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Red Star FC

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For other uses, see Red Star F.C. (disambiguation).

Red Star
Full nameRed Star Football Club
Nickname(s)L'Étoile rouge (The Red Star)[1]
Les verts et blancs (The Green and Whites)
Les Audoniens (The Audonians)
Founded21 February 1897; 127 years ago (1897-02-21)
GroundStade Bauer
Capacity5,600
Owner777 Partners
PresidentPatrice Haddad
Head coachGrégory Poirier
LeagueLigue 2
2023–24Championnat National, 1st of 18 (promoted)
Websitehttps://www.redstar.fr
Current season

Red Star Football Club (French pronunciation: [ʁɛd staʁ futbol klœb]), known as Red Star FC or simply Red Star, is a French professional football club founded in Paris in 1897, and is the fourth oldest French football club, after Standard AC of Paris,[2] Le Havre AC and Girondins de Bordeaux. As of the 2024–25 season, Red Star competes in the Ligue 2, the French second tier, after being promoted from Championnat National at the end of the 2023–24 season. The club plays its home matches at Stade Bauer.[3]

Despite the club's long spell under a semi-pro status, Red Star has a rich history. The club was founded in 1897 under the name Red Star Club Français by French football legend Jules Rimet. Rimet later went on to serve as president of both the French Football Federation and FIFA. The original FIFA World Cup Trophy was named in his honour. Red Star was one of the founding member clubs of Ligue 1 and has spent 19 seasons in the first division; the club's last top tier stint being in 1974–75. In cup competitions, the club has won five Coupe de France titles, which is tied for fifth-best among all French clubs.

While the club have enjoyed only modest success on the field, the club is widely recognised for its distinctive social culture. Red Star supporters are strongly identified with their support of left-wing politics, social activism and a party atmosphere they create at the club's matches.[4]

The club was purchased by US-based private investment firm 777 Partners in May 2022, a move which saw demonstrations from fans leading to the postponement of a Championnat National match in April 2022.[5][6]

History

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Early history

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Red Star Football Club was founded on 21 February 1897 in a Parisian café by Jules Rimet and Ernest Weber under the name Red Star Club Français. The derivation of the name is uncertain; it is possibly taken from the red star of Buffalo Bill or possibly in reference to Miss Jenny, a British governess based in Paris who was adopted as the godmother of the club, who recommended the club be named after the historic shipping line, the Red Star Line.[7] Upon its creation, Rimet installed Jean de Piessac as club president and one of his younger brothers as club secretary. The club was officially inaugurated on 12 March 1897 after Rimet signed the club's statutes and sent them to the USFSA, which, during this time, served as the head of French football. Members of the club were required to pay ₣100 a month to help the club meet its daily quota. Red Star officially joined the USFSA in 1898 and was inserted into the third-tier of the association's football league system. In the club's infancy, the team played in navy blue and white at the Champ de Mars. However, soon after, Red Star moved to Meudon playing on a terrace overlooking the Seine Valley.[8] Midway through the year, de Piessac left his post as club president. Rimet quickly succeeded him and, by 1904, Red Star were playing in the first division of the USFSA league.[9]

Red Star team in 1910

In 1907, Red Star changed its name to Red Star Amical Club after merging with Amical Football Club. Due to the merger, the club departed Meudon and moved to Grenelle. After three years in Grenelle, the club moved to Saint-Ouen in Seine-Saint-Denis to play in the newly built Stade de Paris. On 25 October 1909, the stadium was inaugurated following a match between Red Star and English club Old Westminsters. The stadium was later renamed to its present name today. With the USFSA becoming disorganised in the early 1900s, Red Star joined the newly created Ligue de Football Association (LFA) in 1910. In 1912, the club earned its first honour after winning the association's Ligue Nationale. In the same year, the club also finished runner-up to Étoile des Deux Lacs in the Trophée de France.

