Stade Rennais inaugurated its gallery of legends in May 2019.
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J. Gicquel / 20 Minutes
Among the oldest clubs in the French championship, Stade Rennais is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year.
Often mocked, the Breton club still has lines to its credit and can count on a loyal and passionate audience.
To celebrate the 120 candles, the club produced a collector's jersey and installed a statue of Jean Prouff, Rennes legend, at Roazhon Park.
The health context does not encourage the party too much at the moment.
The sports results of Stade Rennais, still beaten Wednesday night on the OM pitch, either.
It is in this gloomy context that the Breton club will celebrate its 120th anniversary throughout the year.
"Stade Rennais is perhaps not the most successful or the most glorious club, but it is a monument of French football", assures Jacques Delanoë, chairman of the board of directors.
For the club's 120th anniversary, Rennes players will wear a collector's jersey until the end of the season.
- J. Gicquel / 20 Minutes
Founded on March 10, 1901 by four students, the Breton club indeed passes for an old man since only Le Havre, the Girondins de Bordeaux and the Olympique de Marseille are older than him among the professional clubs in France.
His longevity in Ligue 1 also speaks for him with 27 consecutive seasons in the elite, just behind PSG, Olympique Lyonnais and Bordeaux.
"It is a club that matters and which, despite the mockery, has a trophy cabinet that is far from empty," insists Jacques Delanoë, referring in particular to the three French Cups won in 1965, 1971 and 2019 as well as the many titles gleaned from young people.
"We are branded with a hot iron from childhood"
Among the best training clubs in Europe, the Breton club has also hatched many internationals such as Yoann Gourcuff, Yann M'Vila, Sylvain Wiltord, Mikaël Silvestre, Ousmane Dembélé or the latest nugget Eduardo Camavinga.
But Stade Rennais is also a popular fervor.
"There is a loyal and passionate audience here and a club with a strong regional identity which interests and makes all Bretons dream", according to legend Romain Danzé.
“We are branded with a hot iron from childhood,” continues the former captain, who now holds the post of public relations and development manager.
A bronze statue of Jean Prouff in the stadium
If the Covid-19 epidemic does not allow major celebrations for the moment, the 120th anniversary of Stade Rennais will however be celebrated in the Breton capital.
On Wednesday evening at the Vélodrome, the Rouge et Noirs unveiled a red, black and gold collector's jersey that they will wear until the end of the season.
This Sunday, before the reception in Strasbourg, the ultras of Roazhon Celtic Kop will also leave in procession at noon from the François Mitterrand mall to join Roazhon Park where they will deploy a tifo of which they have the secret.
Emblematic player and coach of Stade Rennais, Jean Prouff now has his statue at Roazhon Park.
- J. Gicquel / 20 Minutes
The Breton club also takes the opportunity to dive back into its memory box with a dedicated site allowing supporters to relive the club's heyday.
A film retracing the history of the Rouge et Noir is also planned for early June as well as a photo book which will be released at the end of the year.
The ancient glories are not forgotten either.
Former player and emblematic coach of the club, Jean Prouff now watches over Roazhon Park with a bronze statue which took place on the seat he occupied on match nights until his death in 2008.
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A women's section will see the light of day
Stade Rennais has so far been one of the only Ligue 1 clubs not to have a women's section.
Often mentioned, the project will finally materialize with a female team "which should see the light of day next season", promises Romain Danzé.
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