AS Saint-Étienne
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| Full name | Association Sportive Saint-Étienne Loire |
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| Nickname(s) | Les Verts, Stéphanois, ASSE | |||
| Founded | 1919 | |||
| Ground | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint Étienne (Capacity: 35,616[1]) |
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| Chairman |  Bernard Caiazzo Roland Romeyer |
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| Manager | Christophe Galtier |
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| League | Ligue 1 | |||
| 2009–10 | Ligue 1, 17th | |||
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Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire (French pronunciation: [a.sɔ.sja.sjɔ̃ spɔrtɪv də sɛ̃.t‿etjɛn lwaʁ], commonly known as AS Saint-Étienne, ASSE, or simply Saint-Étienne) is a French football club based in Saint-Étienne.
The club was formed in 1920 and is one of the most successful clubs in French football history having won a record 10 league titles. Saint-Étienne has also won six Coupe de France titles and the second division on three occasions. The club play their home games at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard and their primary rivals are Olympique Lyonnais, who are based in nearby Lyon. The two teams annually contest the Derby du Rhône. In 2009, Saint-Étienne added a female section to the football club.
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History
Early days
A.S. Saint-Étienne was created in 1919 by members of the Amicale des employés de la Société des magasins Casino: members of the employees' Union of the Casino grocery chain. Since green was the colour of the chain, green jerseys were also adopted. Due to FFF regulations, the commercial name Casino was dropped from the club's name in 1920. In order to keep the initials A.S.C, however, the club was re-named Amical Sporting Club.
In 1928, Pierre Guichard (the son of the head of Casino Geoffroy Guichard) took over the club and renamed it Association Sportive Stéphanoise. In 1933, the team turned professional and the name was changed again to the form it presently holds: Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne. The club was first promoted to the French First Division for the 1937–1938 season.
Apogée
In 1955 ASSE won their first trophy, the Charles Drago Cup. In 1958, three seasons later, the club claimed the French First Division title for the first time. As French Champions, Saint-Étienne subsequently participated in their first European Cup campaign against Rangers.
Roger Rocher became president of the club in 1961. The following year, the team won the French Cup, but also were relegated to the Second Division. ASSE won the Second Division the following year, and were promoted back to the First Division. The team then continued a surprising ascent, winning the French First Division trophy the following year (1964). Between 1967 and 1970, Saint-Étienne won four championships consecutively, and added two additional French Cups to their trophy cabinet (1967, 1970).
Robert Herbin was named manager in 1972, and led the team to the double in 1974 and 1976. The team won a ninth championship in 1976. That same year, the club lost in the final of the European Cup against Bayern Munich. Saint-Étienne followed that season by winning the French Cup again in 1977. Their last championship (and major silverware) win came in 1981, with their tenth First Division Championship.
Decline
In 1982, a financial scandal led to the decline in the club's performance. President Roger Rocher was forced to leave the club and spent several months in jail. Since then, the club has spent much of its time in the bottom half of the First Division and the Second Division. Although its sporting performances have been inconsistent, the club has still benefited from the unconditional support of its fans.
The club came back to the first division in 1999, finishing 6th. Supporters hoped for a return to success with Brazilian strikers Aloisio and Alex Dias celebrating his goals by imitating a panther (Emblem of the club), but in 2001, Alex Dias and the Ukrainian goalkeeper Maksym Levytsky, were suspended for four months for the use of fake Portuguese and Greek passports, respectively. At the end of a judicial inquiry, which linked some of the management staff to the passport forgeries, seven championship points were subtracted from Saint-Étienne's tally, causing them to be relegated to the Second Division.
Renewal
After relegation Saint-Étienne struggled, with mixed results in the Second Division/Ligue 2. They finally won the Ligue 2 championship in 2004, achieving promotion to Ligue 1. The club finished 6th in Ligue 1 the following season, which enabled them to participate in a European tournament, the Intertoto Cup, for the first time in many years. Having finished the 2007–08 Ligue 1 season in 5th place, Saint-Étienne played in the 2008–09 UEFA Cup after 27 years of absence, ultimately losing in the round of 16. Racked by injuries, the 2008–09 season, was much more of a struggle for the club as they only secured their Ligue 1 status for next season with a 4–0 final matchday win over Valenciennes.
Players
Current squad
As of September 2, 2010[2]
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Reserves
As of November 11, 2008[3]
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Notable players
For a complete list of AS Saint-Étienne players, see Category:AS Saint-Étienne players.
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Stadium
Saint-Etienne's home is the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, nicknamed Le chaudron[4] or Le chaudron vert[5] (The cauldron or the green cauldron). It has four stands:
- Charles Paret : 8,541 places
- Jean Snella : 8,767
- Pierre Faurand : 7,993 places
- Henri Point : 10,315 places
The stadium can host 35.616 people.[6]
Honours
- Ligue 1:
- Winners (10): 1957, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1981
- Ligue 2:
- Winners (3): 1963, 1999, 2004
- Coupe de France:
- Winners (6): 1962, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1977
- Coupe Gambardella
- Winners (3): 1963, 1970, 1998
- Coupe Drago
- Winners (2): 1955, 1958
Club officials
Board of Directors
- President: Bernard Caiazzo
- Vice-President: Roland Romeyer
- General Director: Vincent Tong-Cuong
- General Manager: Damien Comolli
- Directors: Didier Lacombe , Eric Fages , Philippe Lyonnet & Nicolas Jacq
- Secrétary: Claudine Frey
Management
- Manager: Christophe Galtier
- Assistant Manager: David Guion & Gerard Fernandez
- Fitness Coach: Thierry Cotte
- Coach: Frederic Emile
- Goalkeeping Coach: Jean Dees
- Team-Chef: Philippe Lyonnet
- Physios: Laurent Bensadi & Hubert Largeron
Academy Coaching Staff
- Director of Youth Academy: Luc Bruder & Alain Blachon
- Reserves Coach: Jean-Philippe Primard
- Manager: Alan Blachon
- Team Chef: René Richard
- Under 18's Coach: Abdelaziz Bouhazama
- Under 16's Coach: Romain Revelli
- Under 15's Coach: Gilles Rodriguez
- Goalkeeping Coach: Gilbert Ceccarelli
- Under 14's Coach: Philippe Guillemet
- Under 13's Coach: Philippe Durieu
- Under 13's Assistant Coach: Lionel Vaillant
- Under 13's Fitness Coach: Loïc Colaud
- Goalkeeping Coach: Mickaël Dumas
- Physio: Sébastien Sangnier
Medical
- Team Chef: Guy Demonteil
- Doctor: Tarak Bouzabia & Grégory Roche
- Therapeut: Alexandre Rambaud & François Castro
Managerial history
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References
- ↑ www.asse.fr
- ↑ Effectif professionnel
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/depeches/sports/20090503.REU7917/ligue_1_saintetienne_conserve_un_mince_espoir_de_mainti.html
- ↑ http://www.nordeclair.fr/Sports/Football/2009/04/19/lille-a-mal-digere-le-chaudron-vert.shtml
- ↑ http://www.asse-stats.com/stade-foot-geoffroy-guichard-asse-st-etienne.html
- ↑ France – Trainers of First and Second Division Clubs
External links
- (French) Official website
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