Having failed in their mission to obtain promotion to the top flight the previous season, Rennes began the 1982/1983 season with the same ambition to return to the First Division. To achieve this, they hired a new First Team Manager, Jean Vincent, to replace Pierre Garcia. The Rennes squad would also see significant changes in personnel, with the departures of several key players, such as Kerjean, M'Pelé, Nosibor or Anafal. On the arrivals front, Rennes would recruit shrewdly, bringing in Sither, Peretz and Relmy to renew the defensive sector. Rennes would take control of Group A of the Second Division right from the start of the season, and would not let up thereafter. Their amazing start saw them go unbeaten in their first 19 league matches. It wasn't until Matchday 20 that they would taste defeat, in a 0-2 reverse away to Nîmes. Rennes would lead from the front for the whole season, finishing top of their group with the best defensive record, the second best attack, and just three league defeats all season. The two top-scorers, Peretz and Bousdira, would each net 19 and 17 goals respectively. With promotion assured, Rennes put the icing on the cake by beating Toulon over two legs (1-0 / 2-2) in the play-off final to sign off as Second Division Champions. Rennes' French Cup run would end in the Round of 32, losing 0-1 to Toulouse.
1981/1982 
1983/1984