Overview of the team
AS Monaco Football Club, commonly known as AS Monaco or simply Monaco, is a French professional football club. It was founded in 1924 and is based in the Principality of Monaco, hence the name. The club plays in the top tier of French football, Ligue 1.
History of the Team
AS Monaco has a long and storied history, having won many domestic and international honors over the years. The team’s successes have been attributed to their focus on developing young players from their academy, which has produced some of the finest footballers in the world.
In their early years, the team struggled to find much success, with their first major trophy being the French Cup in 1960. In 1978, under the guidance of Lucien Leduc, Monaco finally won their first Ligue 1 title. The team continued to perform well after this, winning the French Cup twice more before the end of the 1970s.
The 1980s saw a period of decline for Monaco, with the team struggling to make an impact both domestically and in Europe. However, things changed with the arrival of Arsène Wenger as coach in 1987. Wenger revamped the team, bringing in a number of young players and employing an attacking style of play. Monaco soon became one of the most exciting teams in Europe, winning the Ligue 1 title in 1988 and reaching the final of the European Cup in 1992, which they lost 1-0 to AC Milan.
Since then, Monaco has enjoyed a mixed record of success. The team won Ligue 1 in 1997 and the French Cup in 1991, 2003, and 2010. However, they have struggled in recent years, with financial troubles and a lack of investment hampering their progress. In 2013, Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev took over as the club’s owner, injecting much-needed funds into the team and guiding them to their most successful season in years.
Notable Players
Over the years, several great players have graced the pitch for AS Monaco. Some of the most notable include:
– Thierry Henry: French forward who helped Monaco win Ligue 1 in 1997 and later went on to become a star at Arsenal and Barcelona.
– George Weah: Liberian striker who won the Ballon d’Or while playing for Monaco in 1995.
– Youri Djorkaeff: Talented attacking midfielder who played for Monaco in the 1990s before going on to represent France in the 1998 World Cup.
– Kylian Mbappé: Sensational young forward who rose to fame with Monaco before being sold to Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record transfer fee.
Coaches
AS Monaco has had a number of great coaches over the years. The most notable include:
– Lucien Leduc: Guided Monaco to their first Ligue 1 title in 1978.
– Arsène Wenger: Transformed Monaco in the late 80s and early 90s, making them one of the most exciting teams in Europe.
– Claude Puel: Led Monaco to the final of the UEFA Cup in 1992, which they lost to AC Milan.
Most Successful Season
The 2016-17 season was Monaco’s most successful season in recent years. Under the guidance of coach Leonardo Jardim, the team won Ligue 1 and reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League. Monaco also won the Coupe de la Ligue, making it a domestic double.
One of the standout performances of the season came from Kylian Mbappé, who scored 26 goals in all competitions and was named Ligue 1’s Young Player of the Year. Other key players included Radamel Falcao, Bernardo Silva, and Fabinho.
Owner
AS Monaco is owned by Dmitry Rybolovlev, a Russian billionaire who made his fortune in the potash industry. Rybolovlev purchased a majority stake in the team in 2011 and has since invested heavily in the club, bringing in top-quality players and improving the team’s infrastructure.
Stadium
AS Monaco plays its home games at the Stade Louis II, which has a capacity of just over 18,000. The stadium is located in the Fontvieille district of Monaco, just a stone’s throw from the Mediterranean Sea. The venue has also hosted a number of international athletics events over the years.
References:
– AS Monaco Official Website. (2021). https://www.asmonaco.com/en/
– BBC Sport. (2017). Monaco edge PSG to win French League Cup. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39638853
– Daily Mail. (2013). Meet Monaco’s new billionaire owner who has splashed £250m on the world’s most expensive football squad. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2316236/Meet-Monacos-new-billionaire-owner-splashed-250m-worlds-expensive-football-squad.html