FC Sochaux-Montbéliard

Formation and early success (1928–1938)

Football Club Sochaux-Montbéliard was founded on 14 June 1928 under the name Football Club Sochaux by Jean-Pierre Peugeot, a director of Peugeot, a French car manufacturing company.^[4] Peugeot sought to create a football club for the leisure time of the company's workers. He installed Louis Maillard-Salin as the club's first president, and made Maurice Bailly the club's first manager.^{[citation needed]} Bailly was also a member of the team. Sochaux played its first match on 2 September 1928 against the reserve team of local club AS Montbéliard. The club was inserted into the lowest level of league football in the Franche-Comté region and played its first league match three weeks later winning 12–1.^{[citation needed]}

Peugeot was among the first to advocate for the professionalisation of French football and, in 1929, went as far as to admit to paying his players, which was strictly forbidden during this time.^{[citation needed]} The subsequent recruitment of several French internationals and players from abroad led to Sochaux gaining a stranglehold on the region easily disposing of local rivals AS Montbéliard and AS Valentigney. In June 1930, Montbéliard decided to merge with Sochaux to form the club that exists today.^[5] The following month, the National Council of the French Football Federation voted 128–20 in support of professionalism in French football. With Peugeot being a strong advocate for professionalism, Sochaux were among the first clubs to adopt the new statute and, subsequently, became professional.^{[citation needed]} In the league's inaugural season, Sochaux finished 3rd in its group. ^{[citation needed]}The club's final position was later moved to 2nd after Antibes, the champions of the group, was disqualified from the league for suspected bribery.^{[citation needed]}

In the 1934–35 season, Sochaux captured its first league title finishing one point ahead of Strasbourg.^[6] Led by Uruguayan manager Conrad Ross, as well as captain Étienne Mattler, known as Le Lion de Belfort, and strikers Roger Courtois and Bernard Williams, Sochaux dominated the league losing only four times.^{[citation needed]} Two seasons later, the same team, with the addition of goalkeeper Laurent Di Lorto and the Swiss duo of André Abegglen and Maxime Lehmann, Sochaux won its first Coupe de France title.^[7] The club faced league rivals Strasbourg in the final and defeated the Alsatians 2–1 courtesy of goals from Williams and the Argentine Miguel Angel Lauri. Ross finished his career at Sochaux by winning another league title in 1938.^{[citation needed]}

World War II and relegation (1939–1946)

After the 1938–39 season, Ross and several players departed the club to play and manage abroad due to the onset of World War II. The non-deserters were, subsequently, called into action to fight with the French Army, which ultimately caused the club to limit its aspiring ambitions.^{[citation needed]}

During war-time, in an effort to survive financially, Sochaux formed an interim merger with local rivals AS Valentigney. The club, known as FC Sochaux-Valentigney, participated in the war-time championships from 1942 to 1944. Following the conclusion of the war, Sochaux dissolved the merger, turn professional again, and returned to its original name. The club, however, failed to get back to its form prior to the war and, subsequently, made the decision to forgo entering bidding wars for players, which was becoming the norm and, instead, focus on keeping the team's budget even. As a result, in the first season after the war, Sochaux suffered relegation after finishing in last place with only 15 points. Sochaux spent only one season in the second division and returned to Division 1 for the 1947–48 season.

Return to Division 1 and further cup wins (1947–1959)

The club spent the next 13 seasons playing in Division 1 with its best finish coming during the 1952–53 season when the club finished runner-up to champions Stade Reims. In the same season, Sochaux won its first honour since 1938 after winning the Coupe Charles Drago. In 1959, the club returned to the Coupe de France final, however, the outcome was not in Sochaux's favour, with the club losing 3–0 to Le Havre in a replay after a 2–2 draw.^{[citation needed]}

Continued success and European football (1960–2001)

In the early 1960s, despite playing in Division 2, Sochaux won the Coupe Drago in back-to-back seasons.^{[citation needed]} The club made its return to Division 1 in 1964, and remained in the league for over 20 years, regularly finishing in the top ten before falling down to Division 2 in the 1987–88 season. During Sochaux's 24-year run in the first division, the club played in European competitions four times.^{[citation needed]} In the 1980–81 season, Sochaux surprised many by reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup. In the round, the club was defeated by Dutch club AZ Alkmaar 4–3 on aggregate. The club's successful play during this stint was predominantly due to the creation of the club's academy in 1974, which paid immediate dividends. Player such as Bernard Genghini, Yannick Stopyra, Joël Bats and Philippe Anziani were among the inaugural graduates who were instrumental in Sochaux's domestic success.^{[citation needed]}

New millennium (2001–2014)

After hovering between the first division and the second division in the 1990s, Sochaux returned to the first division, now called Ligue 1, at the start of the new millennium.^[8] The club surprised many by finishing within the top ten in its first three seasons back.

