Season 1978/1979

After a preceding season, which proved to be the worst in Stade Rennais' history as a professional football club, and engulfed by financial difficulties, Rennes saw many key players depart the club. There were players at the end of their contract, such as Arribas, Philippe or Richard, who left the club, as did some promising squad players such as Luc Arribart and Patrick Delamontagne. On the arrivals front, Rennes signed some experienced heads such as Kerbiriou, Izquierdo, Klimek and Nosibor. Laurent Pokou also returned to his former club after a disappointing spell at Nancy. Stade Rennais began their league season well, and rapidly established themselves in the top half of the table. In fifth place at the halfway stage of the season, and then fourth after are a series of seven matches without defeat, Rennes' promotion hopes evaporated between February and March, after a winless streak of seven games. Having spent the entire season between 4th and 8th in the league, Stade Rennais finished the season in 7th place, with the 7th-best attack, and 5th-best defence in Group B of the French Second Division. In the French Cup, Rennes stay was short-lived, knocked out 1-3 in the 7th Round by Fifth Division outfit Stade Léonard Kreisker, based in Saint Pol de Léon in the Finistère region of Brittany. The game was also notable for the sending off of Pokou for allegedly striking the referee. Pokou was hit with a six-month suspension, at the end of which he decided to hang up his boots in French football. Also of note in the 1978/1979 season was that Rennes achieved their all-time record league win in an 8-0 victory against Blois.