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FC Sochaux-Montbéliard

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Sochaux
Crest
Full nameFootball Club
Sochaux-Montbéliard
NicknamesLes Lionceaux (The Lions Cubs)[1]
Les Jaunes et Bleus (The Yellow and Blues)
Founded14 June 1928; 97 years ago (14 June 1928)
GroundStade Auguste Bonal,
Montbéliard
Capacity20,025
OwnerFCSM 2028
ChairmanJean-Claude Plessis
ManagerVincent Hognon
LeagueChampionnat National
2024–25Championnat National, 12th of 17
Websitefcsochaux.fr
Current season

Football Club Sochaux-Montbéliard (French pronunciation: [sɔʃo mɔ̃beljaʁ]; commonly referred to as FCSM[2] or simply Sochaux) is a French association football club based in the commune of Montbéliard. The club was founded in 1928 and will compete in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football, for the upcoming 2026–27 season after having been promoted from the Championnat National at the end of the 2025–26 season. Sochaux plays its home matches at the Stade Auguste Bonal, located within Montbéliard.

Sochaux was founded by Jean-Pierre Peugeot, a prominent member of the Peugeot family, and is one of the founding members of the first division of French football. The club has won both Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France twice and have also won the Coupe de la Ligue. Sochaux's last honour came in 2007 when the club, under the guidance of Alain Perrin, defeated favourites Marseille 5–4 on penalties in the 2007 Coupe de France Final. Sochaux's colours are gold and navy blue.

Sochaux is known for its youth academy, which has regularly finished in the top ten rankings of youth academies in France (fourth in 2010).[3] The most successful team in the academy is the under-19 team, which has won the Coupe Gambardella twice, in 1973 and 2007. In 2010, Sochaux finished runners-up to Metz in the 2010 edition of the competition. The academy has produced several notable talents, such as Yannick Stopyra, El-Hadji Diouf, Jérémy Ménez, Bernard Genghini and Benoît Pedretti, among others. The club were a regular in the top flight, until relegation in 2014.

History

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Formation and early success (1928–1938)

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Football Club Sochaux-Montbéliard was founded on 14 June 1928 under the name Football Club Sochaux by Jean-Pierre Peugeot, a director of Peugeot, a French car manufacturing company.[4] Peugeot sought to create a football club for the leisure time of the company's workers. He installed Louis Maillard-Salin as the club's first president, and made Maurice Bailly the club's first manager.[citation needed] Bailly was also a member of the team. Sochaux played its first match on 2 September 1928 against the reserve team of local club AS Montbéliard. The club was inserted into the lowest level of league football in the Franche-Comté region and played its first league match three weeks later winning 12–1.[citation needed]

Strasbourg and Sochaux in the Coupe de France final in 1937.

Peugeot was among the first to advocate for the professionalisation of French football and, in 1929, went as far as to admit to paying his players, which was strictly forbidden during this time.[citation needed] The subsequent recruitment of several French internationals and players from abroad led to Sochaux gaining a stranglehold on the region easily disposing of local rivals AS Montbéliard and AS Valentigney. In June 1930, Montbéliard decided to merge with Sochaux to form the club that exists today.[5] The following month, the National Council of the French Football Federation voted 128–20 in support of professionalism in French football. With Peugeot being a strong advocate for professionalism, Sochaux were among the first clubs to adopt the new statute and, subsequently, became professional.[citation needed] In the league's inaugural season, Sochaux finished 3rd in its group. [citation needed]The club's final position was later moved to 2nd after Antibes, the champions of the group, was disqualified from the league for suspected bribery.[citation needed]

In the 1934–35 season, Sochaux captured its first league title finishing one point ahead of Strasbourg.[6] Led by Uruguayan manager Conrad Ross, as well as captain Étienne Mattler, known as Le Lion de Belfort, and strikers Roger Courtois and Bernard Williams, Sochaux dominated the league losing only four times.[citation needed] Two seasons later, the same team, with the addition of goalkeeper Laurent Di Lorto and the Swiss duo of André Abegglen and Maxime Lehmann, Sochaux won its first Coupe de France title.[7] The club faced league rivals Strasbourg in the final and defeated the Alsatians 2–1 courtesy of goals from Williams and the Argentine Miguel Angel Lauri. Ross finished his career at Sochaux by winning another league title in 1938.[citation needed]

