Montpellier HSC
Encyclopedia
Montpellier Hérault Sport Club (mɔ̃pəlje eʁo spɔʁ klœb; commonly referred to as Montpellier HSC or simply Montpellier) is a French association football
club based in the city of Montpellier
. The club was founded in 1919 and currently plays in Ligue 1
, the top level of French football
. Montpellier plays its home matches at the Stade de la Mosson
, located within the city. The first team is managed by former football player René Girard
and captained by defender
Mapou Yanga-M'Biwa
.
Montpellier was founded under the name Stade Olympique Montpelliérain (SO Montpellier) and played under the name for most of its existence. In 1989, after playing under various names, the club changed its name to its current form. Montpellier is one of the founding members of the first division of French football. Along with Marseille
, Rennes, Sochaux
, and Nice
, Montpellier is the only club to have played in the inaugural 1932–33 season and still be playing in the first division as of today. The club have, however, never won Ligue 1
. Montpellier's highest honour to date was winning the Coupe de France
in 1929 and 1990. The club has also won the UEFA Intertoto Cup
in 1999 and the Coupe d'été in 1992; the latter competition being a precursor to the Coupe de la Ligue
.
Montpellier is owned by Louis Nicollin, a French entrepreneur, and has been since 1974. The club have produced several famous players in its history, most notably Laurent Blanc
, who currently serves as manager of the France national team
. Blanc is also the club's all-time leading goalscorer. Eric Cantona
, Roger Milla
, and Carlos Valderrama are other players who have played in Montpellier's colours. In 2001, Montpellier introduced a women's team
.
. The city of Montpellier had been in the process of creating a sports club in the city since 1914, however, the idea died due to World War I. Upon its creation, the sports club
mainly consisting of association football, rugby union
, athletics, tennis, and boxing
. The club's headquarters was located at the local Café de Paris and carried the colors of the city, red and white. After a few months of existence, SO Montpellier, under the advisement of its first president, merged with local club La Vie au Grand Air du Languedoc (VGAL), which was formed in August 1917 and had been solely dedicated to the sport of football.
The successful merger with VGAL and the acquisition of the club's players allowed Montpellier to easily adapt in the sport. The club spent its formative years playing mainly in the Division d'Honneur Sud-Est. In 1925, the club was managed by Scotsman
Victor Gibson
. That same year, Montpellier endured an internal crisis after the French Football Federation
discovered that the club had been guilty of financial misfeasance. The club's president was suspended from football for five years and Montpellier were relegated for the first time. The resulting penalties led to the departure of several players. In an effort to rebuild, the club changed its name to Sports Olympiques Montpelliérains and recruited several new players, most notably Branislav Sekulić
, Roger Rolhion
, and the three Kramer brothers from Switzerland
. The rebuilding process was immediate as the club returned to the Division d'Honneur after one season. In 1929, the club won its first major trophy, the Coupe de France
. In the final, Montpellier faced FC Sète
and recorded a 2–0 victory courtesy of goals from Auguste Kramer and Edmond Kramer
.
In July 1930, the National Council of the French Football Federation
voted 128–20 in support of professionalism in French football. Montpellier, along with most clubs from the south, were among the first clubs to adopt the new statute and, subsequently, became professional and were founding members of the new league. Ahead of the first campaign, Montpellier continued to perform well in the Coupe de France and reached the final for the second time in three years in 1931. Montpeller were unable to win its second title after being dismantled 3–0 in the final by Club Français
. In the league's inaugural season, Montpellier finished mid-table in its group. After two more seasons in the league, Montpellier were relegated after finishing in 15th place in 1935. Soon after, it was revealed that the club was ₣
370,000 in debt. The club's steering committee decided to dissolve the club and return to its former name Stade Olympique Montpelliérain, which resulted in the club's debt being erased in the eyes of the federation. The new club remained in Division 2 until earning promotion to Division 1 after winning the second division in 1946. In Montpellier's return to Division 1, the club struggled finishing in the bottom-half of the table in three straight seasons. In 1950, the club was back in Division 2 after finishing 17th in the 1949–50 French Division 1 season.
After a short return to Division 1, Montpellier were back in the second division in 1953. In the spring of 1953, the club's president, known by the surname Fox, brought in former French international
Julien Darui
to act as a player-coach. After nine months, Darui was dismissed from his position. After the departure of Darui, the club was ordered to pay up to ₣5 million after the federation discovered financial and accounting irregularities in the club's accounts. The federation subsequently gave Fox a lifetime ban from French football. In November 1957, a local clergyman, Ferdinand Bessède, was named as president of the club. Bessède quickly cleaned up the club's finances and, by 1961, Montpellier were back in Division 1. After an encouraging 8th place finish in its return, Montpellier faltered back down to Division 2 after finishing in 19th place in the 1962–63 season. In 1966, Bessède, because of his duties as a clergyman, left his post. Montpellier, as a consequence, began to plummet. The club went back into debt and, also, became disassociated with its supporters after departing its long-time stadium and moving into a new stadium, which supporters were highly critical of. By 1969, Montpellier had lost its professional status and were playing in the Championnat de France amateur (CFA).