1919–1975

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In 1919, the French Football Federation was created and months later, the Coupe de France. From 1920–34, Red Star embarked on a remarkable uprising in which the club won four Coupe de France titles, achieved professional status, and were founding members of the French Division 1. The club's first Coupe de France victory came in 1921, when the club, led by French internationals Pierre Chayriguès, Paul Nicolas, Juste Brouzes, Lucien Gamblin and Maurice Meyer, defeated Olympique de Paris 2–1, courtesy of goals from Marcel Naudin and Robert Clavel. In the ensuing two seasons, Red Star won back-to-back Coupe de France titles. In 1922, the club defeated Stade Rennais UC 2–0 and, in 1923, Red Star beat Cette 4–2 to complete the hat trick. In 1926, Red Star completed a second merger, this time with its local rivals Olympique de Paris whom it had defeated just five years ago in a Coupe de France final. Due to the merger, Red Star changed its name to Red Star Olympique and dropped its navy blue and white combination for a simple white blouse. In 1928, Red Star won its fourth Coupe de France title of the decade defeating CA Paris 3–1 at the Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir in Colombes.

In July 1930, the National Council of the French Football Federation voted 128–20 in support of professionalism in French football. Red Star were among the first clubs to adopt the new statute and, subsequently, became professional and were founding members of the new league. In the league's inaugural season, Red Star were relegated after finishing in the bottom three of its group. As a result, the club played the following season in the inaugural season of the Division 2. Red Star won the league and returned to the first division for the 1934–35 season. Following the club's return to Division 1, Red Star switched its colours from white to the green and white that exists today. In 1967, they merged with Toulouse FC (not the current club) out of the latter club's financial reasons and bought Toulouse's place in the top division. The merged club last played in first division in the 1974–75 season.

Recent history

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Red Star were relegated from Ligue 2 in 1999. In 1999–2000 they reached the semi-finals of the Coupe de la Ligue, losing to eventual champions Gueugnon. They were relegated to the fourth tier in 2001, thereby losing their professional status. A year later, the FFF sent them down another tier due to €1.5 million debts. From 2003 to 2005, Red Star played in the sixth-tier Division d'Honneur.[10]

After a long spell in the lower leagues, following a successful 2014–15 campaign, the team won promotion to Ligue 2, the second tier of French football.[11] In their first season back in Ligue 2, Red Star finished 5th on the table missing promotion to Ligue 1 by a single point.[12] In the 2016–17 Ligue 2 season, Red Star finished 19th and were relegated back to the third division of French football.[13]

Due to safety regulation issues with Stade Bauer, Red Star has been forced to play at different stadiums the past few seasons when in Ligue 2.[14] They have employed Stade Jean-Bouin in the past and then used Stade Pierre Brisson located in Beauvais. Since returning to the third tier in 2019, the club has returned to playing home matches at Stade Bauer.

In 2018, Red Star were promoted back to Ligue 2 as champions of the Championnat National.[15] They were relegated again the following season, finishing bottom of Ligue 2. Their relegation was confirmed on 27 April 2019 after losing 2–1 to champions FC Metz.[16]

Divisional movements of Red Star

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Red Star Football Club 93 logo from 2001-2010.

(Italics indicates winning seasons)[17][better source needed]

  • Ligue 1: 1932–33, 1934–38, 1939–50, 1965–66, 1967–73, 1974–75
  • Ligue 2: 1933–34, 1938–39, 1952–60, 1961–65, 1966–67, 1973–74, 1975–78, 1982–87, 1989–99, 2015–17, 2018–19, 2024-
  • Third Level: 1950–52, 1960–61, 1981–82, 1987–89, 1999–01, 2011–15, 2017–18, 2019–2024
  • Fourth Level: 1980–81, 2001–02, 2006–11
  • Fifth Level: 1978–80, 2002–03, 2005–06
  • Sixth Level: 2003–05

Name changes

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  • Red Star Club Français (1897–04)
  • Red Star Amical Club (1904–25)
  • Red Star Olympique (1925–44)
  • Red Star Olympique Audonien (1944–46)
  • Stade Français-Red Star (1946–48)
  • Red Star Olympique Audonien (1948–55)
  • Red Star Football Club (1955–66)
  • AS Red Star (1976–82)
  • AS Red Star 93 (1982–01)
  • Red Star Football Club 93 (2001–10)
  • Red Star Football Club (2010–)

Supporters

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The club has relatively modest but loyal support, mostly centered around Saint-Ouen and the northern suburbs of Paris. Overtly antifascist,[18] most of the fans are left-wing,[19][20] and the club identifies itself as a banlieue working-class club. Average attendances in recent years have been consistently above 3000 spectators per match with many home games sold out.[1]

The club has several ultras groups; "Red Star Fans", "Gang Green", "Perry Boys" and the smaller "Splif Brothers".