The club made it to the 2003 Coupe de la Ligue final, led by manager Guy Lacombe, but were defeated 4–1 by Monaco.^[9] In the following year, Sochaux won the Coupe de la Ligue 5–4 on penalties against Nantes the 2004 final, winning its first major title since winning the Coupe Drago 40 years prior.^[9]

Sochaux went on to win the Coupe de France in the 2006–07 season after defeating Marseille 5–4 on penalties.^[9] Marseille were favourites heading into match, mainly due to having beaten Sochaux 4–2 just 12 days prior to the final. However, Sochaux, led by Alain Perrin, stunned the nation and claimed its first Coupe de France title since 1937.^[9]

Peugeot sells Sochaux (2015–2022)

In July 2015, Peugeot sold the club to Hong Kong-based company Ledus for €7 million.^[10]

In April 2018 it was announced that Spanish club Deportivo Alavés, whose owners had a stake in Ledus, was starting a partnership with Sochaux.^[11] However, the agreement lasted only a few months, ending abruptly in December of the same year.^[12]

Under manager Omar Daf, Sochaux won their last game of the 2018–19 Ligue 2 season against Grenoble which saw the club finish 16th, safe from relegation. The following month on 12 June 2019, Sochaux were administratively relegated to the third tier Championnat National by the DNCG for not having presented balanced accounts.^[13] On 8 July 2019, it was announced that the club's appeal to the DNCG had been successful, and that the club would remain in Ligue 2.^[14]

In April 2020, it was announced that Chinese conglomerate, Nenking Group, who had been running the club since the end of the 2018–19 Ligue 2 season in place of Ledus, had formally acquired Sochaux.^[15] Samuel Laurent remained as Executive Director General of the club, having been appointed in July 2019.^[15]

Administrative relegation and return of Peugeot (2023–present)

On 28 June 2023, after nine consecutive seasons in Ligue 2, the DNCG confirmed the administrative relegation of Sochaux to the Championnat National, the third tier of French football, due to their financial crisis.^[16]

In August 2023, Nenking Group and Sochaux President Frankie Yau signed an agreement to sell the club back to its former president Jean-Claude Plessis and associate, Pierre Wantiez.^[17]

On 11 March 2026, Peugeot announced a five-season partnership with Sochaux nearly eleven years after selling the club.^[18] At the end of the same season, on 16 May 2026, Sochaux were promoted back to Ligue 2, having finished in second place in the 2025–26 season after three seasons in the third tier.^[19]

Honours

The following table lists the honours of FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, updated as of January 1, 2010, in various official competitions at the national and international levels, as well as in youth competitions. In friendly tournaments, the club won the Coupe Peugeot in 1931 and was a finalist in the Trophée Joan Gamper in 1989.

National records

^{[citation needed]}

• Largest victory: 12-1, on August 25, 1935, against Valenciennes^[21]
• Youngest player to achieve a hat-trick: Jérémy Ménez, on 22 January 2005 against Bordeaux at 17 years 8 months and 15 days

Club records

^{[citation needed]}

• Most consecutive seasons in Ligue 2: 9 (2014–2023)
• Largest home victory: 12-1, Sochaux vs. Valenciennes, 1935/1936 (Ligue 1)
• Largest away victory: 1-7, Lyon vs. Sochaux, 1987/1988 (Ligue 2)
• Largest home defeat: 0-5, Sochaux vs. Monaco, 1994/1995 (Ligue 1)
  1-6, Sochaux vs. Ajaccio, 2017/2018 (Ligue 2)
  1-6, Sochaux vs. Rennes, 2023/2024 (French Cup)
• Largest away defeat: 8-0, RC Paris vs. Sochaux, 1959/1960 (Ligue 1)
• Most appearances (all competitions): Albert Rust (454 matches)
• Most goals scored (all competitions): Roger Courtois (281 goals)
• Youngest player in an official match: Eliezer Mayenda (16 years, 7 months, and 10 days).^[22]

Current squad

As of 2 February 2026^[23]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information No., Pos. ...

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  ALG Mehdi Jeannin 4 DF  FRA Arthur Vitelli 5 FW  FRA Samy Baghdadi (on loan from Valenciennes) 6 MF  CPV Elson Mendes 7 FW  FRA Benjamin Gomel 8 MF  COD Honoré Bayanginisa 9 FW  FRA Kapit Djoco 10 FW  FRA Boubacar Fofana 11 FW  FRA Julien Vetro 12 FW  MLI Aboubacar Sidibé 14 DF  FRA Mathieu Peybernes

No. Pos. Nation Player 15 MF  MTQ Jonathan Mexique 17 DF  COM Benjaloud Youssouf 20 DF  SEN Prince Mendy 22 FW  FRA Solomon Loubao (on loan from Monza) 23 DF  FRA Julien Masson 24 DF  CPV Dylan Tavares 26 DF  FRA Élie N'Gatta 28 FW  ALG Aymen Boutoutaou 30 GK  HAI Alexandre Pierre — DF  FRA Dalangunypole Gomis (on loan from Cercle Brugge)

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Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information No., Pos. ...

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  ALG Abderrezzek Saidi (at Unionistas until 30 June 2026) — DF  GUI Lamine Touré (at FC Montlouis until 30 June 2026)

No. Pos. Nation Player — FW  COD Marie-Gaël Mukanya (at Colmar until 30 June 2026)

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Notable former players

Below are the notable former players who have represented Sochaux in league and international competition since the club's foundation in 1928. To appear in the section below, a player must have played in at least 200 official matches for the club.

For a complete list of Sochaux players, see Category:FC Sochaux-Montbéliard players

Domestic

• Ligue 1
  • Champions: 1934–35, 1937–38
• Ligue 2
  • Champions: 1946–47, 1987–88 (Group A), 2000–01
• Coupe de France
  • Champions: 1936–37, 2006–07
  • Runners-up: 1958–59, 1966–67, 1987–88
• Coupe de la Ligue
  • Champions: 2003–04
  • Runners-up: 2002–03
• Trophée des Champions
  • Runners-up: 2007
• Coupe Charles Drago
  • Champions: 1953, 1963, 1964

Other

• Coupe Peugeot
  • Champions (1): 1931
• Mohammed V Cup
  • Champions (1): 1989
• Joan Gamper Trophy
  • Runners-up (1): 1989

Managerial history