World War II and relegation (1939–1946)

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After the 1938–39 season, Ross and several players departed the club to play and manage abroad due to the onset of World War II. The non-deserters were, subsequently, called into action to fight with the French Army, which ultimately caused the club to limit its aspiring ambitions.[citation needed]

During war-time, in an effort to survive financially, Sochaux formed an interim merger with local rivals AS Valentigney. The club, known as FC Sochaux-Valentigney, participated in the war-time championships from 1942 to 1944. Following the conclusion of the war, Sochaux dissolved the merger, turn professional again, and returned to its original name. The club, however, failed to get back to its form prior to the war and, subsequently, made the decision to forgo entering bidding wars for players, which was becoming the norm and, instead, focus on keeping the team's budget even. As a result, in the first season after the war, Sochaux suffered relegation after finishing in last place with only 15 points. Sochaux spent only one season in the second division and returned to Division 1 for the 1947–48 season.

Return to Division 1 and further cup wins (1947–1959)

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The club spent the next 13 seasons playing in Division 1 with its best finish coming during the 1952–53 season when the club finished runner-up to champions Stade Reims. In the same season, Sochaux won its first honour since 1938 after winning the Coupe Charles Drago. In 1959, the club returned to the Coupe de France final, however, the outcome was not in Sochaux's favour, with the club losing 3–0 to Le Havre in a replay after a 2–2 draw.[citation needed]

Continued success and European football (1960–2001)

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In the early 1960s, despite playing in Division 2, Sochaux won the Coupe Drago in back-to-back seasons.[citation needed] The club made its return to Division 1 in 1964, and remained in the league for over 20 years, regularly finishing in the top ten before falling down to Division 2 in the 1987–88 season. During Sochaux's 24-year run in the first division, the club played in European competitions four times.[citation needed] In the 1980–81 season, Sochaux surprised many by reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup. In the round, the club was defeated by Dutch club AZ 4–3 on aggregate. The club's successful play during this stint was predominantly due to the creation of the club's academy in 1974, which paid immediate dividends. Player such as Bernard Genghini, Yannick Stopyra, Joël Bats and Philippe Anziani were among the inaugural graduates who were instrumental in Sochaux's domestic success.[citation needed]

New millennium (2001–2014)

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Sochaux supporters celebrating winning the Coupe de France in 2007.

After hovering between the first division and the second division in the 1990s, Sochaux returned to the first division, now called Ligue 1, at the start of the new millennium.[8] The club surprised many by finishing within the top ten in its first three seasons back. The club made it to the 2003 Coupe de la Ligue final, led by manager Guy Lacombe, but were defeated 4–1 by Monaco. In the following year, Sochaux won the Coupe de la Ligue 5–4 on penalties against Nantes the 2004 final, winning its first major title since winning the Coupe Drago 40 years prior. Sochaux went on to win the Coupe de France in the 2006–07 season after defeating Marseille 5–4 on penalties. Marseille were favourites heading into match, mainly due to having beaten Sochaux 4–2 just 12 days prior to the final. However, Sochaux, led by Alain Perrin, stunned the nation and claimed its first Coupe de France title since 1937.[citation needed]

Peugeot sells Sochaux (2015–2022)

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In July 2015, Peugeot sold the team to Hong Kong-based company Ledus. In 2018 it was announced that Spanish club Deportivo Alavés, whose owners had a stake in Ledus, was starting a partnership with Sochaux.[9] However, the agreement lasted only a few months, ending abruptly in December of the same year.[10]

Under manager Omar Daf, Sochaux won their last game of the 2018–19 Ligue 2 season against Grenoble which saw the club finish 16th. The following month on 12 June 2019, Sochaux were administratively relegated to the third tier Championnat National by the DNCG for not having presented balanced accounts.[11] On 8 July 2019, it was announced that the club's appeal to the DNCG was successful, and that the club would remain in Ligue 2.[12]

