US Boulogne
Encyclopedia
Union Sportive de Boulogne-sur-Mer Côte d'Opale (juːnjən spɔrtɪv bulɔɲ syʁ mɛʁ koʊt dopal; commonly referred to as US Boulogne or simply Boulogne) is a French association football
club based in the commune
of Boulogne-sur-Mer
. The club was founded in 1898 and currently plays in Ligue 2
, the second of division of French football, having been relegated from Ligue 1
during the 2009–10 season.
The club was formed in 1898 and its achievements are minor with their biggest feat consisting of reaching the semi-finals during the 1936–37 edition of the Coupe de France
. Boulogne play their home matches at the Stade de la Libération
, which seats 15,004 having previously seated only 7,000 prior to its renovation in 2007.
– reaching the quarter-finals in 1929 and the last 16 three times.
In 1926, Boulogne won the Northern League and only six years later, they became a professional club. In 1935, under chairman Marcel Lacroix, the team joined the professional leagues. However, they played averagely in Division Two but there were a few bright sparks in the team. The Coupe de France 1937 competition saw Boulogne make the semi-finals, but they were convincingly beaten by FC Sochaux 6–0. After the war, Boulogne reverted back to amateur status – and only became a professional team again in 1957 when they were re-elected into Division Two. They stayed in Division Two for 22 years but plummeted through the divisions – suffering consecutive relegations. The Coupe de France competition only provided little restbite, as the team made the last 16 three times.
Robert Senechal arrived in 1983 and stabilised the club in Division Four. They missed out on promotion by a narrow margin in 1984 – but were promoted in 1991. However, it was short-lived and they were relegated once again from whence they came. In June 1994, it was announced that Boulogne were in serious debt – owing ₣3 million. However, mayor and billionaire John Muselet intervened to save the club and appointed Jacques Wattez as chairman. Under the leadership of Wattez, the club adopted a new name – Union Sportive Boulogne Côte d'Opale – in July 1994. The debts of the club were wiped and Boulogne – although still struggling in Division Four – reached the last sixteen of the Coupe de France again in 1997. They earned a home tie against Ligue 1 side Olympique de Marseille
. Although, Boulogne battled their way through the match, they narrowly lost 1–0.
Boulogne were slowly building their team in the Championnat National
and under manager Philippe Montanier, the club clinched promotion to Ligue 2
with a tense 2–1 victory over SC Toulon. However, Boulogne were initially blocked from playing in Ligue 2 due to financial problems but after hard work, they were given the green light to play in that league for the 2007–2008 season. They struggled that season and on the final day, they were occupying the final relegation spot, one point from safety. Boulogne played at home to Chamois Niortais FC
, who were one place above Boulogne. A tense game saw Boulogne win the match in the 95th minute through defender Damien Perrinelle
and it kept Boulogne up whilst sending Niort
down to the Championnat National.
The 2008–09 season
saw Boulogne do the opposite from last season and win promotion on the final day of the season after beating SC Amiens 4–0, replacing Strasbourg in the final promotion place by a single point. Striker Grégory Thil
finished top scorer with 18 goals as the side made their first ever appearance in the Ligue 1
.
and international competition since the club's foundation in 1919.
Juan Gonzalo Lorca
Franck Ribéry
Lucien Leduc
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 commune
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
of Boulogne-sur-Mer
Boulogne-sur-Mer
-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
. The club was founded in 1898 and currently plays in Ligue 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...
, the second of division of French football, having been relegated from 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....
during the 2009–10 season.
The club was formed in 1898 and its achievements are minor with their biggest feat consisting of reaching the semi-finals during the 1936–37 edition 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...
. Boulogne play their home matches at the Stade de la Libération
Stade de la Libération
Stade de la Libération is a multi-use stadium in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of US Boulogne. The stadium is able to hold 15,034 people....
, which seats 15,004 having previously seated only 7,000 prior to its renovation in 2007.
History
US Boulogne were founded in December 1898 by a group of young athletes. While they mainly focussed originally on athletic events, they moved into the football industry and made a decent job in their first few years as a football club. Boulogne won the Maritime Championship three years running between 1904 and 1906. They next won the Championship in 1909 and their final victory of this division was in 1922. In 1924, Boulogne moved to the Northern Championship and fared well. The team also did well in the Coupe de FranceCoupe 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...
– reaching the quarter-finals in 1929 and the last 16 three times.
