The former French international made his debut in Ligue 1 with Stade Rennais on February 7, 2004, when they hosted Auxerre.
A native of Ploemeur, Yoann Gourcuff is a pure product of Breton football. And not only because his father mainly worked in Brittany, whether as a player or as a coach. The Morbihannais also trained in Brittany between FC Lorient, Pôle Espoirs de Ploufagran and Stade Rennais.
In 2001, when his father left Merlus to take charge of Rennes, Yoann Goucuff followed in his footsteps and joined the Rouge et Noir training center. The midfielder was only 15 years old at the time. Two years later, despite the departure of his father after only one season, he trained with the professionals and on February 7, 2004, for his second appearance in the Rennes group, he had his big baptism in Ligue 1.
Holder in the Coupe de France
Coach of the Breton club, Laszlo Bölöni actually launched it into the deep end during the reception of Auxerre at the Stade de la Route de Lorient on behalf of the 23e daytime. While Auxerre led 2-0 thanks to two goals from Philippe Mexès and Bonaventure Kalou, Yoann Gourcuff came on in the 77the minute to replace Cédric Barbosa. With the number 2 at his back, the young international under-18 made a discreet debut but quickly joined the rotation. To the point of ending the season with nine league matches.
Before this big debut in Ligue 1, Yoann Gourcuff had played his first match with the professionals ten days earlier in the Coupe de France. Taking advantage of a trip to the amateurs of Croix-de-Savoie, the Romanian technician did not hesitate to start Yoann Gourcuff, who appeared at ease in the midfield.
