Legendary French Soccer Club to Lose Its Professional Status Forever

It is a sad day for soccer fans as the legendary French soccer club is all set to lose its professional status. FC Girondins de Bordeaux popularly known as ‘Bordeaux’ will no longer be a top-tier club anymore. The announcement was made after Liverpool’s ownership, the Fenway Group, and the PSG’s ownership stepped out of the race to buy the club. This heartbreaking news means that the organization is no longer functional, which includes the termination of players’ contracts and the closing down of the training facilities.

A soccer club that has been operational for over 140 years is now part of the history. This is shocking for not only the fans in France but everyone who follows the sport across the world. Something like this is probably the worst thing to happen to a team, the players, the management, and the city it belongs to.

What Went Wrong With Such a Legendary French Soccer Club

The operational costs and the inability to run the finances were the reasons behind the failure of such a legendary French soccer club. The team’s performance and getting relegated to appear in the third division of the French League last week caused more harm. Moreover, 40 million Euros is the reported net loss that the club is suffering from, which the management thinks is impossible to recover from. The next sensible move is to let all their assets freeze and allow the courts to make the legal plays.

Meanwhile, there is a provision for soccer clubs to keep their professional status for two years if such a problem arises. However, Bordeaux has kept its stance clear and decided to opt out of it.  Various reports suggest that the French Soccer Club was unable to maintain its payroll from last season, which was set at 36 million Euros. A large chunk of this payroll went to the coaching staff and the first-team players. Everything mounted on the organization which ultimately led to a fallout. Furthermore, there are still young players from the Bordeaux academy that need to be taken care of.

French Soccer Club Bordeaux has Six League Titles

https://gty.im/2161657543

Hard to believe that a club that just lost its professional status is also a six-time Ligue 1 champion. More importantly, it was as early as 2009, when the club lifted its last top-tier trophy. Unfortunately for the fans, it is devasting to see their team lose everything in a matter of 15 years. From champions to nobody in literally no time is a setback for the entire city. The club last played professional soccer in Ligue 2 in the 2023/24 season.

While there was optimism when the Fenway Group showed interest in buying the club, it was still going to be a tough task. Moreover, as soon as the talks died down, the club was demoted to the third division of the country’s soccer system. This also meant that a big name like Bordeaux would play with a mix of professional and semi-professional teams, a situation that nobody ever imagined. A city that has produced the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Sylvian Wiltord, and Chamakh among many big names will no longer be heard in the streets.

Rich History Of Bordeaux

The French soccer club originated in the year 1881, almost over 140 years ago. It achieved professional status in 1937 and up until recently, was the big name in France. Along with the six Ligue 1 titles, there was a phase where Bordeaux showed a great show in the UEFA Champions League as well. The 2009-10 season was one such year, where the team reached the quarterfinals of the elite European competition. These are the rich highlights of the legendary French soccer club that the fans will remember forever.

1949 was the year when Bordeaux lifted its first league trophy, followed by titles in 1983, 1984, 1986, 1998, and ultimately 2009.

For More Great Content