FC Sochaux-Montbéliard

Football club infobox
clubname = FC Sochaux


fullname = Football Club
Sochaux-Montbéliard
nickname = "Les Lionceaux"
founded = 1928
ground = Stade Auguste Bonal,
Montbéliard
capacity = 20,005
chairman = Jean-Claude Plessis
manager = flagicon|France Francis Gillot
league = Ligue 1
season = 2007-08
position = Ligue 1, 14th
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FC Sochaux is a French football team, playing in the town of Montbéliard.

The club was founded in 1928 as a works team for the Peugeot motor car factory in the village of Sochaux. The following year, Sochaux's management sought to attract talented players from around Europe to become France's first professional soccer club.

Results soon followed as Sochaux captured the 1935 and 1938 league championships.

In the post-war era, the FCSM saw its stature in French soccer steadily diminish from a league heavyweight to a middle-of-the-table performer relying more on its excellent youth development program than on the substantial budgets of yore. Although rarely relegated to the second division, Sochaux would not hoist a major trophy until 2004's Coupe de la Ligue.

The current renaissance of "les lionceaux" ("the lion cubs") has seen the club finish in the top half of the Ligue 1 table three years running and compete in the UEFA Cup, as well as acquire French Cup in 2007. It is recognized as one of the very best sources of young talent in France, with players like Benoît Pedretti and Pierre-Alain Frau finding their way to top clubs and the French national team.

Honours

* Ligue 1
** Champion: 1935, 1938
** Runner-up: 1937, 1953, 1980
* Ligue 2
** Champion: 1947, 2001
** Runner-up: 1964,1988
* Coupe de France
** Winner: 1937, 2007
** Finalist: 1959, 1967, 1988
* Coupe de la Ligue
** Winner: 2004
** Finalist: 2003
* Coupe Gambardella
** Winner: 1983, 2007
** Finalist: 1975

Players

Current squad

"As of September 18, 2008" [http://www.fcsochaux.fr/fr/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=56 Effectif professionnel 2008/2009] ]

Out on loan

Famous players

For a complete list of former FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, see

Managerial history

[cite web |url=http://www.rsssf.com/players/trainers-fran-clubs.html#S |title=FC Sochaux coaches on RSSSF | accessdate=2007-05-15]

ee also

* Sochaux

References

External links

*fr icon [http://www.fcsochaux.fr/ Official website]