Toulouse FC facts for kids
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| Full name | Toulouse Football Club | |
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| Nickname(s) | Le Téfécé Les Violets Le Tef Les Pitchouns |
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| Short name | TFC | |
| Founded | 1970 | |
| Ground | Stadium de Toulouse | |
| Capacity | 33,150 | |
| Coordinates | 43°34′59″N 1°26′3″E / 43.58306°N 1.43417°E | |
| Owner | RedBird Capital Partners (85%) | |
| Manager | Carles Martínez Novell | |
| League | Ligue 1 | |
| 2021–22 | Ligue 2, 1st of 20 (promoted) | |
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Toulouse Football Club, often called Le Téfécé or Les Violets, is a professional football team from Toulouse, France. The club started in 1970. They play in Ligue 1, which is the top football league in France. Their home games are held at the Stadium de Toulouse in their city.
Toulouse FC won the Coupe de France in 2023. They have also won the second-tier league, Ligue 2, three times. The team has played in European competitions six times. In 2007, they even got to play in the UEFA Champions League for the first time.
The current president of Toulouse FC is Damien Comolli. Many talented players have started their careers at Toulouse. Some famous ones include Fabien Barthez, who won the World Cup as a goalkeeper, and strikers like André-Pierre Gignac and Wissam Ben Yedder.
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History of Toulouse FC
The city of Toulouse did not have a major football team after 1967. That year, the old Toulouse FC sold its players and its spot in the top French league. But just three years later, in 1970, a new club was formed. It was first called Union Sportive Toulouse.
The team started playing in Ligue 2. In 1979, they changed their name back to Toulouse FC. They also changed their team colours to purple and white. In 1982, Les Pitchouns (a nickname meaning "the kids") moved up to the top league.
One of their most famous early moments was in the 1986–87 UEFA Cup. Toulouse played against Diego Maradona's Napoli team. Toulouse won the game in a penalty shootout, which was a huge achievement for their first time in a European competition.
After some ups and downs, Toulouse faced financial problems in 2001. This caused them to drop down to the third division. However, they quickly bounced back. Just two seasons later, they were back in the top league. In 2007, they finished third in Ligue 1. This earned them a spot in the Champions League qualifying rounds. They played against Liverpool but lost.
In the 2008–09 season, Toulouse finished fourth in Ligue 1. This meant they qualified for the new UEFA Europa League. Their player André-Pierre Gignac was the top scorer in Ligue 1 that season with 24 goals.
In the 2015–16 Ligue 1 season, Toulouse had a thrilling last game. They needed to win to avoid being relegated to Ligue 2. They were losing 2–1 with only 12 minutes left. But they scored two late goals and won 3–2, staying in the top league! Two years later, they had to play a special playoff to stay up. They won that playoff easily.
In 2020, the club had a tough time. They lost many games in a row. Then, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the league season ended early. Toulouse was relegated to Ligue 2.
On July 21, 2020, a company called RedBird Capital Partners bought most of Toulouse FC. The club worked hard and won the Ligue 2 title in 2022. This meant they were promoted back to Ligue 1. On April 29, 2023, Toulouse made history. They won their first-ever Coupe de France title! They beat Nantes 5–1 in the final. This was a huge moment for the club and the city.
Club Name Changes
- Union Sportive Toulouse (1970–1979)
- Toulouse Football Club (1979–present)
Home Stadium
Toulouse FC plays its home matches at the Stadium de Toulouse. This stadium was built in 1937. It can hold 33,150 fans. The stadium has hosted big events like the 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 2007 Rugby Union World Cup, and UEFA Euro 2016.
Team Colours
The team's main colour is violet. This is because Toulouse is known as la Cité des violettes (the City of Violets). The team's logo features the gold and red Occitan cross. This symbol represents Occitania, a region where Toulouse is a historic capital.
Club Rivalries
Derby de la Garonne
The Derby de la Garonne is a big match between Toulouse FC and Girondins de Bordeaux. Both cities, Bordeaux and Toulouse, are major cities in southwestern France. They are also both located on the Garonne River. This makes their matches a special rivalry. The rivalry became even stronger after Toulouse returned to Ligue 1 in 2003.
Players
Current Squad
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Players Out on Loan
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Club Honours
Toulouse FC has won several important titles:
- Coupe de France
- Winners (1): 2022–23
- Ligue 2 (Second Division)
- Winners (3): 1981–82, 2002–03, 2021–22
Toulouse in European Competitions
Toulouse FC has played in European tournaments several times. Here are some of their notable matches:
- In 1986–87, they beat Napoli (with Maradona) in the UEFA Cup.
- In 2007–08, they qualified for the UEFA Champions League but were knocked out by Liverpool.
- In the 2009–10 Europa League, they made it to the group stage.
- In the 2023–24 Europa League, they had a great run. They even beat Liverpool 3–2 at home in the group stage! They finished second in their group, but were later eliminated by Benfica.
Club Officials
| President | Damien Comolli |
| Manager | Carles Martínez Novell |
| Assistant Manager | Jordan Galtier Stéphane Lièvre |
| Goalkeeper Coach | Éric Allibert |
Source: LFP.fr
See also
In Spanish: Toulouse Football Club para niños
- Toulouse FC (women)
