On Sunday evening, it seemed as if the French championship would end in farce. At the Abbé Deschamps stadium in Bourgogne Montpellier were fighting for the point that would ensure they won the league. Auxerre supporters, devastated by their club’s relegation to Ligue 2, interrupted the match in the second half with a wide variety of projectiles, from toilet paper to tomatoes.
The desperation of the home fans was understandable. Auxerre are a 32-year veteran of Ligue 1 who punched above their weight through a once-proud youth system that launched the European careers of players like Phillipe Mexès and Djibril Cissé. A combination of mismanagement, bad luck, and lack of commitment lead to a deserved relegation, despite playing in the Champions League as recently as 2010.
After a nerve-wracking delay of 20 minutes, the referees, with the help of some riot police, were able to clear the stands and resume the match. But the long wait meant that Montpellier had to play the last 20 minutes knowing they had to hold on to the draw, as Paris beat Lorient earlier in the evening. Nigerian attacker John Utaka finally released the pressure in the 76th minute with his second goal of the match. The 2-1 victory was more than enough for the team from the southern city to win their first ever French championship.
Montpellier are both the most unlikely and exemplary champions in Europe. The current professional club was founded relatively recently in 1974 and has spent its entire existence under the guidance of a single owner, Louis (Loulou) Nicollin. An obese patriarch of the old-world style, Nicollin is synonymous with the club and the city—in typical mafioso style, he enjoys a friendly relationship with Montpellier’s mayor, Georges Freche.
The owner is known for surprise visits to the locker room, numerous outbursts in the media, and even for spontaneous match bonuses for players after big wins. Unlike the petroleum-soaked oligarchs who run Europe’s most fashionable clubs, Nicollin is also a patient and rational chairman who constructed the current French champions through solid management and faith in the club’s youth system. Loulou watched Montpellier’s victory from the bench while the French television announcers fretted about the possibility of a heart attack.
With a modest budget ranging between €30 and €40 million, Montpellier were vastly outspent their rivals, especially the nouveau riche Paris St. Germain, who, like Manchester City, benefit from Qatari interest. Paris’ electric offensive trio of Nene, Jeremy Menez and Javier Pastore should shine in next year’s champions league, and the team from the capital pushed Montpellier all the way. But in the end their high-priced team of players with European experience, managed by Carlo Ancellotti, were unable to match the energy and enthusiasm of the champions.
Perhaps Montpellier’s biggest accomplishment was to win in the league in the style that they did. Ligue 1 is often seen as a rather dour league, although the 2011-2012 saw the most league goals since the 1984-85 season. Putting lie to the stereotype, Montpellier played with an attacking style, based on technique and possession, never afraid to take the game to France’s biggest teams.
Manager René Girard guided the progression of future stars across the field. In defense, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa maintained command of the back-line, and his performances throughout the season earned him a call up to France’s preliminary squad for this summer’s European championships.
In the midfield, Younès Belhanda asserted himself as one of the most exciting young players in Ligue 1. Despite missing time playing for Morocco during the African Cup of Nations, the 22-year-old scored an impressive 12 times, including what may be the goal of the season against rivals Marseille:
A classic play-maker, Belhanda was given the freedom to attack through the hard work of other emerging players like Benjamin Stambouli and the savvy veteran Geoffrey Dernis, who guided the team through difficult moments with his ability to hold the ball and change the rhythm of the game.
Finishing the plays that began in the midfield was Ligue 1’s best forward, Olivier Giroud. Signed for only €2 million from Ligue 2 side Tours in 2010, Giroud scored a solid 12 goals in his first season in France’s top league, and exploded for 21 goals during Montpellier’s championship season. Capable of scoring with either foot and impressive in the air, Giroud has caught the eye of Europe’s major clubs, including Bayern Munich.
Even with the attraction of the Champions League next season, it is unlikely that Montpellier will be able to keep this exciting core group together—all the more reason for the club to savor this season’s unlikely but deserved victory.
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