FC Rouen
Encyclopedia
Football Club de Rouen 1899 (ʁwɑ̃; commonly referred to as simply Rouen) is a French association football
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 Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...

. The club was formed in 1899 and currently play in the Championnat National
Championnat National
The 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...

, the third level of French football
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...

. Rouen plays its home matches at the Stade Robert Diochon
Stade Robert Diochon
Stade Robert Diochon is a stadium in Rouen, France. It is currently used for football matches and is the home stadium of FC Rouen. The stadium holds 12,018 spectators.-External links:*...

; named after Robert Diochon, a historic player who was influential during the club's infancy. The team is managed by former football player Éric Garcin and captained by defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....

 Pierre Vignaud. Rouen is known as Les Diables Rouges (The Red Devils) and have been since 1903.

Rouen was founded in 1899, but had been in existence since 1896 as a rugby club
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...

. The club achieved professional status in 1933 and have spent 19 seasons in the first division of French football and 36 in the second division. Rouen's highest honor to date was winning the second division in 1936. In 1940 and 1945, the club won the league championship of France, however, due to the league being run during World War II and not under French Football Federation
French Football Federation
The French Football Federation is the governing body of association football in France, as well as the overseas departments and territories . It was formed in 1919 and is based in the capital Paris...

 authority, the titles are unofficial. Rouen have also reached European level, competing in the 1969–70 edition of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was a European football competition played between 1955 and 1971. The competition was the idea of Swiss pools supremo Ernst Thommen, Ottorino Barassi from Italy, and the English Football Association general secretary Stanley Rous, all of whom later became senior officials...

, where the team was defeated by the eventual champions Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...

 1–0 on aggregate in the third round.

In addition to Robert Diochon, Rouen have produced a host of players who contributed to the France national team
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...

 during the team's early years. One of the more notable players were Edmond Delfour
Edmond Delfour
Maurice Edmond Delfour was a French international footballer who played midfielder and manager. He was born in Ris-Orangis...

 and Jean Nicolas
Jean Nicolas
Jean Edouard Marie Nicolas was a French international footballer.Born in Nanterre, Nicolas played club soccer for FC Rouen, and appeared in the 1934 and 1938 World Cup squads for France, and scored two goals in the 1938 tournament.He scored a total of 21 goals in 25 international games between...

. Delfour made 41 appearances with the national team from 1929–1938 and participated in three FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...

s 1930
1930 FIFA World Cup
The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the inaugural FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July 1930...

, 1934
1934 FIFA World Cup
The 1934 FIFA World Cup was the second FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Italy from 27 May to 10 June 1934....

 and 1938
1938 FIFA World Cup
The 1938 FIFA World Cup was the third staging of the World Cup, and was held in France from 4 June to 19 June. Italy retained the championship, beating Hungary 4–2 in the final.-Host selection:...

. He is one of five players to have appeared in all three of the pre-war World Cups. Delfour later went on to manage Rouen from 1940–1945 during the unofficial wartime championships. Nicolas spent his entire career with Rouen and appeared in 25 matches scoring 21 goals with the national team from 1933–1938. In present-day, Nicolas' goal output with the team ranks for tenth all-time and his average places him in a tie for third.

History

Football Club de Rouen 1899 was founded under the name Football Club de Rouen in 1896 by an English merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...

 known by the surname Willing. The club was initially formed as a rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...

 club. Rouen spent three seasons primarily playing the sport of rugby before association football was introduced to the club in 1899. On 11 July 1899, the club officially announced the introduction of a football section. The section was primarily influenced by player Robert Diochon was, upon its creation, inserted into the regional league, Normandie Championnat, by the USFSA. In 1903, the club acquired the nickname Les Diables Rouges (The Red Devils). In 1910, Diochon was installed as president of the club. Under the reign of Diochon, Rouen won the Normandie Championnat in five straight seasons from 1909–1914. After World War I and the dissolving of the USFSA, Rouen began playing in the Normandie Division d'Honneur. From 1919–1933, the club won the league eight times and were led by mercurial striker Jean Nicolas
Jean Nicolas
Jean Edouard Marie Nicolas was a French international footballer.Born in Nanterre, Nicolas played club soccer for FC Rouen, and appeared in the 1934 and 1938 World Cup squads for France, and scored two goals in the 1938 tournament.He scored a total of 21 goals in 25 international games between...