The fans have a long-standing friendship with "Red Kaos" of Grenoble.[21]

Red Star have rivalries with fellow Parisian derby rivals; with US Créteil and a fierce rivalry with Paris FC.[22]

Youth system

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Red Star unearthed several talented players during its early existence, most notably Paul Nicolas, who spent nine years at the club, Nicolas later became a catalyst towards the development of professional football in France and was partly responsible for the creation of the Ligue de Football Professionnel. Football manager Roger Lemerre started his managerial career with the club before leading France to titles at UEFA Euro 2000 and the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Red Star's youth academy was once very productive. The likes of Alex Song, Moussa Sissoko and Abou Diaby, all renowned players in English football, came through the club's youth system. As a matter of fact, no less than five players at the 2014 World Cup had played in the club's youth teams.[23] Nevertheless, during the years spent in lower amateur divisions, the loss of professional status led to the dismantling of the youth academy setup, and although a project to rebuild it has been in the air for a few years,[24] it has yet to be done despite the club's return to professional football.[25]

Players

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Current squad

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As of 30 August 2024[26]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK France FRA Quentin Beunardeau
2 DF Cameroon CMR Blondon Meyapya
4 DF Senegal SEN Bissenty Mendy
5 DF France FRA Josué Escartin
6 DF Guinea GUI Rayane Doucouré
7 FW France FRA Damien Durand
8 MF France FRA Joachim Eickmayer
9 FW Senegal SEN Alioune Fall
10 MF France FRA Merwan Ifnaoui
11 FW France FRA Kemo Cissé
12 MF France FRA Vincent Kany
13 DF Mali MLI Fodé Doucouré
14 MF France FRA Rayan Slimani
16 GK France FRA William Avognan
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 FW France FRA Ivann Botella
19 MF France FRA Hianga'a Mbock (on loan from Brest)
20 DF France FRA Dylan Durivaux
21 FW Senegal SEN Aliou Badji
23 FW France FRA Jovany Ikanga
26 MF Republic of the Congo CGO Fred Dembi
27 DF France FRA Bradley Danger
28 DF France FRA Loïc Kouagba
29 FW Algeria ALG Hacène Benali
30 GK Democratic Republic of the Congo COD Pépé Bonet
77 FW Ivory Coast CIV Achille Anani
93 DF France FRA Aniss El Hriti
97 MF Martinique MTQ Samuel Renel
98 DF France FRA Ryad Hachem

Notable players

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Below are the notable former players who have represented Red Star in league and international competition since the club's foundation in 1897. To appear in the section below, a player must have played in at least 100 official matches for the club or have played for his country's team.

For a complete list of Red Star players, see Category:Red Star FC players.

Management and staff

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  • Owner and President: Patrice Haddad[27]
  • Sporting Director: Reda Hammache
  • Global Sports Director: Johannes Spors
  • Head Coach: Grégory Poirier
  • Assistant Head coach: Sylvain Groseil, Pierre-Emmanuel Bourdeau
  • Goalkeeper Coach: Faouzi Amzal
  • Fitness Coach: Rodolphe Rothe-Boll
  • Athletic Coach: Randy Fondelot
  • Match Analyst: Brahim Merad
  • Club Doctor: Alain Frey
  • Osteopath: Quentin Janicot
  • Medical department: Mohamed Kadi, Isabelle Meissner
  • Masseur: Philippe Donin, Alexis Rebour, Thibaut Lacaze
  • Head of Education: Vincent Doukantie
  • Kit Manager: Christian Dubo, Osman Davison, Alain Giry, Nordine Guellai, Boualem Zeboudji
  • Team Manager: Valentin Ries

Coaching history

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Honours

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Domestic

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Red Star sign in front of Stade Bauer

Other

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  • Ligue de Football Association (LFA) Championship
    • Champions (1): 1912
  • Challenge de la Renommée
    • Champions (1): 1919
  • Trophée de France
    • Runners-up (1): 1912