From 1969–1987, Montpellier underwent two name changes and spent its time playing in the CFA and Division 2, excluding one year back in Division 1 in 1981. In 1970, in an effort to avoid bankruptcy, the club merged with Montpellier Littoral and played under the name Montpellier Littoral Sport Club (MLSC) for four years. Despite the merger, the club still had financial troubles, which led to struggles domestically. The problems led to several players leaving the club for Formation Sportive de Nettoiement, an emerging sports outfit led by entrepreneur Louis Nicollin. On 1 June 1974, the club merged with up-and-coming club AS Paillade and changed its name to Montpellier Paillade Sport Club Littoral (MPSCL). Like the previous merger, the merger with Paillade was ultimately unsuccessful as the club failed to make any progress. At the urging of local journalist Carlo Llorens, MPSCL merged with Nicollin's club, which had quickly become competitive. Nicollin dissolved his club, was installed as Montpellier's president, and brought his players and management over to Montpellier. After slowly ascending up the league system with managers such as Robert Nouzaret, Kader Firoud
, and Jacques Bonnet, Montpellier returned to the first division under the leadership of Michel Mézy
for the 1987–88 season.
In 1989, the club was renamed Montpellier Hérault Sport Club after it received financial support from the General Council of Hérault
. With the club competing consistently in the first division, Montpellier sought to increase its competitiveness by hiring Aimé Jacquet
. Jacquet had won three titles with Bordeaux
in the 1980s. Montpellier also had
a group of talented players, notably Laurent Blanc
, Eric Cantona
, Daniel Xuereb
, Wilbert Suvrijn
, and Carlos Valderrama, among others. Jacquet only spent eight months in charge, which was a stint described by many as chaotic. A dressing room incident involving Cantona marred the club for most of the league season and, in February 1990, Jacquest was replaced by Mézy, who decided to return to the club. Under Mézy, Montpellier shifted back to its normal ways and surprised many by winning the Coupe de France. The club defeated the likes of Istres
, Nancy
, and Louhans-Cuiseaux
before beating Racing Paris 2–1 in the final courtesy of extra time goals from Laurent Blanc
and Kader Ferhaoui
. After the success, Mézy left the club again and several of the club's players slowly began to depart for better opportunities. Despite the departures, Montpellier remained in Division 1 for the next decade before falling to Division 2 at the start of the new millennium.
After a short return to Division 1, now called Ligue 1
, from 2001–2004, Montpellier were back playing in Ligue 2. The club spent one season under Nouzaret and two seasons under Jean-François Domergue
before finding stability with Rolland Courbis in 2007. In Courbis' second season in charge, boasted by several talented young players, such as Víctor Hugo Montaño
, Tino Costa
, Joris Marveaux
, and Johann Carrasso
, he led the club back to Ligue 1 after finishing 2nd. After the season, Courbis left the club in order to began his prison sentence due to his involvement in the Olympique de Marseille corruption case and he was replaced by René Girard
, With an abundance of young talent, Girard sought to bring in veterans to the club ahead of its return to Ligue 1. He successfully recruited Emir Spahic
, Cyril Jeunechamp
, and Romain Pitau
. Girard also brought back Nenad Džodić
, who he installed as captain. In the club's return, Montpellier surprised many football pundits, locally and internationally, by finishing in 5th place and qualifying for the UEFA Europa League. Montpellier even topped the table at one point during the season.
as their greatest enemies in a rivalry that began to become more important from the start of the 1980s when the Nîmois had regional supremacy. Louis Nicollin – who bought Montpellier in the 1970s – also showed himself to be happy to contribute to the rivalry by bring a number of ex-Nîmes players to the club, such as Michel Mézy
. Mézy agreed to join Montpellier before the end of the 1978–79 season and was banned from playing for the remainder of the season by the Nîmes president after the signing of the deal. When Les Crocodiles and Montpellier found each other together in Ligue 2
, the rivalry became yet stronger, as regional power began to shift towards Montpellier. The zenith of the rivalry came in the 1995–96 Coupe de France semi-final. Unfancied Nîmes, now in National
, came up against Ligue 1
Montpellier and beat them by a goal to nil.
and international competition since the club's foundation in 1919. To appear in the section below, a player must have played in at least 100 official matches for the club.
For a complete list of Montpellier HSC players, see :Category:Montpellier HSC players
Pascal Baills
Laurent Blanc
Bruno Carotti
René Dedieu Philippe Delaye
Fabrice Divert
Joseph Kaucsar
Thierry Laurey
Jean-Claude Lemoult
Toifilou Maoulida
Gérald Passi Rudy Riou
Laurent Robert
Roger Rolhion
Jean-Christophe Rouvière
Christophe Sanchez
Franck Silvestre
Jean-Marc Valadier Jacky Vergnes Kader Ferhaoui
Michel Der Zakarian
Habib Bamogo
Abdoulaye Cissé
Roger Milla
Víctor Hugo Montaño
Carlos Valderrama Fodé Mansaré
Wilbert Suvrijn
Nenad Džodić
Senior club staff
Coaching and medicial staff
Football in France
Football is the most popular sport in France. The Fédération Française de Football is the national governing bodyand is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the game of association football in the country, both professional and amateur...
club based in the city of Montpellier
Montpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
. The club was founded in 1919 and currently plays in Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
, the top level of French football
Football in France
Football is the most popular sport in France. The Fédération Française de Football is the national governing bodyand is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the game of association football in the country, both professional and amateur...