. In 1925, Rouen reached the Coupe de France
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...

 final. In the final, the club faced CASG Paris and were defeated 3–2 in the second leg of the final. The first leg had ended in a 1–1 draw, which constituted a second leg.

In July 1930, the National Council
National Council
-Conservation:* National Council for Science and the Environment, a US-based non-profit organization which has a mission to improve the scientific basis for environmental decisionmaking...

 of the French Football Federation
French Football Federation
The French Football Federation is the governing body of association football in France, as well as the overseas departments and territories . It was formed in 1919 and is based in the capital Paris...

 voted 128–20 in support of professionalism in French football. Rouen were among several clubs to adopt the new statute and, subsequently, became professional. The club was inserted into the second division and, as a result, became founding members of Division 2. In the league's inaugural season, Rouen finished 3rd. In the league's second season, the club finished as champions, thus earning promotion to Division 1. In Rouen's debut season in Division 1, the club surprisingly finished in 4th place. The club also reached the semi-finals of that year's Coupe de France. Rouen remained in Division 1 until the onset of World War II stopped the competition. After the war, professional football returned and Rouen were back in Division 1. The club spent only two seasons in the league before falling to Division 2 after finishing dead last in the 1946–47 season. Rouen spent the next 13 seasons playing in the second division. In 1953, Diochon passed way and the presidency was handed over to Auguste Duchêne. Under Duchêne, Rouen returned to Division 1 in 1960 and finished in 4th place in the club's first season back. Rouen remained consistent in the table for the next two seasons before falling down to the bottom half of the table in 1963. After finishing in the bottom half for five straight seasons, Rouen were forced into relegation by the French Football Federation
French Football Federation
The French Football Federation is the governing body of association football in France, as well as the overseas departments and territories . It was formed in 1919 and is based in the capital Paris...

 after the club gave up its professional status due to financial and administrative issues.

Aside from a three-year stint in Division 1 from 1982–1985, Rouen have not maintain a consistent place in the first division since giving up its professional status. From 1970–1994, the club spent most of its life playing in Division 2. In 1995, the club filed for bankruptcy and subsequently changed its name to Grand FC Rouen. As a result of its bankruptcy filing, the club was administratively relegated to the Championnat National
Championnat National
The 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...

, the third level of football. In 1997, Rouen were relegated to the Championnat de France amateur and, in the next season, were playing in the fifth division. In 1999, Rouen, as an amateur club, reached the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...

.

In July 2000, the club's new incoming president René Bertin changed the club's name to its current form. The club underwent a rebirth and, after three seasons, were back playing in the National division. In the 2002–03 season, Rouen finished 3rd in National and, as a result, earned promotion back to Division 2, now called Ligue 2. The club's return as a professional outfit was short as Rouen spent a disastrous season in the league, ultimately finishing in dead last. An ensuing relegation from National occurred in the following season and Rouen were back in the fourth division. In 2008, the club endured serious financial issues, which led to the club being relegated to the Championnat de France amateur 2 by the DNCG. However, after successfully appealing to the organization, Rouen were inserted back into the fourth division. The club, subsequently, finished first in its group and were promoted back to National, where it currently remains.

Current squad

As of August 2011.


Notable players

Below are the notable former players who have represented Rouen in league
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....

 and international competition since the club's foundation in 1899. To appear in the section below, a player must have played in at least 80 official matches for the club.

For a complete list of Rouen players, see :Category:FC Rouen players
Bernard Antoinette André Betta
André Betta
André Betta is a former professional French football midfielder.-External links:**...

 Michel Bensoussan
Michel Bensoussan
Michel Bensoussan is a French former professional football player.Bensoussan was a member of the French squad that won the gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California but did not play....

 Jean-François Beltramini
Jean-François Beltramini
Jean-François Beltramini is a French former professional football player.-External links:**...

 Maurice Blondel Jean-Luc Buisine Jacques Canthelou Alfred Dambach Edmond Delfour
Edmond Delfour
Maurice Edmond Delfour was a French international footballer who played midfielder and manager. He was born in Ris-Orangis...

