Yoann GOURCUFF

On 25th January 2004, Bölöni gave Yoann Gourcuff his professional debut in a French Cup match against Croix de Savoie. He had arrived at the Academy in his father Christian’s luggage in 2001. This technically-gifted play-maker had opened the score for his side in the victorious Gambardella Cup Final (French FA Youth Cup) a few months earlier. With a huge weight of expectation on his shoulder, he didn’t disappoint, and reached maturity in 2005 after success in the U19 European Championship. In the 2005/2006 season, he scored 6 goals and was part of the potent attacking force which was feared all over France with the likes of Frei, Monterrubio, Källström and Utaka. But his time at the club ended swiftly when AC Milan came calling in June 2006. The dyed-in-the-wool Breton left Rennes in a 4.5 Million Euro deal to seek in fortune in Europe. After winning the French league title with Bordeaux, and playing in a World Cup for France, Yoann Gourcuff then spent five troubled seasons at Lyon, between injury problems, dips in form and strokes of genius. During the 2015 close season, the return of Gourcuff was headline news for three months, and finally reached a climax on Monday 14th September when the Breton midfielder agreed to a season in Rennes before signing his contract on 2nd November 2015. After a grandiose debut in a home game against Lorient on 9th January 2016, he was hampered by his team-mate M’Bengue’s clumsy challenge. Once he got back to form, he scored 7 goals until a second setback in June 2018, a symbolic date at Bordeaux. Physically struggling, he still retained his technical ability and outstanding tactical intelligence. He will forever remain one of the jewels in the Stade Rennais Academy’s crown.