. Montpellier plays its home matches at the Stade de la Mosson
Stade de la Mosson
Stade de la Mosson is a football stadium in Montpellier, France. It is the home of Montpellier HSC and has a capacity of 32,900. Formerly a 16,000-seater stadium, it was entirely rebuilt in 1998 to host 6 games of the 1998 FIFA World Cup. It was also used as a venue for group stage matches in the...
, located within the city. The first team is managed by former football player René Girard
René Girard (footballer)
René Girard is a former football midfielder from France.- Career :Girard won seven caps for France and was a member of the squad that finished fourth at the 1982 FIFA World Cup....
and captained by defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
Mapou Yanga-M'Biwa
Mapou Yanga-M'Biwa
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa is a Franco-Central African professional football player who currently plays for French club Montpellier in Ligue 1. He primarily plays as a right back, but can play along the entire back line...
.
Montpellier was founded under the name Stade Olympique Montpelliérain (SO Montpellier) and played under the name for most of its existence. In 1989, after playing under various names, the club changed its name to its current form. Montpellier is one of the founding members of the first division of French football. Along with Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
, Rennes, Sochaux
FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
Football Club Sochaux-Montbéliard is a French association football club based in the city of Montbéliard. The club was founded in 1928 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football. Sochaux plays its home matches at the Stade Auguste Bonal located within the city...
, and Nice
OGC Nice
Olympique Gymnaste Club Nice Côte d'Azur is a French association football club based in Nice. The club was founded in 1904 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top-tier of French football. Nice plays its home matches at the Stade Municipal du Ray located within the city. In 2013, the club is...
, Montpellier is the only club to have played in the inaugural 1932–33 season and still be playing in the first division as of today. The club have, however, never won Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
. Montpellier's highest honour to date was winning the Coupe de France
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
in 1929 and 1990. The club has also won the UEFA Intertoto Cup
UEFA Intertoto Cup
The UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
in 1999 and the Coupe d'été in 1992; the latter competition being a precursor to the Coupe de la Ligue
Coupe de la Ligue
The Coupe de la Ligue , known outside of France as the French League Cup, is a knockout cup competition in French football organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel...
.
Montpellier is owned by Louis Nicollin, a French entrepreneur, and has been since 1974. The club have produced several famous players in its history, most notably Laurent Blanc
Laurent Blanc
Laurent Robert Blanc is a French association football manager and former player. He is the head coach of the French national team, having replaced Raymond Domenech in the wake of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He was previously the manager of Bordeaux...
, who currently serves as manager of the France national team
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
. Blanc is also the club's all-time leading goalscorer. Eric Cantona
Eric Cantona
Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona is a French actor and former French international footballer. He played for Auxerre, Martigues, Marseille, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nîmes and Leeds United before ending his professional footballing career at Manchester United, where he won four Premier League titles in...
, Roger Milla
Roger Milla
Roger Milla is a retired Cameroonian footballer who played as a striker. He was one of the first African players to be a major star on the international stage...
, and Carlos Valderrama are other players who have played in Montpellier's colours. In 2001, Montpellier introduced a women's team
Montpellier HSC (Ladies)
Montpellier Hérault Sport Club Féminines is a French women's football club based in Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone, a commune in the arrondissement of Montpellier. The club was founded in 1990. Montpellier currently play in the Division 1 Féminine having finished in 4th place in the 2009–10 season...
.
History
Montpellier Hérault Sport Club was founded in 1919 under the name Stade Olympique Montpelliérain by the Association Générale Sportive Montpelliéraine (AGSM) (General Montpellier Sports Association), which consisted of a handful of wealthy and ambitious citizens of MontpellierMontpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
. The city of Montpellier had been in the process of creating a sports club in the city since 1914, however, the idea died due to World War I. Upon its creation, the sports club
Sports club
A sports club or sport club, sometimes athletics club or sports association is a club for the purpose of playing one or more sports...
mainly consisting of association football, rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, athletics, tennis, and boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. The club's headquarters was located at the local Café de Paris and carried the colors of the city, red and white. After a few months of existence, SO Montpellier, under the advisement of its first president, merged with local club La Vie au Grand Air du Languedoc (VGAL), which was formed in August 1917 and had been solely dedicated to the sport of football.
The successful merger with VGAL and the acquisition of the club's players allowed Montpellier to easily adapt in the sport. The club spent its formative years playing mainly in the Division d'Honneur Sud-Est. In 1925, the club was managed by Scotsman
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
Victor Gibson
Victor Gibson
Victor Gibson was a Scottish professional football player and coach active throughout Europe.-Playing career:Gibson, a midfielder, played in his native Scotland for Morton and Falkirk, before playing in Spain with Espanyol, and in France with Olympique de Cette, FC Cette and Montpellier.-Coaching...
. That same year, Montpellier endured an internal crisis after the French Football Federation
French Football Federation
The French Football Federation is the governing body of association football in France, as well as the overseas departments and territories . It was formed in 1919 and is based in the capital Paris...
discovered that the club had been guilty of financial misfeasance. The club's president was suspended from football for five years and Montpellier were relegated for the first time. The resulting penalties led to the departure of several players. In an effort to rebuild, the club changed its name to Sports Olympiques Montpelliérains and recruited several new players, most notably Branislav Sekulić
Branislav Sekulic
Branislav "Bane" Sekulić was a Serbian football player and football manager....
