AC Ajaccio
Encyclopedia
Athletic Club Ajaccio (aʒaksjo; commonly referred to as AC Ajaccio or simply Ajaccio) is a French association football
club based in the city of Ajaccio
on the island of Corsica
. The club was founded in 1910 and currently plays in Ligue 1
, the first division of French football, having finished 2nd in the 2010–11 campaign in Ligue 2
. The club president is Alain Orsoni and the first-team is coached by Olivier Pantaloni. Ajaccio play their home matches at the Stade François Coty
and are rivals with fellow island club SC Bastia
, with whom they contest the Derby Corse (Corsican Derby).
AC Ajaccio were elected Corsican champions on eight occasions, in 1920, 1921, 1934, 1939, 1948, 1950, 1955 and 1964, and are one of three big "island" teams, along with Gazélec Ajaccio
and SC Bastia
, the competition between the three being kept no secret. Spectators during the 1946 Corsican Cup final, held between A.C.A. and Sporting Bastia were handed umbrellas to shield themselves from the violence. Upon refusal of a penalty which would have been awarded to ACA, violence erupted between the fans, who used umbrellas both as cause and limitation of violence. This final was abandoned and replayed much later.
A.C.A. became a professional team in 1965 thanks to the ambitious assembly of a team by leaders of the club. They initially adopted the symbol of the polar bear, but this has since been dropped in favour of a more stylized logo.
Rolland Courbis François M'Pelé
Dado Pršo
Marius Trésor
Sébastien Squillaci
Football in France
Football is the most popular sport in France. The Fédération Française de Football is the national governing bodyand is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the game of association football in the country, both professional and amateur...
club based in the city of Ajaccio
Ajaccio
Ajaccio , is a commune on the island of Corsica in France. It is the capital and largest city of the region of Corsica and the prefecture of the department of Corse-du-Sud....
on the island of Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
. The club was founded in 1910 and currently plays in Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
, the first division of French football, having finished 2nd in the 2010–11 campaign in Ligue 2
2010–11 Ligue 2
The 2010–11 Ligue 2 season was the 72nd since its establishment. Caen were the defending champions. The fixtures were announced on 22 May 2010 and the season began on 6 August and ended on 27 May 2011. The winter break will be in effect between 22 December and 14 January 2011...
. The club president is Alain Orsoni and the first-team is coached by Olivier Pantaloni. Ajaccio play their home matches at the Stade François Coty
Stade François Coty
Stade François Coty is a football stadium in the Corsican city of Ajaccio, France, and the home of AC Ajaccio. Its capacity is 10,660.The stadium was inaugurated on 1 December 1969 under the name Parc des Sports de l'ACA. A crowd of 14,421 was in attendance to see AC Ajaccio defeat SC Bastia in the...
and are rivals with fellow island club SC Bastia
SC Bastia
Sporting Club de Bastia is a French association football club based in Bastia on the island of Corsica. The club currently plays in the Championnat National, the third division of French football. Bastia previously had stints in both Ligue 1 and Ligue 2...
, with whom they contest the Derby Corse (Corsican Derby).
Historical information
Depending on sources, it is agreed that Ajaccio began playing in 1909–10. Their adopted colours are red and white stripes. Though they used to play in what was previously utilized as a sand dump, they decided to move to another, cleaner, safer stadium upon the insistence of Jean Lluis, father-in-law of club president Louis Baretti. The new stadium that was chosen held 5,000 spectators and was in use until 1969.AC Ajaccio were elected Corsican champions on eight occasions, in 1920, 1921, 1934, 1939, 1948, 1950, 1955 and 1964, and are one of three big "island" teams, along with Gazélec Ajaccio
Gazélec Ajaccio
Gazélec Football Club Olympique Ajaccio was founded in 1910. The club is based in Ajaccio, Corsica.- Honours :* French Amateur Champions: 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968.* Corsican Champions: 1937, 1938, 1956, 1957, 1961.-Current squad:...
and SC Bastia
SC Bastia
Sporting Club de Bastia is a French association football club based in Bastia on the island of Corsica. The club currently plays in the Championnat National, the third division of French football. Bastia previously had stints in both Ligue 1 and Ligue 2...
, the competition between the three being kept no secret. Spectators during the 1946 Corsican Cup final, held between A.C.A. and Sporting Bastia were handed umbrellas to shield themselves from the violence. Upon refusal of a penalty which would have been awarded to ACA, violence erupted between the fans, who used umbrellas both as cause and limitation of violence. This final was abandoned and replayed much later.
A.C.A. became a professional team in 1965 thanks to the ambitious assembly of a team by leaders of the club. They initially adopted the symbol of the polar bear, but this has since been dropped in favour of a more stylized logo.
Current squad
As of 28 July, 2011.Notable past players
For a complete list of AC Ajaccio players, see :Category:AC Ajaccio players. Dominique BaratelliDominique Baratelli
Dominique Baratelli is a former French international footballer who plays goalkeeper.He started his footballing career with Cavigal Nice and turned professional in 1967 when switching to then-first-division side AC Ajaccio. He transferred to OGC Nice in 1971, where he stayed until 1978 and earned...
Rolland Courbis François M'Pelé
François M'Pelé
François M'Pelé is a former Congolese professional football player.In 2006, he was selected by CAF as one of the best 200 African football players of the last 50 years.-External links:**...
Dado Pršo
Dado Pršo
Miladin "Dado" Pršo is a Croatian former professional footballer who played as a striker.Pršo played for seven different teams and made over 300 league appearances as a professional...
Marius Trésor
Marius Trésor
Marius Trésor is a retired football defender from France, who was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers....
Sébastien Squillaci
Sébastien Squillaci
Sébastien Squillaci is a French international footballer who plays for Arsenal. He plays as a central defender and is described as a player who "reads the game well" and is "strong in the air and on the ground"...
Managers
| Jean Pietri (pre-1955) Félix Pironti (1955–57) Michel Brusseaux Michel Brusseaux Michel Brusseaux was a former professional French association footballer. He was born in Oran.-References:* * *... (1957–58) Jean Laune (1958–59) Jean-Pierre Knayer (post. 1959-ante. 63) Abderamane Azzouz (1963–64) Ernst Stojaspal Ernst Stojaspal Ernst Stojaspal was an Austrian football player. He was born in Vienna.-Club career:A prolific striker, the left-footed Stojaspal played for Austria Wien for 10 years, winning three league titles and 2 domestic cups. Also, he topped the final goalscoring charts 5 times... (1964–65) Alberto Muro (1965–70) Louis Hon (1970–71) Antoine Cuissard Antoine Cuissard Antoine Cuissard is a French former football midfielder and manager.-External links:*... (1971–72) André Mori (1972–73) Louis Hon (1973–74) Lulu Accorsi (1974–75) Alain Mistre (1975–76) |
François Paoli (1976–78) Mohammed Azzouz (1978–79)
|
Honours
- Ligue 2Ligue 2Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
- Champions (2): 1967, 2002French football Division 2 2001-02The Division 2 season 2001/2002, organised by the LFP was won by AC Ajaccio and saw the promotions of AC Ajaccio, RC Strasbourg OGC Nice and Le Havre AC, whereas Nîmes Olympique and FC Martigues were relegated to National.-20 participating teams:...
- Champions (2): 1967, 2002
- Championnat NationalChampionnat NationalThe Championnat de France National, commonly referred to as simply National or Division 3, serves as the third division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1 and Ligue 2...
- Champions (1): 1998
- Ligue de Corse
- Champions (9): 1920, 1921, 1934, 1939, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1964, 1994