 Jean-Pierre Destrumelle
Jean-Pierre Destrumelle
Jean-Pierre Destrumelle was a French football player who played for Rouen, Marseille and Paris SG.Destrumelle also enjoyed a career as a manager with Valenciennes, Bastia, Lyon, Béziers and Orléans.-External links:*...

 Robert Diochon
Daniel Druda Christophe Horlaville
Christophe Horlaville
Christophe Horlaville is a former French footballer.-Playing career:Horlaville spent a 13 year career in the French leagues with various clubs. He also played two months in the English Football League with Port Vale; he started one game and also made one substitute appearance for the First...

 Albert Lemaître André Mathieu Jean Nicolas
Jean Nicolas
Jean Edouard Marie Nicolas was a French international footballer.Born in Nanterre, Nicolas played club soccer for FC Rouen, and appeared in the 1934 and 1938 World Cup squads for France, and scored two goals in the 1938 tournament.He scored a total of 21 goals in 25 international games between...

 Jean-Pierre Orts Michel Payen Pierre Phelipon
Pierre Phelipon
Pierre Phelipon is a former French football defender who played for RC Paris, Stade Français, Grenoble, Rouen, Angoulême, Stade Saint-Germain and Paris SG....

 Roger Rio
Roger Rio
Roger Rio was a French association footballer. He played for FC Rouen, and earned 18 caps and scored 4 goals for the France national football team, and played in the 1934 FIFA World Cup. He was the father of Patrice Rio, who represented France at the 1978 FIFA World Cup.-References:...

 Mohamed Lekkak Demba Ba
Demba Ba
Demba Ba is a French-born Senegalese footballer who plays as a striker for Newcastle United in the Premier League, and for the Senegal national team.-Early life:Ba was born in Sèvres, Hauts-de-Seine, and was the sixth child of seven...



Club officials

Football Club de Rouen 1899 (SASP)
  • President: Pascal Darmon
  • Vice-President: Eric Lelièvre & Emmanuel Schreder
  • Board of Directors: Vincent Dumont, Philippe Blot, Charles Maarek, Fabrice Tardy


Senior club staff
  • Administrative Director: Brigitte Niel
  • Commercial Director: Sebastien Vilain
  • Communications Director: Erik Jourdaine
  • Events Director: Karl Delaporte
  • Accounting Director: Maryline Heaume
  • Ticketing Director: Baptiste Lesueur
  • Security Director: Philippe Hamard
  • Assistant Security Director: Pierre Goode


Coaching and medical staff
  • Manager: Éric Garcin
  • Assistant Manager: Manu Da Costa
  • Goalkeeping Coach: Jean-Luc Aubert
  • Sporting Director: Michel Hamel
  • Fitness Coach: Bertrand Couvercelle
  • Assistant Fitness Coach: Julien Savigny
  • Doctor: Bernard Cauchois
  • Kinesiotherapy: Rodolphe Goechon
  • Intendant: Laurent Saint Martin

Managerial history

Dates Name
1930–1935   Zoltan Vago
1935–1938   Emil Skolaut
1938–1939   William Wright
1939–1940   George Kimpton
1940–1945   Edmond Delfour
Edmond Delfour
Maurice Edmond Delfour was a French international footballer who played midfielder and manager. He was born in Ris-Orangis...

1945   George Kimpton
1945–1947   Ernest Payne
Ernest Payne (footballer)
Ernest Arthur Payne was an English professional footballer active in France in the 1930s and 1940s. Payne played club football with Excelsior Roubaix and Boulogne, and later managed Boulogne, Rouen and Roubaix-Tourcoing.-References:...

1947–1950   Maurice Blondel
1950   Charles Roze
1950–1952   José Mandaluniz
1952–1953   Jules Bigot
1953–1954   Jean Grégoire
1954–1958   Robert Lacoste
1958–1964   Max Schirschin
Max Schirschin
Max Schirschin is German former footballer and football manager.He played for Schalke 04, Angers, Le Havre, Rouen and RC Maison-Carrée.He coached Rouen, Gent, Fortuna '54, Metz and Le Havre. and Bastia.-References:...