, Roger Rolhion
Roger Rolhion
Roger Rolhion was a French footballer and coach. He was born in Montpellier .-Biography:Rolhion made his debut as a player for his local club, SO Montpellier with whom he won the Coupe de France in 1929....
, and the three Kramer brothers from Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. The rebuilding process was immediate as the club returned to the Division d'Honneur after one season. In 1929, the club won its first major trophy, the Coupe de France
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
. In the final, Montpellier faced FC Sète
FC Sète
FC Sète 34 is a French football club based in Sète and founded in 1900. The club won the French league twice and the French cup also twice . In 1934 they became the first club to win the French league and cup double....
and recorded a 2–0 victory courtesy of goals from Auguste Kramer and Edmond Kramer
Edmond Kramer
Edmond Kramer was an Swiss football player who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics.He was a member of the Swiss team, which won the silver medal in the football tournament.-External links:**...
.
In July 1930, the National Council of the French Football Federation
French Football Federation
The French Football Federation is the governing body of association football in France, as well as the overseas departments and territories . It was formed in 1919 and is based in the capital Paris...
voted 128–20 in support of professionalism in French football. Montpellier, along with most clubs from the south, were among the first clubs to adopt the new statute and, subsequently, became professional and were founding members of the new league. Ahead of the first campaign, Montpellier continued to perform well in the Coupe de France and reached the final for the second time in three years in 1931. Montpeller were unable to win its second title after being dismantled 3–0 in the final by Club Français
Club Français
Club Français was a French association football team based in Paris which was founded in 1890. Club Français won the Coupe de France Final 1931, its only major honour.The club played the first ever Division 1 season in 1932–33 but was relegated in Division 2...
. In the league's inaugural season, Montpellier finished mid-table in its group. After two more seasons in the league, Montpellier were relegated after finishing in 15th place in 1935. Soon after, it was revealed that the club was ₣
French franc
The franc was a currency of France. Along with the Spanish peseta, it was also a de facto currency used in Andorra . Between 1360 and 1641, it was the name of coins worth 1 livre tournois and it remained in common parlance as a term for this amount of money...
370,000 in debt. The club's steering committee decided to dissolve the club and return to its former name Stade Olympique Montpelliérain, which resulted in the club's debt being erased in the eyes of the federation. The new club remained in Division 2 until earning promotion to Division 1 after winning the second division in 1946. In Montpellier's return to Division 1, the club struggled finishing in the bottom-half of the table in three straight seasons. In 1950, the club was back in Division 2 after finishing 17th in the 1949–50 French Division 1 season.
After a short return to Division 1, Montpellier were back in the second division in 1953. In the spring of 1953, the club's president, known by the surname Fox, brought in former French international
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
Julien Darui
Julien Darui
Julien Darui was a French football goalkeeper, who had stints as a coach after his playing career.Born in Luxembourg during World War I, Darui was capped 25 times for France...
to act as a player-coach. After nine months, Darui was dismissed from his position. After the departure of Darui, the club was ordered to pay up to ₣5 million after the federation discovered financial and accounting irregularities in the club's accounts. The federation subsequently gave Fox a lifetime ban from French football. In November 1957, a local clergyman, Ferdinand Bessède, was named as president of the club. Bessède quickly cleaned up the club's finances and, by 1961, Montpellier were back in Division 1. After an encouraging 8th place finish in its return, Montpellier faltered back down to Division 2 after finishing in 19th place in the 1962–63 season. In 1966, Bessède, because of his duties as a clergyman, left his post. Montpellier, as a consequence, began to plummet. The club went back into debt and, also, became disassociated with its supporters after departing its long-time stadium and moving into a new stadium, which supporters were highly critical of. By 1969, Montpellier had lost its professional status and were playing in the Championnat de France amateur (CFA).
From 1969–1987, Montpellier underwent two name changes and spent its time playing in the CFA and Division 2, excluding one year back in Division 1 in 1981. In 1970, in an effort to avoid bankruptcy, the club merged with Montpellier Littoral and played under the name Montpellier Littoral Sport Club (MLSC) for four years. Despite the merger, the club still had financial troubles, which led to struggles domestically. The problems led to several players leaving the club for Formation Sportive de Nettoiement, an emerging sports outfit led by entrepreneur Louis Nicollin. On 1 June 1974, the club merged with up-and-coming club AS Paillade and changed its name to Montpellier Paillade Sport Club Littoral (MPSCL). Like the previous merger, the merger with Paillade was ultimately unsuccessful as the club failed to make any progress. At the urging of local journalist Carlo Llorens, MPSCL merged with Nicollin's club, which had quickly become competitive. Nicollin dissolved his club, was installed as Montpellier's president, and brought his players and management over to Montpellier. After slowly ascending up the league system with managers such as Robert Nouzaret, Kader Firoud
Kader Firoud
Abdelkader Firoud , most commonly known as Kader Firoud, was a French-Algerian professional football midfielder and manager.-External links:*...
, and Jacques Bonnet, Montpellier returned to the first division under the leadership of Michel Mézy
Michel Mézy
Michel Mézy is a former French international football midfielder and manager.-External links:...
for the 1987–88 season.
