On March 10 1901, four former Rennes students founded Stade Rennais and played their first official match two weeks later against the Football-Club Rennais, losing 6-0. Three years later the two sides would merge under the new name Stade Rennais Université Club – adopting the club's current red and black kit.
A founding member of France’s first ever professional League in 1932, Les Rouges et Noirs finished sixth and made the Coupe de France Final against Marseille (0-3) in 1935. Despite being the most popular club in Brittany and growing into one of France’s most consistent first division outfits, Rennes had to wait until 1965 for the first of two Coupes de France victories (1965 and 1971).
In 1972, the football team split from its omnisports club and became the Stade Rennais Football Club. Yet despite Rennes’ high standing in the French League, the club would finish the 70s entrenched in the second division, lacking the financial means with which to rediscover the top-flight. French company Pinault took over the reigns at Rennes in 1994 and helped stabilise the club both financially and sportingly. That same year, Rennes returned to Ligue 1 and, despite more than one final day survival act, they have remained there ever since.
Under Romanian Coach Laszlo Bölöni, Rennes equalled their best ever Ligue 1 position in 2004-05 by finishing fourth, a feat which brought with it the promise of a UEFA Cup place.
