Zidane’s First France Squad: Stade Rennais Academy Dominates with 7 Call-ups

Announced in Paris, the selection marks a milestone for the Ligue 1 club’s youth setup, known as the ETP Odorico, underlining its enduring ability to produce elite international footballers.

A Historic Milestone for the Stade Rennais Academy

Never before had a single France squad featured as many players developed at the Stade Rennais training center. Former academy director Landry Chauvin described the unprecedented septet selection as a “half-surprise,” noting that these cohorts had built a winning mentality through their formative years in Brittany.

The group bridges multiple successful youth generations at the club. Established internationals like Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain), Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), and Désiré Doué (Paris Saint-Germain) anchor the current wave. Meanwhile, they are joined by fellow academy alumni Adrien Truffert (Bournemouth), Andy Diouf (Inter Milan), Jérémy Jacquet (Liverpool), and Lucas Da Cunha (Como), showcasing the broad geographical and competitive footprint of Rennes’ graduates across Europe’s top leagues.

Tracing the Generations from Odorico to Clairefontaine

Except for Dembélé, the core of the newly recognized group belongs to the talent-rich generations born between 2000 and 2005. Academy architects have frequently drawn parallels between these recent prospects and earlier standout classes from the mid-1980s—such as Yoann Gourcuff, Jimmy Briand, and Sylvain Marveaux—who similarly transitioned from youth success in Brittany to senior international honors.

Zidane's First France Squad: Stade Rennais Academy Dominates with 7 Call-ups
Photo: ici.fr

Chauvin emphasized that the foundation of this success lies in teaching young players how to win early in their development cycles, cultivating resilience and tactical adaptability. For instance, Andy Diouf has adapted to a right-piston role under Simone Inzaghi at Inter Milan this season, despite naturally operating as a midfielder.

What Lies Ahead for the Néo-Bleus

The selected players report to the Centre National du Football at Clairefontaine to prepare for upcoming international commitments.

From Instagram — related to zidane first france squad, Stade Rennais formation Bleus

For updates on the squad’s preparations and upcoming fixtures, supporters can follow official announcements via the Fédération Française de Football. Join the discussion below and share your thoughts on the rising stars emerging from the Stade Rennais academy.

La PREMIÈRE LISTE de ZIDANE avec les BLEUS : les joueurs convoqués

Editor-in-Chief

Editor-in-Chief

Daniel Richardson is the Editor-in-Chief of Archysport, where he leads the editorial team and oversees all published content across nine sport verticals. With over 15 years in sports journalism, Daniel has reported from the FIFA World Cup, the Olympic Games, NFL Super Bowls, NBA Finals, and Grand Slam tennis tournaments. He previously served as Senior Sports Editor at Reuters and holds a Master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University. Recognized by the Sports Journalists' Association for excellence in reporting, Daniel is a member of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS). His editorial philosophy centers on accuracy, depth, and fair coverage — ensuring every story published on Archysport meets the highest standards of sports journalism.

Football Basketball NFL Tennis Baseball Golf Badminton Judo Sport News

Leave a Comment