In 1989, the club was renamed Montpellier Hérault Sport Club after it received financial support from the General Council of Hérault
Hérault
Hérault is a department in the south of France named after the Hérault river.-History:Hérault is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
. With the club competing consistently in the first division, Montpellier sought to increase its competitiveness by hiring Aimé Jacquet
Aimé Jacquet
Aimé Étienne Jacquet is a French football coach and former player, and manager of the France national football team when they won the 1998 FIFA World Cup.-Biography:...
. Jacquet had won three titles with Bordeaux
FC Girondins de Bordeaux
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....
in the 1980s. Montpellier also had
a group of talented players, notably Laurent Blanc
Laurent Blanc
Laurent Robert Blanc is a French association football manager and former player. He is the head coach of the French national team, having replaced Raymond Domenech in the wake of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He was previously the manager of Bordeaux...
, Eric Cantona
Eric Cantona
Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona is a French actor and former French international footballer. He played for Auxerre, Martigues, Marseille, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nîmes and Leeds United before ending his professional footballing career at Manchester United, where he won four Premier League titles in...
, Daniel Xuereb
Daniel Xuereb
Daniel Xuereb is a former football striker from France, who earned eight international caps for the French national team during the 1980s...
, Wilbert Suvrijn
Wilbert Suvrijn
Wilbert Suvrijn is a retired Dutch footballer. Mainly a central defender, he could also operate as a defensive midfielder.-Club career:...
, and Carlos Valderrama, among others. Jacquet only spent eight months in charge, which was a stint described by many as chaotic. A dressing room incident involving Cantona marred the club for most of the league season and, in February 1990, Jacquest was replaced by Mézy, who decided to return to the club. Under Mézy, Montpellier shifted back to its normal ways and surprised many by winning the Coupe de France. The club defeated the likes of Istres
FC Istres
Football Club Istres Ouest Provence is a French association football club based in Istres. The club was formed in 1920 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football having achieved promotion to the league following the 2008–09 season. Istres plays its home matches at the...
, Nancy
AS Nancy
Association Sportive Nancy-Lorraine is a French association football club based in Nancy. The club was founded in 1967 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Nancy plays its home matches at the Stade Marcel Picot in Tomblaine, a commune located in the Arrondissement of...
, and Louhans-Cuiseaux
CS Louhans-Cuiseaux
Club Sportif Louhans-Cuiseaux is a French football club.-History:Founded in 1970 after the unification of "Club Sportif Louhannais" and "Club de Cuiseaux" , based in the villages of Louhans and Cuiseaux...
before beating Racing Paris 2–1 in the final courtesy of extra time goals from Laurent Blanc
Laurent Blanc
Laurent Robert Blanc is a French association football manager and former player. He is the head coach of the French national team, having replaced Raymond Domenech in the wake of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He was previously the manager of Bordeaux...
and Kader Ferhaoui
Kader Ferhaoui
Abdelkader Ferhaoui, known as Kader Ferhaoui is a retired Algerian football midfielder.-Managerial career:On September 16, 2010, Ferhaoui was appointed as interim head coach of the Ligue 1 side AC Arles-Avignon....
. After the success, Mézy left the club again and several of the club's players slowly began to depart for better opportunities. Despite the departures, Montpellier remained in Division 1 for the next decade before falling to Division 2 at the start of the new millennium.
After a short return to Division 1, now called Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
, from 2001–2004, Montpellier were back playing in Ligue 2. The club spent one season under Nouzaret and two seasons under Jean-François Domergue
Jean-François Domergue
Jean-François Domergue is a former French footballer who played defender, now manager of Montpellier HSC.Throughout his career he was called up nine times to the France national football team, where he scored only two goals – both in the semi-finals of the 1984 European Football Championship...
before finding stability with Rolland Courbis in 2007. In Courbis' second season in charge, boasted by several talented young players, such as Víctor Hugo Montaño
Victor Hugo Montaño
Víctor Hugo Montaño Caicedo is a Colombian footballer, who currently plays for Stade Rennais F.C..-Early career:Although born in Cali, Montaño started his professional career at Bogota side Millonarios as a teenager...
, Tino Costa
Alberto Costa (footballer)
Alberto Facundo "Tino" Costa is an Argentine football player currently playing for La Liga club Valencia CF...
, Joris Marveaux
Joris Marveaux
Joris Marveaux is a French footballer currently playing for Ligue 1 club Montpellier. His younger brother, Sylvain Marveaux, plays for Newcastle United in the Premier League.-External links:...
, and Johann Carrasso
Johann Carrasso
Johann Carrasso is a French football player who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Monaco in Ligue 2 on loan from Ligue 1 club Rennes. He is the younger brother of French international and Bordeaux goalkeeper Cédric Carrasso....
, he led the club back to Ligue 1 after finishing 2nd. After the season, Courbis left the club in order to began his prison sentence due to his involvement in the Olympique de Marseille corruption case and he was replaced by René Girard
René Girard (footballer)
René Girard is a former football midfielder from France.- Career :Girard won seven caps for France and was a member of the squad that finished fourth at the 1982 FIFA World Cup....
, With an abundance of young talent, Girard sought to bring in veterans to the club ahead of its return to Ligue 1. He successfully recruited Emir Spahic
Emir Spahic
Emir Spahić is a Bosnian football central defender playing for Sevilla FC in the Spanish La Liga and captains the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team...
