Valenciennes FC facts for kids

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Valenciennes

Full name

Valenciennes Football Club

Nickname(s)

VA
Les Athéniens (The Athenians)

Founded

1914; 111 years ago

Ground

Stade du Hainaut

Capacity

25,172

President

Henrik Kraft

Manager

Ahmed Kantari

League

Ligue 2

2023–24

Ligue 2, 16th of 20

Home colours

Away colours

Valenciennes Football Club, often called Valenciennes, VA, or VAFC, is a professional French football team. It is based in the city of Valenciennes. The club started in 1914. They currently play in the Championnat National, which is the third level of French football. Valenciennes plays its home games at the Stade du Hainaut, a modern stadium in the city.

The club was first known as Union Sportive de Valenciennes Anzin (USVA). They used this name for over 80 years before changing to their current name. Valenciennes has played many seasons in both Ligue 1 (the top league) and Ligue 2 (the second league). They have spent 40 seasons in the first division and 36 seasons in the second. The team has never won the top league. However, they have won Ligue 2 twice. They also won the Championnat National in 2005 and the Championnat de France amateur in 1998. In 1951, Valenciennes reached the final of the Coupe de France for the first and only time.

From 2004 to 2011, Francis Decourrière was the president of Valenciennes. He was a former politician. In 2011, Jean-Raymond Legrand took over as president.

History
Purchase by Sport Republic
Players
Management and staff
- Club officials
- Coaching history
Honours
See also

History

Valenciennes Football Club began in 1913. It was started by three young men named Colson, Joly, and Bouly. The club did not have many resources. Also, World War I was starting around that time. So, Valenciennes decided to join with other local clubs in the city.

This merger happened in 1916. The club then changed its name to Union Sportive de Valenciennes Anzin (USVA). After the merger, the new club played in the District de l'Escaut Championship for 15 years. In July 1930, the French Football Federation decided that football could be a professional sport. Valenciennes became a professional team in 1933. They joined the second division of French football.

Early Years and Promotions

In the first season of the second division (1933–34), Valenciennes finished 7th in their group. The next season, the league became one big table. Valenciennes finished 2nd and moved up to Division 1. During this time, the team had good foreign players. These included Englishmen Peter O'Dowd and George Gibson. German-born players Édouard Waggi and Ignace Kowalczyk also played for them.

In their first season in Division 1 (1935–36), Valenciennes finished 15th. They went back down to Division 2. They had the same points as another team, but fewer wins. After this, a new president named Turbot joined the club. He brought in new players like Ernest Libérati. The team did well and got promoted back to Division 1 in 1937. However, their second time in Division 1 was short. They finished last in the 1937–38 season and were relegated again. Because of World War II, Valenciennes became an amateur club for a few years.

Post-War Era and Cup Finals

After the war, Valenciennes became professional again. They returned to the second division. The club stayed in Division 2 for ten years. Then, they were promoted to the top league for the 1956–57 season. In 1951, under manager Charles Demeillez, Valenciennes reached the final of the Coupe de France. They played against Strasbourg and lost 3–0.

When they returned to Division 1, Valenciennes finished low in the table for three seasons. In 1959, they reached the final of the Coupe Drago. They lost 3–2 to Lens in extra time. In the 1959–60 season, Valenciennes had their best finish in Division 1, coming in 8th place. However, the team's performance dropped the next season.

Golden Age and Relegations

Valenciennes, with young stars like Bolec Kocik and Serge Masnaghetti, got promoted back to Division 1 after just one season. They then stayed in Division 1 for nine years. During this time, manager Robert Domergue led the club to its highest ever finish. They came in 3rd place in both 1965 and 1966. After 1966, Domergue left the club. His replacements could not keep the team's strong performance. Domergue returned in 1970. In his first season back, the club was relegated in 1971. They were promoted back in 1972, but then relegated again in 1973. He left after that season.

After moving between the top two divisions in the early 1970s, manager Jean-Pierre Destrumelle led the club back to Division 1 for the 1975–76 season. He had many talented players, including Bruno Metsu and Didier Six. Destrumelle kept the club in the first division for his time there. However, after finishing 18th in 1979, he was replaced. Valenciennes stayed in Division 1 until 1983. For the next ten years, they played in Division 2. This caused fans to lose interest in the club.

Valenciennes FC playing against Borussia Dortmund in 2011

Difficult Times and Recovery

From 1988 to 1991, Valenciennes improved a lot under manager Georges Peyroche. When Peyroche left in 1991, Francis Smerecki took over. In Smerecki's first season, he led the club back to Division 1.

In the club's first season back, Valenciennes was involved in a big problem. It was a scandal that affected the club for many years. It involved players from Marseille trying to bribe Valenciennes players. The goal was for Valenciennes players to not play their hardest. This was because Marseille had a big game coming up in the 1993 UEFA Champions League Final. Marseille won their game against Valenciennes 1–0. They then went on to win the European competition.

When the problem was found out, some Valenciennes players admitted to being involved. This scandal badly damaged Valenciennes' reputation. Many players left the club. The club was then playing in Ligue 2. They could not recover from the damage and finished last in the league. This meant they dropped to the third division for the first time. Two seasons later, the club was relegated to the fourth division because of money problems. Before the 1996–97 season, the club became an amateur team after going bankrupt.

On April 1, 1996, the club was renamed Valenciennes Football Club. They finished fifth in their first season with the new name. The next season, the fourth division was renamed the Championnat de France amateur. Valenciennes became the first champions of this league. For the next seven seasons, Valenciennes played in the Championnat National. In the 2004–05 season, the club won the National league. They returned to the second division, now called Ligue 2. After just one season, Valenciennes was promoted back to the first division, now called Ligue 1. This was under the leadership of Antoine Kombouaré.

After eight years in Ligue 1, the club was relegated to the second division in 2014. This relegation caused money problems for VAFC. Former minister Jean-Louis Borloo helped save the club from dropping to the fourth division.

In the 2023–24 Ligue 2 season, Valenciennes was relegated back to Championnat National. This happened after they lost 4–1 to Pau FC on April 13, 2024. This ended their 19 years in the professional leagues.

Purchase by Sport Republic

After the club managed to stay in their league on the last day of the season, there were talks about selling the club. On June 16, 2023, the club announced that its main owners were talking with Sport Republic. This is a sports investment company from London. Sport Republic also owns Southampton FC in England and Göztepe SK in Turkey. The goal was for Sport Republic to invest in Valenciennes. On July 13, 2023, the sale of the club was completed.

Players

Current squad

No.	Position	Player
1	GK	Jean Louchet
3	DF	Souleymane Basse
5	DF	Jordan Poha
6	MF	Julien Masson
7	FW	Carnejy Antoine
8	MF	Daouda Traoré (on loan from Southampton)
9	FW	Nick Venema
10	FW	Flamarion
11	FW	Makabi Lilepo
12	DF	Bakaye Dibassy
13	MF	Jean-Éric Moursou
15	DF	Lucas Woudenberg

No.	Position	Player
16	GK	Papa Demba Camara
17	MF	Aymen Boutoutaou
19	FW	Lucas Buades
22	MF	Rémy Boissier
26	DF	Byani Mpata Lama
27	FW	Mathias Oyewusi
29	DF	Joachim Kayi Sanda
30	GK	Lassana Diabaté
45	MF	Tidyane Diagouraga
59	MF	Manga Foe Ondoa
99	FW	Yassine Haouari