Angers Sporting Club de l'Ouest, commonly referred to as Angers SCO (), is a French professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

club based in

Angers Angers (, , ;) is a city in western France, about southwest of Paris. It is the Prefectures of France, prefecture of the Maine-et-Loire department and was the capital of the province of Duchy of Anjou, Anjou until the French Revolution. The i ...

Pays de la Loire Pays de la Loire (; but can also mean 'Lower Loire') is one of the eighteen administrative regions of France, located on the country's Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast. It was created in the 1950s to serve as a zone of influence for its capital an ...

in western France. The club was founded in 1919 and plays in

Ligue 1 Ligue 1 (; ), officially known as Ligue 1 McDonald's France, McDonald's for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in France and the highest level of the French football league system. Administered by the Ligue de ...

, the first division of

Football in France Association football is the most popular sport in France. In 2024, 53% of people in France declared an interest in football, with 26% being very interested. The French Football Federation (FFF, Fédération Française de Football) is the natio ...

. It plays its home matches at the

Stade Raymond Kopa Stade Raymond Kopa is a football stadium in Angers, France. It is the home ground of side Angers SCO and seats 19,800 people. Name The stadium is named after Raymond Kopa, who, after playing for Angers from 1949 to 1951, became one of the most ...

. The club has played 31 seasons in the French top flight.

History

The team was founded in 1919, the same year the FFF was founded. During the team's history, it has bounced between the top two tiers on multiple occasions. However, it did spend time in the third tier on several occasions; the 2006–07 season was its last season in the third tier. The first season that Angers debuted in the French second division was in 1945. During this season, Angers SCO was placed in the North group; at that time, the second division was split into two groups, the North and South. Angers finished third, being seven points short of

Stade Français Stade Français Paris (known commonly as Stade Français, ) is a French professional rugby union club based in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. The club plays in the Top 14 domestic league in France and is one of the most successful French ...

, which was promoted to the first division. In the

2014–15 Ligue 2 The 2014–15 Ligue 2 season was the 76th season since its establishment. Teams There were three promoted teams from Championnat National, replacing the three teams that were promoted to Ligue 1 following the 2013–14 season. A total of 20 tea ...

season, the team achieved promotion after a long time being in the lower division. During the

2015–16 Ligue 1 The 2015–16 Ligue 1 season was the 78th season of the Ligue de Football Professionnel first division since its establishment. It started on 7 August 2015 and concluded on 14 May 2016. Paris Saint-Germain were the defending champions, and retain ...

season, SCO placed ninth in the final standings. In its opening league match against

Montpellier Montpellier (; ) is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Montpellier is the prefecture of the Departments of France, department of ...

, Angers won the match 2–0. On 28 May 2017 Angers played in the 2017

Coupe de France The Coupe de France (), also known in English language, English as the French Cup or less commonly as the France Cup, is the premier Single-elimination tournament, knockout cup competition in French football organised by the French Football Fed ...

final against Paris Saint-Germain. Angers lost the match 1–0 courtesy of 91st minute own goal. At the end of the 2017–18 Ligue 1 season, Angers finished 14th on the table and Cameroon striker

Karl Toko Ekambi Karl Louis Brillant Toko Ekambi (born 14 September 1992) is a professional association football, footballer who plays as a Forward (association football), forward for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq FC, Al-Ettifaq. Toko Ekambi began his career ...

finished with an impressive 17 goals in the competition. In the

2018–19 Ligue 1 The 2018–19 Ligue 1 season, also known as Ligue 1 Conforama for sponsorship reasons, was the 81st season since its establishment. The season began on 10 August 2018 and concluded on 24 May 2019. Paris Saint-Germain were the defending champions. ...

season, Angers finished in a respectable 13th position on the table. On 8 June 2020, Angers broke their own

transfer Transfer may refer to: Arts and media * ''Transfer'' (2010 film), a German science-fiction movie directed by Damir Lukacevic and starring Zana Marjanović * ''Transfer'' (1966 film), a short film * ''Transfer'' (journal), in management studies * ...

fee record by signing

Paul Bernardoni Paul Jean François Bernardoni (born 18 April 1997) is a French professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Swiss Super League club Yverdon-Sport. He began his career with local teams AS Lieusaint and Linas-Montlhéry, before moving t ...

from

Bordeaux Bordeaux ( ; ; Gascon language, Gascon ; ) is a city on the river Garonne in the Gironde Departments of France, department, southwestern France. A port city, it is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the Prefectures in F ...

, in a deal worth 8 million euros. On 30 April 2021 Angers, along with

Paris FC Paris Football Club (French pronunciation: Help:IPA/French, aʁi futbol klœb, commonly referred to as Paris FC or simply PFC, is a French professional Association football, football club based in Paris, France. They will compete in Ligue ...