1966–1965   Paul Lévin
1965–1968   René Vernier
1968–1970   André Gérard
André Gérard
André Gérard is French former footballer and football manager.He played as a goalkeeper for Bordeaux.In France, he coached Bordeaux, FC Nancy, Toulon, Stade Français and Rouen. He also had a stint for Tunisia.-References:...

1970–1971   Roger Rizzi
1971   Pierre Tournier
1971–1972   Max Schirschin
Max Schirschin
Max Schirschin is German former footballer and football manager.He played for Schalke 04, Angers, Le Havre, Rouen and RC Maison-Carrée.He coached Rouen, Gent, Fortuna '54, Metz and Le Havre. and Bastia.-References:...

1972–1975   Ernst Melchior
Ernst Melchior
Ernst Melchior was an Austrian football player.-Club career:He played seven years for Austrian giants Austria Wien before moving to France where he played for FC Rouen and FC Nantes....


Dates Name
1975–1976   Robert Vicot
Robert Vicot
Robert Vicot is a former French football defender. He played for Ivry sur Seine, Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville, Toulon and SO Le Lavandou.Vicot coached SO Le Lavandou, Châteauroux, Paris SG, Rouen, Paris FC, Gabon and Béziers....

1976–1977   Pancho Gonzales
1977–1978   Milorad Pavić
Milorad Pavic (footballer)
Milorad "Miša" Pavić was a Serbian football player and coach.In his home country he coached Red Star Belgrade and FK Vojvodina....

1978–1979   Daniel Druda
1979–1980   Cesto Vanzo
1980–1985   Robert Vicot
Robert Vicot
Robert Vicot is a former French football defender. He played for Ivry sur Seine, Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville, Toulon and SO Le Lavandou.Vicot coached SO Le Lavandou, Châteauroux, Paris SG, Rouen, Paris FC, Gabon and Béziers....

1985–1986   François Bracci
François Bracci
François Bracci is French association football manager and former player, currently coaching MC Alger in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1. He obtained a total number of 18 international caps for the France national football team...

1986–1990   Arnaud Dos Santos
Arnaud Dos Santos
Arnaud Dos Santos is a French former footballer and coach.He played for US Boulogne, FC Rouen, AS Monaco FC, FC Girondins de Bordeaux, Troyes AC and Lille OSC....

1990   Pierre Garcia
Pierre Garcia
Pierre Garcia is a retired French football player and manager.Garcia played for Stade Rennais F.C. in the French Ligue 1.-External links:*...

1990–1994   Daniel Zorzetto
1994   Jean-Pierre Orts
1994   Jean-Paul Rabier
Jean-Paul Rabier
Jean-Paul Rabier is a French football manager and former player.-Career:Rabier played for Rennes, Valenciennes, Laval and Lens....

1994–1995   Patrick Parizon
Patrick Parizon
Patrick Parizon is a football manager. He was fired from coaching SM Caen in June 2009.-References:*...

1995–2000   Laurent Roussey
Laurent Roussey
Laurent Roussey is a French former football striker and manager.-External links:* *...

2000   Parice Heaulmé
2000–2004   Yves Brécheteau
2004   Jean-Guy Wallemme
Jean-Guy Wallemme
Jean-Guy Wallemme is a former French footballer, who is currently manager manager of Congo.He was a mainstay of the RC Lens team which won the French championship in 1998.In August 2011 he took over the Congolese national team....

2004–2005   Eric Dewilder
2005–2006   Alain Michel
2006–present   Éric Garcin
Éric Garcin
Éric Garcin is a French professional football coach and a former player. Currently, he manages FC Rouen.-External links:*...



Honours

  • Division 2
    Ligue 2
    Ligue 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 (1): 1936
  • Championnat de France amateur
    • Winners (1): 2009 (Group D)
  • Coupe de France
    Coupe de France
    The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...

    • Runners-Up (1): 1925
  • Coupe de la Ligue
    Coupe de la Ligue
    The Coupe de la Ligue , known outside of France as the French League Cup, is a knockout cup competition in French football organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel...

    • Runners-Up (1): 1964
  • Division d'Honneur (Normandy)
    • Champions (7): 1922, 1924, 1927, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933
  • USFSA Normandy League
    • Champions (5): 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914
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