In April 2020, it was announced that Chinese conglomerate, Nenking Group, who had been running the club since the end of the 2018–19 Ligue 2 season in place of Ledus, had formally acquired Sochaux.[13] Samuel Laurent remained as Executive Director General of the club, having been appointed in July 2019.[13]

Administrative relegation and return of Peugeot (2023–present)

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On 28 June 2023, after nine consecutive seasons in Ligue 2, the DNCG confirmed the administrative relegation of Sochaux to the Championnat National, the third tier of French football, due to their financial crisis.[14]

In August 2023, Nenking Group and Sochaux President Frankie Yau signed an agreement to sell the club back to its former president Jean-Claude Plessis and associate, Pierre Wantiez.[15]

On 11 March 2026, Peugeot announced a five-season partnership with Sochaux nearly eleven years after selling the club.[16] At the end of the same season, on 16 May 2026, Sochaux were promoted back to Ligue 2, having finished in second place in the 2025–26 season after three seasons in the third tier.

Stadium

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Entrance to the Stade Bonal

Sochaux plays its home matches at the Stade Auguste Bonal in Montbéliard. The stadium was constructed in 1931 and opened on 11 November of that same year. The facility was previously known as Stade de la Forge.[citation needed] In July 1945, the club changed the stadium's name to its current version.[citation needed] It is named after Auguste Bonal, the former sports director of the club, who after refusing to co-operate with the Germans during World War II, was murdered.[citation needed]

The Stade Auguste Bonal has undergone renovations twice: in 1973 and 1997. In 1997, the majority of the stadium was completely overhauled, and practically a new stadium was built.[citation needed] The stadium still hosted matches during the renovation period, but with a limited capacity. The renovation cost ₣114 million, and took nearly three years to complete.[citation needed] The Nouveau Bonal was officially inaugurated on 22 July 2000 in a Trophée des champions match between FC Nantes and AS Monaco. The stadium's current capacity is 20,005.[citation needed]

Honours and records

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Honours

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The following table lists the honours of FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, updated as of January 1, 2010, in various official competitions at the national and international levels, as well as in youth competitions. In friendly tournaments, the club won the Coupe Peugeot in 1931 and was a finalist in the Trophée Joan Gamper in 1989.

Honors of FC Sochaux-Montbéliard in Official Competitions[17]
National Competitions International Competitions

French Championship (2)

French Ligue 2 (2)

French National 3 (2)

  • Champion: 1978 : Reserve team, 1987 : Reserve team.

French Cup (2)

French League Cup (1)

Coupe Gambardella (3)

Coupe Charles Drago (3)

Coupe Peugeot (1)

UEFA Cup

  • Best performance: semi-finalist in 1981

UEFA Intertoto Cup

  • Best performance: semi-finalist in 2002

Alps Cup

  • Best performance: finalist in 1981

Mohammed V Cup (1)

National records

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[citation needed]

Club records

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[citation needed]

  • Most consecutive seasons in Ligue 2: 9 (2014–2023)
  • Largest home victory: 12-1, Sochaux vs. Valenciennes, 1935/1936 (Ligue 1)
  • Largest away victory: 1-7, Lyon vs. Sochaux, 1987/1988 (Ligue 2)
  • Largest home defeat: 0-5, Sochaux vs. Monaco, 1994/1995 (Ligue 1)
    1-6, Sochaux vs. Ajaccio, 2017/2018 (Ligue 2)
    1-6, Sochaux vs. Rennes, 2023/2024 (French Cup)
  • Largest away defeat: 8-0, RC Paris vs. Sochaux, 1959/1960 (Ligue 1)
  • Most appearances (all competitions): Albert Rust (454 matches)
  • Most goals scored (all competitions): Roger Courtois (281 goals)
  • Youngest player in an official match: Eliezer Mayenda (16 years, 7 months, and 10 days).[19]

