Season 1996/1997

Stade Rennais FC compensated the departures of its key players. Fugier was replaced by Mahé, Cyprien was replaced by Papura, Rekdal replaced Ziani and – in particular – Grassi was replaced by Guivarc’h, which the First Team Manager Le Milinaire passed on the role to his young assistant Colleu. The season started with a rather flat Intertoto Cup campaign,. In the First Division, whilst the Red and Black were very good at home (7 wins, 2 draws) , they were mediocre away from home (2 draws, 8 defeats) in the first half of the season (12th with 25 points at the halfway stage). Nevertheless, the Route de Lorient Stadium was treated to appetizing displays, notably with wins against Paris (2-1), Marseille (4-2) and Lyon (4-3) with Guivarc’h in confident form (30 goals in all competitions, and the league’s top scorer.) After only one win in the last 14 matches of the First Division, the relegation zone loomed large in Spring, but - in the end - Rennes secured its survival, finishing 16th on 40 points – three ahead of Caen. It was the end of the cycle for this team, and during the close season, the squad would be decimated with the departures of Carteron, André, Guivarc’h, Wiltord as well as the First Team Manager.