With the new season set to get underway on Saturday, we take a look at the runners and riders in Ligue 1.
With the 2011/12 campaign set to get underway on Saturday, skysports.com takes a look at the runners and riders in Ligue 1
Since Lyon's domination of French football, which saw them land seven consecutive titles, there have been three different winners of Ligue 1 in as many years. Lille are the latest club to have taken the crown and they will be determined to remain on that lofty perch in 2011/12. They will, however, have their work cut out as the battle for supremacy in French football is set to be as competitive as ever. Fallen giants Paris St Germain will be hoping their Qatari investors can awake them from their slumber, while Marseille remain a force to be reckoned with. A number of other sides will feel that European qualification is a distinct possibility, and that should ensure that the race for a top-four finish goes down to the wire. At the opposite end of the table, it will be interesting to see how top flight debutants Dijon and Evian fare among the elite. It promises to be an intriguing campaign whatever happens and for a greater insight into what you can expect from all of the runners and riders, take a look through
skysports.com's in-depth guide to the new season.
AC Ajaccio
Manager: Olivier Pantaloni
Stadium: Stade Francois COTY
Star man: Guillermo Ochoa
League position in 2010/11: 2nd (L2)
Overview: The Corsican side which left Ligue 1 in 2006 were one of the surprises of 2011. With limited finances, ACA won promotion to Le Championnat. The only objective for coach Pantaloni will be salvation with a team claiming Corsican roots. To help them achieve their aim, the ACA officials have decided to hire experienced players. Ajaccio pulled off quite a coup by signing highly-rated Mexican keeper Guillermo Ochoa. Brazilian striker Ilan has also joined the club to lead an inexperienced squad.
AJ Auxerre
Manager: Laurent Fournier
Stadium: Stade de l'Abbé Deschamps
Star man: Cedric Hengbart
League position in 2010/11: 9th
Overview: After enjoying an impressive national campaign in 2009/2010, AJA endured an average season last year. The club had to fight hard for salvation and suffered throughout their UEFA Champions League campaign. Just before the end of last season, tension was mounting at an alarming rate behind the scenes. Former official Gerard Bourguoin became the new chairman and, as coach Jean Fernandez decided to join Nancy, he named the relatively inexperienced Laurent Fournier as the club's new manager. Following the departure of several key players, Auxerre have had to bounce back and players from the education centre will be pushed towards the front of the stage.
FC Girondins de Bordeaux
Manager: Francis Gillot
Stadium: Stade Chaban-Delmas
Star man: Jaroslav Plasil
League position in 2010/11: 7th
Overview: Since winning the national title in 2009, Les Girondins have endured a difficult time, without any European qualification. Forced to reduce their wage bill, Bordeaux hired a new coach after the failure of Jean Tigana. Having been able to secure Europa League qualification with a very young team at Sochaux, Francis Gillot was drafted in by Bordeaux to rebuild a competitive side.
Stade Brestois 29
Manager: Alex Dupont
Stadium: Stade Francis-Le Ble
Star man: Nolan Roux
League position in 2010/11: 16th
Overview: Despite making a great start to the last campaign, the Brittany side only achieved survival late in the term. SB 29 will again try to remain in the top flight this season. Striker Nolan Roux remains the undoubted star of the team and Brest officials have so far refused to sanction a transfer (having asked for €8million). The 23-year-old forward remains a key asset for Brest and, after the departure of playmaker Bruno Grougi, officials are keen to keep him at the club.
Stade Malherbe Caen Calvados
Manager: Franck Dumas
Stadium: Stade Malherbe
Star man: Benjamin Nivet
League position in 2010/11: 15th
Overview: After winning promotion to Le Championnat in the summer of 2010, the Normand side will try again to remain in L1. Club officials have placed a lot of importance on stability, even after losing starlet Youssef El-Arabi to Saudi Arabia. Experienced striker Pierre-Alain Frau, who was a substitute at Lille last season, has joined the club to help develop the young players that continue to graduate from a renowned education centre. Coach Franck Dumas has been at the club since 2005, despite suffering relegation into L2 a couple of years ago, offering further proof that the club are prepared to stand by those they trust.
Dijon FCO
Manager: Patrice Carteron
Stadium: Stade Gaston-Gerard
Star man: Abdoulaye Meite
League position in 2010/11: 3rd (L2)
Overview: Dijon were the last club to book their place in Le Championnat last term, for the very first time in their history. The only ambition for the club will be to remain among the French elite. With the loss of last season's star striker Sebastian Ribas, who has left for Genoa, the Bourgogne club have hired experienced players to help them achieve their aim. Abdoulaye Meite is one of them, coming back to France after several years in England. The Ivory Coast defender has been named captain and will be helped by striker Gregory Thil and veteran defender Cedric Varrault. Young coach Patrice Carteron (41-year-olds) will hope Dijon can avoid suffering a similar fate to last year's top flight debutants Arles-Avignon - who struggled throughout. Florent Malouda joined the club as a shareholder this summer and Freddy Drogba, brother of Didier, has joined the reserves.
Evian TG FC
Manager: Bernard Casoni
Stadium: Parc des Sports
Star man: Sidney Govou
League position in 2010/11: 1st (L2)
Overview: Evian Thonon-Gaillard were the biggest surprise package of last season. The team promoted from D3 in 2009/10 ended the season as champions of L2. The Alps team, which has wealthy investors, is now trying to build a group based around older players - Sidney Govou and Jerome Leroy, while Robert Pires was linked with the club some weeks ago. Even though the club from Haute-Savoie have lofty long-term ambitions, the only objective is to remain in L1 next season.
