Season 1997/1998

Rennes lost the services of Carteron, Denis, Rekdal, André, Guivarc’h and Wiltord, and welcome new signings from all directions. The objective was the keep the club in the First Division, Guy David replacing Yves Colleu as First-Team Manager. With the disappointing new signings, the Red and Blacks messed up their start to the season, with only one win out of their first 8 games, a 2-1 victory in Game 4 against reigning champions Monaco. In the autumn, the summer recruits were sidelined, and in came the youngsters Silvestre, Bigné and Goussé. But Rennes were bottom of the table with 17 points after 22 games, 5 points adrift of safety. During the winter transfer window, the club got Huard back from injury, and signed Diawara from Bordeaux. Victories over Châteauroux and Cannes, but especially a 1-0 win at Marseille helped them bounce back to 15th in the table. After a home defeat against Guingamp (1-2), however, Rennes seemed doomed, but a miracle occurred. A unexpected 1-1 draw at Nantes combined with a defeat for Guingamp. Rennes came within 15 minutes of relegation to the 2nd Division, but Diawara’s header against Toulouse saved his side from the drop in a 1-0 win on matchday 34.