In 1926, Boulogne won the Northern League and only six years later, they became a professional club. In 1935, under chairman Marcel Lacroix, the team joined the professional leagues. However, they played averagely in Division Two but there were a few bright sparks in the team. The Coupe de France 1937 competition saw Boulogne make the semi-finals, but they were convincingly beaten by FC Sochaux 6–0. After the war, Boulogne reverted back to amateur status – and only became a professional team again in 1957 when they were re-elected into Division Two. They stayed in Division Two for 22 years but plummeted through the divisions – suffering consecutive relegations. The Coupe de France competition only provided little restbite, as the team made the last 16 three times.
Robert Senechal arrived in 1983 and stabilised the club in Division Four. They missed out on promotion by a narrow margin in 1984 – but were promoted in 1991. However, it was short-lived and they were relegated once again from whence they came. In June 1994, it was announced that Boulogne were in serious debt – owing ₣3 million. However, mayor and billionaire John Muselet intervened to save the club and appointed Jacques Wattez as chairman. Under the leadership of Wattez, the club adopted a new name – Union Sportive Boulogne Côte d'Opale – in July 1994. The debts of the club were wiped and Boulogne – although still struggling in Division Four – reached the last sixteen of the Coupe de France again in 1997. They earned a home tie against Ligue 1 side Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
. Although, Boulogne battled their way through the match, they narrowly lost 1–0.
Boulogne were slowly building their team 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...
and under manager Philippe Montanier, the club clinched promotion to Ligue 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...
with a tense 2–1 victory over SC Toulon. However, Boulogne were initially blocked from playing in Ligue 2 due to financial problems but after hard work, they were given the green light to play in that league for the 2007–2008 season. They struggled that season and on the final day, they were occupying the final relegation spot, one point from safety. Boulogne played at home to Chamois Niortais FC
Chamois Niortais FC
Chamois Niortais Football Club is a French association football club based in the commune of Niort, in the Deux-Sèvres department of western France. It was founded in 1925 by Charles Boinot, the son of the owner of a local chamois leather factory. The club's badge shows a chamois goat standing on...
, who were one place above Boulogne. A tense game saw Boulogne win the match in the 95th minute through defender Damien Perrinelle
Damien Perrinelle
Damien Perrinelle is a French football Defender currently playing for French Ligue 2 side US Boulogne.-Career:...
and it kept Boulogne up whilst sending Niort
Chamois Niortais FC
Chamois Niortais Football Club is a French association football club based in the commune of Niort, in the Deux-Sèvres department of western France. It was founded in 1925 by Charles Boinot, the son of the owner of a local chamois leather factory. The club's badge shows a chamois goat standing on...
down to the Championnat National.
The 2008–09 season
Ligue 2 2008-09
The Ligue 2 season 2008/2009 was the sixty-seventh edition since its establishment, and began on August 1, 2008 and ended on May 29, 2009. The fixtures were announced on May 23, 2008.-Promotion and relegation:Teams relegated to Ligue 2...
saw Boulogne do the opposite from last season and win promotion on the final day of the season after beating SC Amiens 4–0, replacing Strasbourg in the final promotion place by a single point. Striker Grégory Thil
Grégory Thil
Grégory Thil is a French football striker. He currently plays for Dijon FCO.-Career:Thil began his career at AS Beauvais. In 2005, he moved to the French side US Boulogne, then playing in Ligue 2, and was handed the number 10 shirt. He spent his career playing for Boulogne over the six years,...
finished top scorer with 18 goals as the side made their first ever appearance in the 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....
.
Current squad
Notable players
Below are the notable players who have represented Boulogne in leagueLigue 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 1919.
Juan Gonzalo Lorca
Juan Gonzalo Lorca
Juan Gonzalo Lorca Donoso is a Chilean footballer. Lorca currently plays for Chilean club O'Higgins as a forward.-Colo-Colo:...
Franck Ribéry
Franck Ribéry
Franck Ribéry is a French international footballer who currently plays for German club Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. He primarily plays as a winger, preferably on the left side, and is known for "pace, energy, skill and precise passing." Ribéry is described as a player who is "fast, tricky and...
Lucien Leduc
Lucien Leduc
Lucien Leduc was a French football midfielder and a manager.-Titles:*As a player**French championship in 1947 with CO Roubaix-Tourcoing**Coupe de France 1949 with RC Paris*As a coach...
