the 3rd match of the season, he became a first-choice player in the team on the right hand side of midfield, and scored a brace against Metz in a 2-2 draw in the 6th Game of the season. When Le Guen arrived as Manager, he made those who predicted he would spend his time on the bench eat their words. As a result of his versatility, his serious approach, and the amount ground that he covered on the pitch, he remained unmoved in the starting line-up. In the 2000/2001 season, he suffered from the rather onerous recruits, but still managed to get game-time as a central midfielder and then as a right-back. In the following 2001/2002 season, Gourcuff didn’t have the same faith in him, and he was consigned to the bench after the arrivals of Batlles and Sorlin in the winter transfer window. After 173 appearances in Rennes’ colours, Grégoire joined Ajaccio in 2002.