User:H4stings/Caen

A great amateur club ... (1948-1985)

In 1948, Stade Malherbe joined the amateur championship of France (CFA), the third level of the hierarchy of French football just created, where he enjoyed as a main rival of the U.S. Quevilly . Considered a strong amateur team, the Caen are unable to win the championship, despite successive calls to former French international players as coaches,: Jules Vandooren, Jean Prouff, [ [Andre Grillon]], John Vincent and Oliver Celestin.

Stade Malherbe essentially for himself by feats repeated in Coupe de France in 1950, chief among them the elimination of Stade de Reims (2-1), champion of France, the January 19 1953 . Three years later, the Caen eliminate Racing Club de Paris (3-2), D1 club, then Ales (1-0), D2 club, before losing to RC Lens in 1/8-final, after extra time (1-4) <group ref = "m" name = "hieretauj-cut"> Douville, Fleutot & Guesdon 1988, Part 2: "The SM Caen and the Goblet of France" </ref>. In 1958, the Caen push the Nantes to play five games to decide: the first three games are resulting in 0-0 draws, the fourth is stopped, the fifth sees Nantes 1-0 win . Regulation of the Coupe de France has changed the following season to limit to three the number of confrontations . In 1961 Finally, the team removes the RC Lens (2-1 after extra time) and the U.S. Forbach, second division club ( 2-2 and 3-2), before bowing to Bordeaux in the second round (3-1) . These feats allow the club to win the "France-Football Challenge" rewarding the best amateur team in the Coupe de France in 1956 and 1961 .

Undermined by the chronic instability of its leaders and a precarious financial health, Stade Malherbe weakens gradually . It is relegated to twice ( 1962 and 1965) in the league division of Honour of Normandy, he won both times in the wake of so to regain its place in the CFA.

In 1970, the CFA, in which the SM Caen participated in twenty of the twenty-two editions, is deleted. Following the enlargement of the Second Division 16 to 48 teams, the club is promoted Norman . During the 1970s, the first team evolves between D2 and D3, but failed to stabilize. In 1975, the first team, led by Jacques Mouilleron and notably led by Jean-Paul Bouffandeau and Jean-Paul Pottier (elected amateur players of the year in 1975 and 1976), won the third division of West Group, which is his first national title. Stade Malherbe was named best amateur club by France-Football. The following season, the team is fighting a long time in the top three and finally ends at sixth place in Pool A of the second division. However, the results do not follow: three years later, the club fell to the floor below, where it ends at the ninth. New champions of D3 1980 under the leadership of Alain Laurier, the Caen fail to maintain the second division next season.

In 1983 when Pierre Mankowski was hired as player-coach, Stade Malherbe evolves in third division. His arrival coincides with the rise of the club in D2, obtained following a tight duel with the CA Lisieux of Jacques Santini. Caen will offer the adventure of Coupe de France, removing the U.S. Normandy on RC Paris then Lille OSC, D1 club, before losing on penalties against the Stade Laval, just remove the Dynamo Kiev in the European Cup . Late 1984 Théault Pascal and Pierre Mankowski are respectively named player and coach of the year fans . The club gets the following season maintaining a relatively comfortable in the second division, after which it adopts the professional status .

From D2 to the European Cup (1985-1993)

Mankowski is ambitious and the club does not hide his desire to discover the elite. The club is growing gradually, first in defense and in attack. The Caen finished sixth in D2 1986 and second 1987 thanks to "PP gunslingers" Philippe Prieur and Eric Pécout. While Caen did that season of the stage Venoix a place untouched, they will bow in front of the AS Cannes in the first round of dams Rise (0-1) < ref group = "m" name = "hieretauj-manko"> Douville, Fleutot & Guesdon 1988, Part 3: "The era Mankowski (1983-1988)" </ref>.

The Caen finish the following season at the top of their league, level on points with the RC Strasbourg, but must compete for dams because of an unfavorable goal difference. They have first of the Olympique Ales on penalties (1-1, 3-2 after the shooting to goal), then remove the Olympique Lyon (1-2, 2-0). Finally, they deal with the Chamois Niort, relegated from D1. After a draw in Niort (1-1), 3-0 at Caen outweigh Venoix and get them mounted in the elite .

In 1988 Stade Malherbe discovered the Division 1, which has the lowest budget. Handicapped by many departures, including that of Mankowski (replaced by Robert Nouzaret), the Caen start the season with six straight losses, which seems to confirm the predictions of journalists . Yet they get their maintenance in extremis, one point ahead of the RC Strasbourg, especially with the advent of a promising striker at the club formed, Fabrice Divert , who scored 14 goals during the season. The club, renamed "Stade Malherbe Caen Calvados Normandy" early in the season following the split of the branch Soccer Stade Malherbe Omnisports , confirms not without difficulties his continued Division 1 the following season.

