Football Season Guide

After 5 years spent on the 3rd tier of the French football, Red Star, one of the oldest clubs in the country now belonging to an American fund, are back to the Ligue 2 thanks to their triumph in the Championnat National last season. With Habib Beye at the helm, they immediately took the league by storm winning 8 out of the initial 9 games. Having set their foot at the top of the table in week 5, they became less invincible after November, but such was the gap they had built from their followers that they could even afford losing 4 games straight at the end of the campaign. Surprisingly enough, Red Star did not excel offensively or defensively as they closed the season with just the second-best attack, with 55 goals scored, and the third-best defence, with 34 goals conceded, of the league. Despite all the good done, Beye eventually decided to parting ways with the club. Red Star thus hired Gregory Poirier, who had just led Martigues to promotion to the Ligue 2, as their new coach. Relying on a very limited budget, Red Star were not very active over the transfer campaign both in terms of departures and new arrivals. The new coach aims at working with the squad that obtained promotion, only strengthening the areas where needed. Starting centre-back Gozzi, who offered mixed performances last season, returned to his parent club and he will be replaced by experienced Danger, coming off a positive campaign at Rodez, who can also provide goals, unlike his predecessor. Starting midfielder N’Doye, now 38, was also let go, as he displayed some tiredness at the end of the season, and should be replaced by 22-year-old Renel, who already has plenty of Ligue 2 experience. Moreover, Red Star signed Durivaux, who is set to play a relevant role at right-back with Seridor gone and starting Doucoure injured at the beginning of the new season. If nothing else, they retained their stars such as attacking midfielder Ifnaoui or strikers Benali and Botella.