, Cyril Jeunechamp
Cyril Jeunechamp
Cyril Jeunechamp is a French footballer playing for French Ligue 1 side Montpellier.- Career :Jeunechamp began his career at hometown club Nîmes Olympique, later playing for AJ Auxerre and Bastia when they made their way to the finals of the French Cup...
, and Romain Pitau
Romain Pitau
Romain Pitau is a French football midfielder, currently playing for Montpellier HSC.-External links:...
. Girard also brought back Nenad Džodić
Nenad Džodic
Nenad Džodić is a retired Serbian footballer.Džodić was capped five times for the Yugoslav national team.-External links:* * at lfp.fr* at reprezentacija.rs...
, who he installed as captain. In the club's return, Montpellier surprised many football pundits, locally and internationally, by finishing in 5th place and qualifying for the UEFA Europa League. Montpellier even topped the table at one point during the season.
Rivals
Montpellier supporters view NîmesNîmes Olympique
Nîmes Olympique is a French association football club based in Nîmes. The club was formed on 10 April 1937 and currently play in Championnat National, the third level of French football. The club's only achievement was winning Ligue 2 in 1950 and the Championnat National in 1997...
as their greatest enemies in a rivalry that began to become more important from the start of the 1980s when the Nîmois had regional supremacy. Louis Nicollin – who bought Montpellier in the 1970s – also showed himself to be happy to contribute to the rivalry by bring a number of ex-Nîmes players to the club, such as Michel Mézy
Michel Mézy
Michel Mézy is a former French international football midfielder and manager.-External links:...
. Mézy agreed to join Montpellier before the end of the 1978–79 season and was banned from playing for the remainder of the season by the Nîmes president after the signing of the deal. When Les Crocodiles and Montpellier found each other together in Ligue 2
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
, the rivalry became yet stronger, as regional power began to shift towards Montpellier. The zenith of the rivalry came in the 1995–96 Coupe de France semi-final. Unfancied Nîmes, now in National
Championnat National
The Championnat de France National, commonly referred to as simply National or Division 3, serves as the third division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1 and Ligue 2...
, came up against Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
Montpellier and beat them by a goal to nil.
Current squad
As of August 4, 2011.Out on loan
Reserve squad
As of 26 January 2011.Notable former players
Below are the notable former players who have represented Montpellier in leagueLigue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
and international competition since the club's foundation in 1919. To appear in the section below, a player must have played in at least 100 official matches for the club.
For a complete list of Montpellier HSC players, see :Category:Montpellier HSC players
Pascal Baills
Pascal Baills
Pascal Baills is a retired professional French football defender. He obtained one cap for the French national team.-Titles:*French championship in 1992 with Olympique de Marseille...
Laurent Blanc
Laurent Blanc
Laurent Robert Blanc is a French association football manager and former player. He is the head coach of the French national team, having replaced Raymond Domenech in the wake of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He was previously the manager of Bordeaux...
Bruno Carotti
Bruno Carotti
Bruno Carotti is a retired French football player.-External links:...
René Dedieu Philippe Delaye
Philippe Delaye
Philippe Delaye is a French footballer who currently plays for Montpellier HSC as a Midfielder.-External links:*...
Fabrice Divert
Fabrice Divert
Fabrice Divert is a former French footballer, who played as a striker.-Football career:During his career, Divert played mainly for SM Caen and Montpellier HSC, scoring prolifically for both...
Joseph Kaucsar
Joseph Kaucsar
Iosif Kaucsar, known in France as Joseph Kaucsar was an Romanian-French footballer who played for SO Montpellier and the France national team.-References:*Roger Rabier, Allez SOM, 1985, p. 234-235.*...
Thierry Laurey
Thierry Laurey
Thierry Laurey is a retired French professional football defender and manager. He is currently without a club....
Jean-Claude Lemoult
Jean-Claude Lemoult
Jean-Claude Lemoult is a French former professional football player.Lemoult was a member of the French squad that won the gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California....
Toifilou Maoulida
Toifilou Maoulida
Toifilou Maoulida is a French football player who plays for SC Bastia.-Career:He was born in Mayotte, a small island in the Indian Ocean, close to the Comoro Islands and Reunion Island, and raised in Marseille....
Gérald Passi Rudy Riou
Rudy Riou
Rudy Riou is a French football goalkeeper who currently plays for FC Nantes.-Montpellier HSC:Riou made his Ligue 1 début on 31 July 1999, being a key figure in a 2-1 victory over Olympique Lyonnais. He played 20 games for Montpellier before they were relegated...
Laurent Robert
Laurent Robert
Laurent Robert is a former French footballer. He was a left winger, and has played for the French national football team....
Roger Rolhion
Roger Rolhion
Roger Rolhion was a French footballer and coach. He was born in Montpellier .-Biography:Rolhion made his debut as a player for his local club, SO Montpellier with whom he won the Coupe de France in 1929....
Jean-Christophe Rouvière
Jean-Christophe Rouvière
Jean-Christophe Rouvière is a retired French football midfielder. He last played for Championnat National side Nîmes Olympique.His previous clubs include Montpellier HSC, FC Girondins de Bordeaux and Toulouse FC....
Christophe Sanchez
Christophe Sanchez
Christophe Sanchez is a former French football player.-References:**...
Franck Silvestre
Franck Silvestre
Franck Silvestre is a retired French footballer who played as a central defender.During his career, spent in two countries and with six different clubs, he played in more than 700 official games...