The new coach Daniel Jeandupeux reconstructs largely been effective in Caen 1990. The 1990-1991 season sees the Stade Malherbe take place in the first part of the ranking, thanks to the excellent results obtained in stage Venoix and recruits renowned. However, in the fall of 1991, the press revealed that the club is close to bankruptcy, due to a deficit of more than 32 million francs. Regional businesses and local governments bail out the club, which carries a exceptional season: Stade Malherbe finished fifth of Championship France, and received his first and so far unique qualification for the UEFA Cup. Leading scorer, Stéphane Paille, scored 15 goals during the season.

In August 1992, the draft of the UEFA Cup subject to the club an opponent Norman brand in the first round: the Zaragoza. The Caen attack briskly the first leg, played at stage Venoix: after twenty minutes, they lead 2-0 thanks to Stéphane Paille and Xavier Gravelaine, then 3-1 with a new goal of straw, served by Gravelaine. The second half saw the Caen will create new opportunities, without success. The Spaniards finally reduced the mark of an action at issue; Caen 3-2 wins . A few days later, Gravelaine is selected in France team for the first time in his career. The meeting is elected later this year "game of the year 1992" by the magazine France Football. In the second leg in Spain, led by controversial Welsh referee Howard King, the Spanish have an arbitration subject to controversial but logically prevail on Caen, despite the tactical gamble Daniel Jeandupeux (playmaker Stéphane Dedebant and striker Straw play defense) . Of the two games, the Caen are eliminated.

The explosion at the highest level of Gravelaine, author of twenty-two goals in all competitions, and this honorable disposal UEFA Cup, however, can not completely hide the insufficient recruitment to realized the inter season because of financial problems mentioned above. The SM Caen finished the 1992-1993 season to a relatively disappointing eleventh place.

Between First and Second Division (since 1993)

Tifo to Ornano for to Normandy derby in 1995.

In 1993, the team leaves the iconic stage Venoix for Michel-stage d'Ornano. Larger, more modern and comfortable, it symbolizes the new ambitions of the SM. Unfortunately the major players from previous seasons leave the club at a time, and their replacements do not turn to the task. The contract of coach Jeandupeux is not renewed in 1994. In 1995 the club is relegated to the second logical division.

Stade Malherbe, led by Mankowski and wisely strengthened following the departure of Swedish international Kennet Andersson in Italy, his first season won the France championship for the second division , which is the first professional title in club history. Following the departure of the chief architects of the title, Caen did retain their place in the elite one season, to the disadvantage of reducing the league to eighteen clubs.

1997-1998 initiates a series of seven consecutive seasons in the second division, which saw the club to rely increasingly on its training center. The Argentine Gabriel Calderón, who saw his first coaching experience, was removed in the fall of 1997 as the team plunges into the bottom of rankings. It is replaced by the Director of Training Pascal Théault. For three seasons, Théault leads the club in the first third of the rankings by not hesitating to trust the club's youth, but could not join in the struggle for the climb. Privatized during the summer 2000, the club has a 2000-2001 season difficult, marked by the departure of Théault obtained and maintained during the penultimate day.

File:League Cup Final 2005.jpg

Final League Cup in 2005.

Recruiting coach Patrick Remy in 2002 see the club gradually revive. In 2004, the SM Caen was promoted for the third time in its history in Premier League, become the Ligue 1 after a win at Rouen. The outcome of this season in the elite, however cruel the Caen final bow in Cup League (1-2), played at Stade de France to 78,732 spectators , and are relegated to the second division at the last day after a defeat in the field of FC Istres Yet dead last.

Now headed by former player Franck Dumas, Stade Malherbe has two seasons in League 2 before making his return to the elite in 2007, where he obtained his maintenance for the first time since 1994. Performance is not reissued the following season: the evening of the last day, a defeat (0-1) face the Bordeaux provides the title to them and to condemn the Caen League 2 .

Despite the departure of several owners, Stade Malherbe gets very good results early in the 2009-2010 season, which allow it to take the top spot . Despite a late season more difficult, the ascent is gained five games remaining, and the championship is officially on the evening of the last day. Driven by the emergence of several young talents, Caen managed to stay in the elite Next season, after a close fight against relegation with several other clubs. A year later, the club is fighting back to maintain it until last night, but this time to defeat Valenciennes is fatal to Caen, who must return to their League 2. This is the fifth relegation of the club since 1995.