Managers
| Blaud (1936–37) 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:... (1937–38) François Bourbotte François Bourbotte François Bourbotte was a professional French footballer.-References:*... (1950–56) Jean Prouff Jean Prouff Jean Prouff was a French former football midfielder and a manager.-Titles:*As a player** Division 1: 1949 with Stade de Reims*As a coach** Belgian League: 1963, with Standard de Liège... (1956–58) Roger Meerseman (1959–61) Jean-Marie Prévost (1961–62) André Cheuva André Cheuva André Cheuva was a French footballer who played midfielder. After retiring he became a manager, and won 4 Coupe de France with Lille O.S.C..-References:*... (1962–66) Angelo Grizzetti Angelo Grizzetti Angelo Grizzetti is an Italian born French former footballer and coach.He played for Sochaux, RC Paris, Angoulême and CA Paris.... (1966–67) Ernest Schultz Ernest Schultz Ernest Schultz is a French football striker.-References:*... (1967) Jean Laune (1967–69) Ramon Muller Ramon Muller Ramon Muller is a retired Argentine football player who played in France with FC Sochaux, RC Strasbourg, FC Nantes and Stade Briochin. His son was Oscar Muller.-References:... and  Jean Aubert (1969) Daniel LangrandDaniel Langrand Daniel Langrand is a French footballer and coach born in 1922 in Tourcoing .Former goalkeeper for Olympique avignonnais, after the war, he later became a coach.... (1969–73) André Pruvost (1973) Léon Deladerrière Léon Deladerrière Léon Deladerrière is a French former footballer and coach.He played for FC Nancy and Toulouse FC.After his playing career, he became a coach with Toulouse FC, FC Nancy, LB Châteauroux, FC Mulhouse and US Boulogne .... (1973) Jacques Favre (1973–74) Célestin Oliver Célestin Oliver Célestin Oliver was a French football striker. He was part of the French national team during the 1958 FIFA World Cup tournament.-Honours:*1958 FIFA World Cup third place with France... (1974–75) Henri-Gérard Augustine (1975) Daniel Langrand Daniel Langrand Daniel Langrand is a French footballer and coach born in 1922 in Tourcoing .Former goalkeeper for Olympique avignonnais, after the war, he later became a coach.... (1975–76) Daniel Langrand Daniel Langrand Daniel Langrand is a French footballer and coach born in 1922 in Tourcoing .Former goalkeeper for Olympique avignonnais, after the war, he later became a coach.... and "Doudou" Douglas (1976–79) |
"Doudou" Douglas (1979–82) Bernard Soulliez (1982–86) Gilbert Zoonekynd (1986–88) André Bodji (1988–89) Edmond Baraffe Edmond Baraffe Edmond Baraffe is a former professional French football striker and manager.-References:* *... (1989–90) Bernard Soulliez (1990–92) Richard Ellena Richard Ellena The Rt Rev Richard Ellena is the current Anglican Bishop of Nelson.He was educated at the University of Auckland after which he worked as a teacher until studying for the Priesthood. He was ordained in 1985 and has held incumbencies at Kensington-Otipua, Blenheim and Marlborough- where he was... (1992–94) Pascal Langlois (1994–96) Bruno Dupuis (1996–97) Alex Dupont Alex Dupont Alex Dupont is a French former footballer and football manager. He is currently managing Brest.-Career:Dupont played as a midfielder for Dunkerque and Hazebrouck.-Coaching career:... (1997–98) Robert Dewilder Robert Dewilder Robert Dewilder is French former footballer and football manager.-Career:Dewilder played as a midfielder for Boulogne, Sochaux, Monaco, Toulon, Quimper and Blois.-Coaching career:... (1998–99) Bruno Dupuis (1999–01) Jacky Colinet (2001–03) Pascal Langlois (2003) Bobby Brown Bobby Brown (footballer born 1953) Bobby Brown is an English former footballer and football manager.- Career :Brown played for Chelsea, Sheffield Wednesday, Aldershot F.C. Boston United, Thionville and Caen.- Coaching career :... (2003–04) Bruno Dupuis (2004) Philippe Montanier (2004–09) Laurent Guyot Laurent Guyot Laurent Guyot is French former footballer and football manager. He currently manages CS Sedan Ardennes.-Career:Guyot played as a central defender, mainly for Nantes, where he won the Ligue 1 title in 1995... (2009–10) Michel Estevan Michel Estevan Michel Estevan is a French association football manager and former player. He is currently managing US Boulogne.He recently managed AC Arles-Avignon. He led the club from the Championnat de France amateur 2, the fifth division of French football, to the first division Ligue 1 before being relieved... (2010–) |