Football Club de Metz, commonly referred to as FC Metz or simply Metz, is a French association football club based in Metz, Lorraine. The club was formed in 1932 and plays in Ligue 1, the first division in the French football league system, for the 2023–24 season after having been promoted as Ligue 2 runners-up for the 2022–23 season. They play their home matches at Stade Saint-Symphorien located within the city. The team is currently managed by László Bölöni. Despite never winning the top flight, they have won the Coupe de France twice and the Coupe de la Ligue twice.
Chamois Niortais Football Club is a French association football club based in the commune of Niort, in the Deux-Sèvres department of western France. It was founded in 1925 by Charles Boinot, the son of the owner of a local chamois leather factory. The club's home stadium is the Stade René Gaillard in Niort, which has a capacity of 10,898 although in the last 20 years attendances have generally averaged below 5,000 per match due to the club's relatively small fan base. Chamois Niortais has traditionally played in an entirely blue home strip, although away strips regularly differ.
Vincent Hognon is a French professional football manager and former player who played as a defender.
Frédéric Antonetti is a French professional football manager and former player who was most recently the manager of French club Strasbourg. He previously managed Bastia, Gamba Osaka, Saint-Étienne, Nice, Rennes and Lille.
KazimirHnatow was a French football player and manager.
Thierry Laurey is a French professional football manager and former player who played as a defender and midfielder.
Gérald Edmond Louis Baticle is a French professional football manager and former player who played as a striker. He was most recently the manager of Angers in Ligue 1.
Philippe Jacques William Montanier is French professional football manager and former player who was most recently the head coach of Ligue 1 club Toulouse. As a player, he was as a goalkeeper.
Pascal Gastien is a French professional football manager and former player, who is the current head coach of Ligue 1 club Clermont.
Nicolas Hibst was a French association football player and manager. During his career, he played in Division 1 and Division 2 with FC Metz and AS Saint-Étienne and was part of the Metz side which lost the 1938 Coupe de France final.
The 2007–08 season was Chamois Niortais' second consecutive season in Ligue 2 after their 16th-place finish in the previous campaign. With the team struggling in the league, manager Jacky Bonnevay was sacked in January 2008 and replaced by Samuel Michel. However, the new coach could not prevent Niort's relegation to the Championnat National; the team was relegated after losing their final match of the season to a goal in the fourth minute of injury time from Boulogne defender Damien Perrinelle.
In the 2006–07 season Chamois Niortais played in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football, following their promotion after winning the Championnat National in the previous season. Philippe Hinschberger started the campaign as team manager, but was replaced by Bosnian Faruk Hadžibegić in February 2007. Niort finished the season in 16th position with a record of 10 wins, 14 draws and 14 defeats from their 38 matches. The team reached the last 32 of the Coupe de France, but was knocked out of the Coupe de la Ligue in the first round.
Olivier Kemen is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays for Turkish club Kayserispor as a midfielder. A former youth international for France, he plays for the Cameroon national team.
Rui Miguel Garcia Lopes de Almeida is a Portuguese professional football manager and the current head coach of JS Kabylie.
The 2021–22 season was the 97th season in the existence of Chamois Niortais F.C. and the club's eighth consecutive season in the second division of French football. The team was excluded from Coupe de France this season.
Francis "Tanase" De Percin is a French professional football manager and former player who is an assistant coach at Ligue 2 club Laval. As a player, he was a right-back.
The 2022–23 Ligue 2, commonly known as 2022–23 Ligue 2 BKT for sponsorship reasons, was the 84th season of Ligue 2. It began on 30 July 2022 and ended on 5 June 2023. The league had a break from 12 November to 27 December due to the FIFA World Cup. Two clubs were to be promoted to Ligue 1 at the end of the season as the number of clubs in Ligue 1 was set to be reduced from 20 to 18 for the 2023–24 season. As a result, there were no play-offs held after the end of the regular season.
The 2022–23 season was the 98th in the history of Chamois Niortais F.C. and their ninth consecutive season in the second division. The club participated in Ligue 2 and the Coupe de France.
George Ilenikhena is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Belgian Pro League club Royal Antwerp.
Patrice Descamps is a French professional football manager and former player who is the director of the youth academy of the Ligue 2 club Amiens. As a player, he was a midfielder.
