Founded in 1919, Association Sportive Monaco FC, commonly referred to as AS
Monaco FC, is one of the most successful clubs in French football and boasts of
an illustrious history. With 7 Ligue 1 titles and 5 Coupe de France in their
trophy cabinet, this Monegasque club has flourished in the past era making it
to the European Champions Cup (UEFA Champions League) on two occasions, one of
which they ended runners-up to FC Porto. Despite of all their accomplishments, AS Monaco has been forever in the shadows of French football. With attendances
less than 11000 in Stade Louis II (Capacity-18000) over the past 10 years, AS
Monaco has been one of the most under-appreciated club in football history. In
spite of all these differences, the Principality outfit still manages to
attract world-class footballers to this half of the world.
However,
AS Monaco’s rise to success had suffered a major setback in 2010-11 when they
were relegated from the 1st division of football. Through major
administrative changes, AS Monaco has fought back since then guaranteeing a
promotion to Ligue 1 in the 2012-13 season. Ever since they secured promotion,
Monaco has been all over the news making headlines with their big cash splash
all over the European football market.
18 Yard Box 's Rishav Ghosh narrates the tale of this new superpower.
The Past
Founded
in 1919, the club formed by the unification of numerous clubs from France and
the principality of Monaco actually came into being on August 23rd
1924. Having played in amateur leagues for the first few years, Monaco was
finally inducted into the professional league in 1933. 1960 was the year of renaissance
for AS Monaco. Under the guidance of one of the best managers to ever take
charge of the Monegasque club, Lucien Leduc, Monaco won their first ever
professional trophy, winning the Coupe de France, beating St. Étienne in the
final. Ever since, it was a roller-coaster ride for AS Monaco, winning their 1st
ever French 1st division title the very next year. Leduc then went
on to complete a double the very next season with players of the calibre of Marcel Artelesa, Henri Biancheri, Lucien Cossou, Yvon Douis and Michel Hidalgo. However, after the double-winning season Leduc parted ways
with the club and since then, Monaco again hit rock-bottom frequenting the 2nd
division till 1975 when Leduc was re-appointed. Leduc performed another miracle
by securing a qualification to the 1st division the very next season
and winning the league title yet again, the season after. Leduc left the club
yet again, leaving the reins of the club in the able hands of Lucien Muller and
Gerard Banide. The club continued to prove itself as one of Ligue 1's top sides
throughout the 1980s, picking up two more league titles and another domestic
cup.
 |
| A young charismatic Wenger was given the reins of the club |
After
the appointment of Wenger to the Monaco top-job, the Ligue-1 side enjoyed
another spell of success. Arsene gave Monaco a French League and a Coupe de
France in his 7 year reign at the club and produced quality players like George
Weah, Lilian Thuram, Emannuel Petit, Jurgen Klinsmann, David Trezeguet and
Thiery Henry. After Wenger’s departure from the club in 1994, the run of
success for the Les Rouge et Blanc did
not end there.
However,
in spite of so much success, AS Monaco faced financial crisis at the start of
the century forcing president of the club, Jean-Louis Campora to resign. The
next season brought much success to the club as they finished 3rd in
the league and went on to the final of UEFA Champions League,under the guidance
of French legend,Didier Deshchamps.After enjoying a remarkable tenure at the
Monegasque club, Deshchamps quit the club in 2005 leaving the club in dire
straits.
Ever since Deshchamps departure, there was no stopping the landslide
as a series of poor performances over the next few years saw them slump into
second division in the 2010-11 season.
Times
were tough as AS Monaco, one of the most illustrious clubs in French history,
found itself in the 2nd division. In a crunch financial crisis, it
was only the way down for the Principality outfit but a certain Russian
businessman, Dimitry Rybolovlev, bought two-thirds of AS Monaco’s stakes in
December 2011 and since then, Monaco’s fight for survival intensified and with
able reinforcements, Monaco finally gained qualification to the French Ligue 1.
The Present
 |
| The arrival of Radamel Falcao pormises great things to come |
Having
secured promotion to the 1st division, Monaco has opted for a quick
way to success dumping huge amounts of money in the transfer market to secure
the services of world-class players. In the past few weeks, Monaco signed James
Rodriguez and Joao Moutinho from FC Porto, a joint deal worth £60m. They also
signed high-profile striker Radamel Falcao for a fee worth around £50m, from
Athletico Madrid and Ricardo Carvalho for free from Real Madrid. In an attempt
to neutralise the spending prowess and team strength of French counterparts
Paris St.Germain, Claudio Ranieri has also been eyeing Fabio Coentrao, Yohann
Cabaye and Marchisio. Eric Abidal, who started his career at Monaco, might
return to his former club and end his career at Monaco as he hinted in his last
press conference for FC Barcelona.
 |
| Monaco have got a visionary in the form of Ranieri |
AS
Monaco has achieved success in Ligue 2 playing a straight 4-4-2 formation with
2 strikers often lining up one behind another.With impressive signings in the
summer window, Ranieri might change his tactics, tweak the team formations
according to available resources. However, with reinforcements arriving in the
form of world class players, AS Monaco’s prominent players over the last 2
seasons might get axed.
Lucas
Ocampos, a 19-year old winger might find it difficult to challenge for the
starting 11 spot. A really gifted footballer with a keen-knack for goals,
Ocampos might have to play second-fiddle to new recruit James Rodriguez. Moreover,
midfielder Nampalys Mendy is considering his future at the club after influx of
many notable players like Joao Moutinho. Mendy, having played a huge role
playing as the holding midfielder, might have to prove his worth more than ever
after Ranieri announced his intention of signing Newcastle midfielder,Yohann
Cabaye.One of the main reasons for AS Monaco’s success over the past season—the
strike partnership of Valerie Germain and Ibrahima Toure is sure to be disrupted
after the signing of high profile striker Radamel Falcao.
 |
| Mendy (left) and Ocampos (right) could en up leaving the club |
With
all the money splashing around, Monaco might get world class players in his
team but it would be tough for Ranieri,the former Chelsea manager to actually
manage the players.Youngsters like Valere Germain and Emmanuel Riviere has
flourished for Monaco in the latter half of the previous season and their
playing style holds promise for the future of the Monagasque club.
The Future
 |
| With the Russian billionaire on their side, Monaco has started a whole new era |
AS
Monaco has faltered many a times in the past owing to managerial fall-outs and
sometimes due
to lack of quality players. But this time the future of Les Rouge et Blancis in safe hands.With
Dmitri Rybolovlev as the club president and a continuous flow of funds through
the club system, a financial set-back is highly unlikely. Also, over the past
years, AS Monaco has a history of producing raw talents.With players like
Falcao, Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez added to the fold, Monaco might
produce a world-class team in the next couple of years and challenge the
heavyweights of Europe in the Champions League.
AS Monaco will quite surely be a force to reckon with in the near future but
the question still remains-Will they be able to sustain their rapid growth?
Will they be able to perform consistently over the next decade ? Will they be
able to replicate history, or even, better it? Only time
will tell.
Written
By,
Rishav
Ghosh
Rishav
is a writer for 18 Yard Box
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