Jean-Marc Valadier Jacky Vergnes Kader Ferhaoui
Kader Ferhaoui
Abdelkader Ferhaoui, known as Kader Ferhaoui is a retired Algerian football midfielder.-Managerial career:On September 16, 2010, Ferhaoui was appointed as interim head coach of the Ligue 1 side AC Arles-Avignon....
Michel Der Zakarian
Michel Der Zakarian
Michel Der Zakarian is a former Franco-Armenian professional football defender and manager.He was a member of the Armenia national team, participated in five international matches since his debut in home 1998 World Cup qualifying match against Portugal...
Habib Bamogo
Habib Bamogo
Habib Bamogo is a French-born Burkinabé professional footballer, currently playing for Panetolikos F.C. in Greece.-Career:...
Abdoulaye Cissé
Abdoulaye Cissé
Abdoulaye Cissé is a naturalized Burkinabé football striker, who plays for Al-Masry that currently competes in the Egyptian Premier League.-Career:...
Roger Milla
Roger Milla
Roger Milla is a retired Cameroonian footballer who played as a striker. He was one of the first African players to be a major star on the international stage...
Víctor Hugo Montaño
Victor Hugo Montaño
Víctor Hugo Montaño Caicedo is a Colombian footballer, who currently plays for Stade Rennais F.C..-Early career:Although born in Cali, Montaño started his professional career at Bogota side Millonarios as a teenager...
Carlos Valderrama Fodé Mansaré
Fodé Mansare
Fodé Mansaré is a Guinean football winger who is currently playing for French Ligue 1 side Toulouse.Mansaré is highly rated in France and is well known for he tricks and skills, dribbling and play-making abilities...
Wilbert Suvrijn
Wilbert Suvrijn
Wilbert Suvrijn is a retired Dutch footballer. Mainly a central defender, he could also operate as a defensive midfielder.-Club career:...
Nenad Džodić
Nenad Džodic
Nenad Džodić is a retired Serbian footballer.Džodić was capped five times for the Yugoslav national team.-External links:* * at lfp.fr* at reprezentacija.rs...
Club officials
- President: Louis Nicollin
- Chairman: Laurent Nicollin
- Association Chairman: Gilbert Varlot
- Administrative Director: Philippe Peybernes
- Marketing Director: Benoît Le Quéré
- Communications Director: Pierre Bourdel
- Development Director: Fabrice Garcia
- Security Director: Pierre-Marie Grappin & Jacques Soares
- Sporting Director: Jean-François DomergueJean-François DomergueJean-François Domergue is a former French footballer who played defender, now manager of Montpellier HSC.Throughout his career he was called up nine times to the France national football team, where he scored only two goals – both in the semi-finals of the 1984 European Football Championship...
Coaching and medicial staff
- Manager: René GirardRené Girard (footballer)René Girard is a former football midfielder from France.- Career :Girard won seven caps for France and was a member of the squad that finished fourth at the 1982 FIFA World Cup....
- Assistant Manager: Pascal BaillsPascal BaillsPascal Baills is a retired professional French football defender. He obtained one cap for the French national team.-Titles:*French championship in 1992 with Olympique de Marseille...
- Goalkeeping Coach: Dominique Deplagne
- Fitness Coach: Nicolas Girard
- Doctor: René Raimondi
- Kinesiotherapy: Olivier Megel
- Osteopathy: Eric Perraux
- Intendant: Eric Commerie
Managerial history
| Dates | Name |
|---|---|
| 1924–1925 |  Victor GibsonVictor Gibson Victor Gibson was a Scottish professional football player and coach active throughout Europe.-Playing career:Gibson, a midfielder, played in his native Scotland for Morton and Falkirk, before playing in Spain with Espanyol, and in France with Olympique de Cette, FC Cette and Montpellier.-Coaching... |
| 1936–1937 |  Jules DewaquezJules Dewaquez Jules Dewaquez , was a French amateur footballer, who played for both club and country on the right wing. He was extremely short and renowned for his small moustache. By profession he was a technical draughtsman, but he became one of the most successful French players during the 1920s... |
| 1937–1938 |  Istvan Berecz |
| 1938–1939 | Georges Azema |
| 1945–1946 | Gabriel Bénézech |
| 1946–1948 | Georges Kramer Georges Kramer Georges Kramer was a Swiss footballer and coach, born in 1898 in Colombier , date of death unknown.- Biography :Georges Kramer, like his brothers Auguste and Edmond, was a Swiss international, before continuing his career in France.... |
| 1948–1950 | Georges Winckelmans Georges Winckelmans Georges Winckelmans was a French footballer and coach, born 14 July 1910 in Lambersart .- Biography :Georges Winckelmans played as a midfielder or outside right at the start of the professional era of Olympique Lillois: he was one of the heroes of the final of the first French Championship on 14... |
| 1950–1951 | Jean Bastien |
| 1951–1952 | Istvan Zavadsky |
| 1952–1953 |  Luis Cazarro |
| 1953–1954 | Julien Darui Julien Darui Julien Darui was a French football goalkeeper, who had stints as a coach after his playing career.Born in Luxembourg during World War I, Darui was capped 25 times for France... |
| 1954–1956 | Marcel Tomazover Marcel Tomazover Marcel Tomazover is a former French footballer and coach. He was born in Paris.He played his professional career as a left winger for Roubaix and Sète, in the 1930s and 1940s, before becoming a famous coach.... |