International

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  • Tournoi du Nouvel An
    • Winners (2): 1921 (shared), 1923, 1924 (shared)[30]
  • Tournoi de Pâques
    • Winners (1): 1923[30]
    • Runners-up (2): 1922, 1929[30]
  • Tournoi Pascal
    • Winners (2): 1913, 1924[30]
  • Challenge International de Paris
    • Winners (1): 1913[30]
  • Tournoi de Pentecôte
    • Runners-up (1): 1927[30]

References

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  1. ^ "#625 – Red Star FC : l'Etoile Rouge" (in French). Footnickname. 26 September 2021. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Fédération Française de Football". Archived from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Red Star: En National au stade Bauer (off)". Foot-national.com (in French). 22 May 2019. Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  4. ^ Godfrey, Mark (20 January 2018). "Red Star: the oldest, hippest and most political football club in Paris". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  5. ^ "National. Le Red Star officiellement vendu au fond américain 777 Partners" [National. Red Star officially sold to the American fund 777 Partners] (in French). footamateur.fr. 11 May 2022. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  6. ^ "National. La rencontre Red Star – Sète arrêtée pour des jets de projectiles" [National. The Red Star v Sète abandoned due to projectiles being thrown] (in French). footamateur.fr. 15 April 2022. Archived from the original on 16 April 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  7. ^ Saillant, Gilles; Laporte, Pierre (1999). Red Star: histoires d'un siècle (in French). Paris: Red Star. p. 12. ISBN 2-95125621-3.
  8. ^ Saillant & Laporte (1999), p.13.
  9. ^ Saillant & Laporte (1999), p.14.
  10. ^ Corby, Stéphane (8 May 2015). "Le Red Star revient de si loin..." Le Parisien (in French). Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  11. ^ Robinson, James (30 June 2015). "Red Star Paris: the other Parisian club". These Football Times. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  12. ^ "The football club founded by Jules Rimet battles its way back". BBC News. 4 May 2016. Archived from the original on 9 November 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  13. ^ Booth, Philippa (27 June 2017). "Bureaucracy Corner – HT: DNCG 2 – 0 Corsica". French Football Weekly. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  14. ^ "Bauer". Red Star Football Club (in French). 7 May 2018. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  15. ^ Lepage, Amélie (20 April 2018). "Red Star: le sprint final pour la montée en Ligue 2". France 3 (in French). Archived from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  16. ^ "Impregnable John Boye provides last-gasp assist as FC Metz defeat Red Star to seal Ligue 1 promotion". GhanaSoccernet. 27 April 2019. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  17. ^ fr:Bilan saison par saison du Red Star
  18. ^ Dodman, Benjamin (12 September 2015). "French president's romance with 'communist' football club". France 24. Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  19. ^ "The football club founded by Jules Rimet battles its way back". BBC News. 4 May 2016. Archived from the original on 9 November 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  20. ^ Ksiss-Martov, Nicolas (14 January 2014). "8°6 Crew : "Au Red Star, les supporters aiment vraiment le ballon"". SO FOOT.com (in French). Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  21. ^ Sandre, Alexis (9 September 2017). "GF38 - Red Star : deux clubs, une histoire d'amitié". LeDauphine.com (in French). Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  22. ^ "Le Red Star remporte le derby Capital". What'sTheFoot.com (in French). 5 February 2014. Archived from the original on 22 August 2018.
  23. ^ Eyrignoux, Maxime (16 June 2014). "Du Red Star au Brésil". Red Star Football Club (in French). Archived from the original on 5 May 2017.
  24. ^ "Réponse aux Cahiers Du Football". Red Star Football Club (in French). 14 June 2018. Archived from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  25. ^ Piazzolla, Osvaldo (14 June 2018). "Red Star : une montée à la Pyrrhus". Les Cahiers du Football (in French). Archived from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  26. ^ "Les pros". Red Star F.C. (in French). 23 January 2018. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  27. ^ "Staff et Organigramme". Red Star Football Club 93 (in French). Archived from the original on 24 April 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  28. ^ Garin, Erik. "France - Trainers of First and Second Division Clubs". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 18 June 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  29. ^ "Red Star : Le nouvel entraîneur est connu". Foot-National.com (in French). 13 June 2019. Archived from the original on 13 June 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  30. ^ a b c d e f García, Javier; Veronese, Andrea (19 June 2009). "International Tournaments (Paris) 1904-1935". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
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