Rennes football club was founded in 1901 by a group of students that lived in Brittany. In the yearly days of the team it played in the regional league, but starting from 1919 Rennes concentrated on claiming the Coupe de France. The team was close to that aim for the first time when it reached the final against Red Star but was beaten by a more powerful side 2-0. The club reached the final in 1935 again yet faced Marseille and was outclassed by the southern team 2-0.
After the war Rennes was floating between Division One and Division Two. When Louis Gerard became a new president the downturn changed to a rise. The club recieved promotion to Division One in 1958 and seven years later finished 4th, claiming their first title of the Coupe de France the same season. In 1971 the team clinched the Cup again beating Lyon 1-0 in the final.
After those glorious victories the club was close to bankruptcy and was rescued only by the municipality of the city. Lately Rennes became a strong mid-table fighter progressing sometimes even to 6th place as in the 2011/2012 season. The fiercest rival of the team is Nantes.
The Rennes’ Training Centre opened in 2000 is the most productive and successful in France. The French football authorities has awarded the Rennes youth academy as the best one in the country.
The home ground of the club is Route de Lorient with the capacity of 29,000 seats.
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