FC Metz
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| Full name | Football Club de Metz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nickname(s) | Les Grenats, Les Graoullys | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 1932 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | Stade Municipal Saint-Symphorien, Metz (Capacity: 26,700[1]) |
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| Chairman | Carlo Molinari | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manager | Yvon Pouliquen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | Ligue 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007-08 | Ligue 1, 20th (relegated) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Football Club de Metz (IPA: [mɛs]) is a French football team, playing in the town of Metz, in the Lorraine region, which has played in the French Ligue 1 for most of its history.
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[edit] History of the club
FC Metz was founded in 1932 by the amalgamation of two amateur athletic clubs, and shortly thereafter became a professional team; it is one of the oldest professional football teams in France.
During the 2nd World War, the Lorraine region being annexed by Germany, the club had to play under the Germanised name of FV Metz in the Gauliga Westmark. In the three completed seasons of this league from 1941 to 1944, the club finished runners-up each year[2].
FC Metz ascended to the top level of French football in 1965; the team remained in the highest division until they were relegated in 2001, although they bounced back immediately and returned to the Ligue 1 the following year. In 2006 they were relegated again. In 1998 the team competed in the qualifications to the Uefa Champions League but lost in the third round to finnish team HJK Helsinki.
FC Metz plays its home matches at the stade Saint-Symphorien, which has a capacity of 26,700. Its official colors are grenat (maroon) and white, from which the team derives its nickname Les Grenats. The team's crest features the Lorraine cross, symbolic of the team's regional affiliation, and the dragon called the Graoully, which in local legend was tamed by Saint Clement of Metz.[3]
On December 24th 2007, Yvon Pouliquen was named new coach after Francis De Taddeo was sacked for lack of result.
FC Metz also gained recognition in France and Europe for its successful youth academy, which produced star players including: Jean-Philippe Rohr, Sylvain Kastendeuch, Michel Ettore, Philippe Gaillot, Philippe Hinschberger, Carmelo Micciche, Cyril Serredzum, David Terrier, Jeff Strasser, Cyrille Pouget, Rigobert Song, Robert Pirès, Louis Saha, Nasredine Kraouche, Grégory Proment, Franck Ribery, Emmanuel Adebayor.
[edit] Honours
- Ligue 1
- Runners-up (1): 1998
- Ligue 2
- Winners (2): 1935, 2007
- French Cup
- Winners (2): 1984, 1988
- Runners-up (1): 1938
- French League Cup
- Winners (2): 1986, 1996
- Runners-up (1): 1999
- UEFA Intertoto Cup
- Finalists (2): 1996, 1999
FC Metz has never won the French championship; its best result was a second-place finish in 1998, behind RC Lens. Metz won the Coupe de France twice, in 1984 and 1988; the first of these victories led to arguably the team's greatest moment, an upset of FC Barcelona in the first round of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in October 1984. FC Metz also won the Coupe de la Ligue twice, in 1986 and 1996, and has made a total of ten appearances in European tournaments.
[edit] Current squad
As of September 4, 2008[4]
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[edit] Famous players
For a complete list of FC Metz players, see Category:FC Metz players
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[edit] Managerial History
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[edit] References
- ^ www.fcmetz.com
- ^ French clubs in the German football structure 1940-1944 RSSSF.com, accessed: 31 May 2008
- ^ The Graoully, symbol of Metz
- ^ EFFECTIF
- ^ France - Trainers of First and Second Division Clubs
[edit] External links
- (French) Official website
- (French) Generation Grenat 95
- (French) Horda Frenetik 97
- (French) Metz Capitale
- (French) Metz South Connection
