After a couple of years finishing
among the best five teams of France, FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
lost their grip in the Nineties. They managed
to avoid relegation after some narrow escapes
for four seasons in a row but in 1995 there
was no way possible to avoid dropping out
of the highest division. The club finished
bottom of the league and relegation is a fact.
This time the way back isn't easy as before.
The desired come-back is secured in 1998 but
a year later, they are again dropped back
in to Division 2. Thanks again to a generation
of brilliant talents (Frau, Meriem, Pedretti
and Monsoreau) the club won promotion as Champions
of Division 2 in 2001. Finally, FCSM created
a solid base to stay in Ligue 1, also thanks
to the completely reconstructed Stade Bonal
and the Youth Academy, now based in the castle
at Seloncourt. Founder fathers of the attractive
game in France, FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
showed the ambition to be a structural force
in France and closed the championship on the
fifth place for two seasons in a row.
After decades without being
able to hold a real Cup, FC Sochaux-Montbéliard,
touched glory again in 2004 when there is
a League Cup trophy to show to the fans after
beating FC Nantes on penalties. It's the
second final in a row, the first lost against
AS Monaco. Also in Europe there are some new
journeys to make. Like to Borussia Dortmund,
Internazionale, Sporting Lisbon and Olympiakos
Piraes a year later. But the greatest glory
was reserved for 2007. Exact 70 years after
the first Coupe de France in their history,
it's club captain Jérémie
Bréchet who holded up this precious
Cup for FCSM after a tight game (2-2 with
win after penalties) with Olympique de Marseille.
Unfortunately, after the glory, the club passed
two difficult seasons avoiding relegation
in the final game of the season. Although
FCSM fought against relegation in 2008, they
still continue to be the football club in
France with the largest total of seasons at
the highest level. In may 2011, after a great
final sprint, the Sochaliens ended up as fifth
in Ligue 1 and guaranteed a ticket for the
UEFA Europa League play-off. It will be the
club's tenth participation to a European Cup
tournament.
 
2004 et 2007
: le FCSM remporte les deux coupes nationales
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