Steven PELÉ

In 1999, Steven Pelé arrived at Stade Rennais from FC Gueugnon, who - at the time - were playing in the Second Division. After a season spent in the Reserve team in CFA (French 4th Division), a European Championship title at U18 level, and numerous training sessions shared with the First Team squad, he signed a 4-year contract with the club. As the seasons passed, however, he was leapfrogged by different players in the hierarchy at the club, from Sébastien Puygrenier to Jacques Faty, and only ever managed two appearances on the team-sheet as substitute. As a stalwart of the Reserves, Steve joined the club of his younger brother Yohann (goalkeeper) at Le Mans on loan for the 2002/2003 season. Upon his return to Rennes, he wasn’t afforded any more playing time by Laszlo Bölöni, and so he joined Istres in January, and ended up gaining promotion to Ligue 1 six month later. He even scored a consolation goal for his new club in Ligue 1 against Rennes, ending up on the losing side in a 1-3 defeat.