Players

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Current squad

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As of 2 February 2026[20]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  ALG Mehdi Jeannin
4 DF  FRA Arthur Vitelli
5 FW  FRA Samy Baghdadi (on loan from Valenciennes)
6 MF  CPV Elson Mendes
7 FW  FRA Benjamin Gomel
8 MF  COD Honoré Bayanginisa
9 FW  FRA Kapit Djoco
10 FW  FRA Boubacar Fofana
11 FW  FRA Julien Vetro
12 FW  MLI Aboubacar Sidibé
14 DF  FRA Mathieu Peybernes
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 MF  MTQ Jonathan Mexique
17 DF  COM Benjaloud Youssouf
20 DF  SEN Prince Mendy
22 FW  FRA Solomon Loubao (on loan from Monza)
23 DF  FRA Julien Masson
24 DF  CPV Dylan Tavares
26 DF  FRA Élie N'Gatta
28 FW  ALG Aymen Boutoutaou
30 GK  HAI Alexandre Pierre
— DF  FRA Dalangunypole Gomis (on loan from Cercle Brugge)

Out on loan

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF  ALG Abderrezzek Saidi (at Unionistas until 30 June 2026)
— DF  GUI Lamine Touré (at FC Montlouis until 30 June 2026)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW  COD Marie-Gaël Mukanya (at Colmar until 30 June 2026)

Notable former players

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Below are the notable former players who have represented Sochaux in league and international competition since the club's foundation in 1928. To appear in the section below, a player must have played in at least 200 official matches for the club.

For a complete list of Sochaux players, see Category:FC Sochaux-Montbéliard players

Honours

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Jérémie Bréchet, with the club's 2007 Coupe de France trophy.

Domestic

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Historical league performance chart of FC Sochaux-Montbéliard

Other

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Management and staff

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Senior club staff
  • President: Frédéric Dong Bo[21]
Coaching staff[22]

Managerial history

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "#261 – FC Sochaux : les Lionceaux" (in French). Footnickname. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  2. ^ French pronunciation: [ɛf.se.ɛs.ɛm]
  3. ^ "Rennes, champion de France de la formation". MaxiFoot. 9 June 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
  4. ^ "Histoire: Les dates clés". FC Sochaux-Montbéliard. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  5. ^ "Histoire: Les dates clés". FC Sochaux-Montbéliard. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  6. ^ "Histoire: Les dates clés". FC Sochaux-Montbéliard. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  7. ^ "Histoire: Les dates clés". FC Sochaux-Montbéliard. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  8. ^ "France - List of Final Tables Second Level". Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  9. ^ Javier Lekuona (25 April 2018). "Oficial: el Alavés firma una alianza con el Sochaux francés" [Official: El Alavés signs an alliance with the French Sochaux]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  10. ^ José Luis del Campo (14 December 2018). "Alavés y Sochaux separan sus caminos" [Alavés and Sochaux separate their paths]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  11. ^ "DNCG : Nancy et Sochaux relégués en National". Foot national. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  12. ^ "DNCG : Les décisions de la commission d'appel sont tombées (off)". Foot national. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  13. ^ a b archyde (28 April 2020). "Ligue 2: the Chinese group Nenking officially owner of Sochaux". Archyde. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  14. ^ "Sochaux relegated as Chinese owners Nenking fail to generate required cash". Reuters. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  15. ^ "Sochaux's former president Jean-Claude Plessis completes club takeover". Get Football News France. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  16. ^ "Peugeot returns to Sochaux with five-season deal, 11 years after sale". OneFootball. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  17. ^ "Palmarès du Racing". pro.rcnm.com. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  18. ^ "The Biggest Ligue 1 Wins". 8 July 2022.
  19. ^ "Eliezer Mayenda, the youngest player to appear in an official match for FCSM" (in French). 18 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  20. ^ "Effectif". Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  21. ^ "Fréderic Dong Bo est le nouveau président du FC Sochaux Montbéliard" (in French). France Bleu. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  22. ^ "Le staff technique du FCSM 2018/2019" (in French). FC Sochaux-Montbéliard Official Site. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  23. ^ "FC Sochaux coaches on RSSSF". Retrieved 15 May 2007.
  24. ^ "Les anciens entraîneurs du FCSM" (in French). FC Sochaux-Montbéliard Official Site. Archived from the original on 24 November 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  25. ^ "Bazdarevic shown the door". Ligue 1. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  26. ^ "Football Club Sochaux-Montbéliard le site officiel". Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  27. ^ "Sochaux : l'entraîneur Hervé Renard confirme son départ". RTL.fr. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
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