| 1956–1958 | Istvan Zavadsky |
| 1958–1963 | Hervé Mirouze Hervé Mirouze Hervé Mirouze is a former French footballer and coach.He spent all his playing career as a defender at his local club, SO Montpellier, AS Cannes and Olympique Alès. In 1955, Mirouze became the coach of the Montpelliérain club... |
| 1963–1968 | Louis Favre Louis Favre Louis Favre was a Swiss engineer, remembered as the builder of the Gotthard Rail Tunnel between 1872 and his death in the tunnel in 1879.... |
| 1968–1969 | Roger Rolhion Roger Rolhion Roger Rolhion was a French footballer and coach. He was born in Montpellier .-Biography:Rolhion made his debut as a player for his local club, SO Montpellier with whom he won the Coupe de France in 1929.... |
| 1969–1970 | Marian Borowski |
| 1970–1974 | Hervé Mirouze Hervé Mirouze Hervé Mirouze is a former French footballer and coach.He spent all his playing career as a defender at his local club, SO Montpellier, AS Cannes and Olympique Alès. In 1955, Mirouze became the coach of the Montpelliérain club... |
| 1974–1976 | André Cristol |
| 1976 | Louis Favre Louis Favre Louis Favre was a Swiss engineer, remembered as the builder of the Gotthard Rail Tunnel between 1872 and his death in the tunnel in 1879.... |
| Dates | Name |
|---|---|
| 1976–1980 | Robert Nouzaret |
| 1980–1982 |  Kader FiroudKader Firoud Abdelkader Firoud , most commonly known as Kader Firoud, was a French-Algerian professional football midfielder and manager.-External links:*... |
| 1982–1984 | Jacques Bonnet |
| 1984–1985 | Robert Nouzaret |
| 1985–1987 | Michel Mézy Michel Mézy Michel Mézy is a former French international football midfielder and manager.-External links:... |
| 1987–1989 | Pierre Mosca Pierre Mosca Pierre Mosca is an Italian born French former footballer and coach.He played for SO Montpellier and AS Monaco FC.... |
| 1989–1990 | Aimé Jacquet Aimé Jacquet Aimé Étienne Jacquet is a French football coach and former player, and manager of the France national football team when they won the 1998 FIFA World Cup.-Biography:... |
| 1990 | Michel Mézy Michel Mézy Michel Mézy is a former French international football midfielder and manager.-External links:... |
| 1990–1992 |  Henryk KasperczakHenryk Kasperczak Henryk Wojciech Kasperczak is a Polish football manager and a football player.As a player, Kasperczak took part in two FIFA World Cups with Poland, achieving third place in 1974, as well as a silver medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada.As a manager, Kasperczak enjoyed most... |
| 1992–1994 | Gérard Gili |
| 1994–1998 | Michel Mézy Michel Mézy Michel Mézy is a former French international football midfielder and manager.-External links:... |
| 1998–2000 | Jean-Louis Gasset Jean-Louis Gasset Jean-Louis Gasset is a French football manager and former midfielder. He is currently an assistant coach for the France national team.Gasset played his whole career with Montpellier HSC.... |
| 2000–2002 | Michel Mézy Michel Mézy Michel Mézy is a former French international football midfielder and manager.-External links:... |
| 2002–2004 | Gérard Bernardet |
| 2004–2005 | Robert Nouzaret |
| 2005–2007 | Jean-François Domergue Jean-François Domergue Jean-François Domergue is a former French footballer who played defender, now manager of Montpellier HSC.Throughout his career he was called up nine times to the France national football team, where he scored only two goals – both in the semi-finals of the 1984 European Football Championship... |
| 2007–2009 | Rolland Courbis |
| 2009–present | René Girard René Girard (footballer) René Girard is a former football midfielder from France.- Career :Girard won seven caps for France and was a member of the squad that finished fourth at the 1982 FIFA World Cup.... |
Domestic
- Ligue 2Ligue 2Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
- Champions (3): 1946, 1961, 1987
- Coupe de FranceCoupe de FranceThe Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
- Champions (2): 1929, 1990
- Runners-Up (2): 1931, 1994
- Coupe de la LigueCoupe de la LigueThe Coupe de la Ligue , known outside of France as the French League Cup, is a knockout cup competition in French football organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel...
- Runners-Up (1): 20112011 Coupe de la Ligue FinalThe 2011 Coupe de la Ligue Final was the 17th final of France's football league cup competition, the Coupe de la Ligue, a football competition for the 44 teams that the Ligue de Football Professionnel manages. The final took place on 23 April 2011 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis and was...
- Runners-Up (1): 2011
- Division d'Honneur (Languedoc-Roussillon)
- Champions (2): 1981, 1992
- Coupe GambardellaCoupe GambardellaThe Coupe Gambardella is a French football cup competition held between the under-19s of the French football clubs, organized by the French Football Federation ....
- Champions (2): 1996, 2009
- Runners-Up (3): 1984, 1985, 1997
Other
- Division d'Honneur (Sud-Est)
- Champions (3): 1928, 1932, 1976
- Coupe d'étéCoupe de la LigueThe Coupe de la Ligue , known outside of France as the French League Cup, is a knockout cup competition in French football organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel...
- Champions (1): 1992