, were handed a transfer ban by FIFA for violation of regulations regarding relay transfers in August 2020. The ban was effective for the summer 2021 transfer window. On 27 April 2023, Angers received a two-window transfer ban from FIFA due to a dispute with Tunisian club ES Tunis over the transfer of Ilyes Chetti. Angers communicated their intent to appeal to the

Court of Arbitration for Sport The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS; , TAS) is an international body established in 1984 to settle disputes related to sport through arbitration. Its headquarters are in Lausanne, Switzerland, and its courts are located in New York City, Sy ...

(CAS). In the

2022–23 Ligue 1 The 2022–23 Ligue 1, also known as Ligue 1 Uber Eats for sponsorship reasons, was the 85th season of the Ligue 1, France's premier football competition. It began on 5 August 2022 and concluded on 3 June 2023. As the 2022 FIFA World Cup began o ...

season, Angers suffered relegation with five matches to spare, returning to the second tier after eight years in the top flight.

League participations

: 1956–68, 1969–75, 1976–77, 1978–81, 1993–94, 2015–2023, 2024–present *

Ligue 2 Ligue 2 (, League 2), also known as Ligue 2 BKT due to sponsorship reasons, 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 Prof ...

: 1945–56, 1968–69, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1981–93, 1994–96, 2000–01, 2003–05, 2007–15, 2023–24 *

National National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, c ...

: 1996–2000, 2001–03, 2005–07 * Regional League: 1931–39 * Division d'Honneur: 1919–31 *

runners-up: 1957, 2017

Players

Current squad

Other players under contract

Out on loan

Current technical staff

Notable players

Below are the notable former players who have represented Angers in

league League or The League may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Leagues'' (band), an American rock band * ''The League'', an American sitcom broadcast on FX and FXX about fantasy football * ''League of Legends'', a 2009 multiplayer online battle a ...

and international competition since the club's foundation in 1919. To appear in the section below, a player must have either played in at least 80 official matches for the club or represented his country's national team either while playing for Angers or after departing the club. ''For a complete list of Angers SCO players, see :Angers SCO players'' *

Paul Alo'o Paul Alo'o Efoulou (born 12 November 1983) is a Cameroonian former professional football manager and former player. He played as a striker. Club career In the 2008–09 season Alo'o scored 12 goals and gave 12 assists in 35 Ligue 2 appearance ...

* Vili Ameršek * Boško Antić *

Jean-Marie Aubry Jean-Marie Aubry (born 3 April 1969) is a French retired footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, ...

Fahid Ben Khalfallah Fahid Ben Khalfallah (; born 9 October 1982) is a retired professional footballer who currently plays for Sandringham SC as a winger or attacking midfielder. Born in France, he played for the Tunisia national team between 2008 and 2011. Car ...

Marc Berdoll Marc Berdoll (born 6 April 1953) is a French former professional footballer who played as a striker. During his career he played for Angers, 1. FC Saarbrücken and Marseille, Angers again, Amiens, Orléans and L'Hopital. He earned 16 caps sco ...

Stéphane Bruey Stéphane Bruey (1 December 1932 – 30 August 2005) was a French professional footballer who played as a striker. He was part of the France squad during the 1958 World Cup tournament. Honours *1958 FIFA World Cup third place with France ...

* Thierry Cygan * Milan Damjanović *

Cédric Daury Cédric Daury (19 October 1969 – 12 August 2024) was a French football manager and player. He was the sporting director of Auxerre. Club career Daury played as a midfielder and striker, for Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 clubs Reims, Angers, Le Havre, ...

Jean-Pierre Dogliani Pierre Dogliani (17 October 1942 – 17 April 2003), known as Jean-Pierre Dogliani, was a French footballer who played as a midfielder. He was caretaker manager for RC Strasbourg for two games in September and October 1988. Honours Angers * Divi ...

Jean-Marc Guillou Jean-Marc Guillou (born 20 December 1945) is a French football coach and former player, who played at the 1978 World Cup. Club career Guillou was born in Bouaye, Loire-Atlantique. He played for Angers SCO, OGC Nice, Neuchâtel Xamax, FC Mulh ...

Kazimir Hnatow Kazimir (or Casimir) Hnatow (9 November 1929 – 16 December 2010) was a French football player and manager. Club career A midfielder, Hnatow began his career at Metz in 1951, where he spent two seasons, making 56 appearances and scoring ten goa ...

* Claudiu Keserü *

Raymond Kopa Raymond Kopa (né Kopaszewski; 13 October 1931 – 3 March 2017) was a French professional footballer, integral to the France national team of the 1950s. At club level he was part of the legendary Real Madrid team of the 1950s, winning three Eu ...

Vladica Kovačević Vladimir "Vladica" Kovačević (, ; 7 January 1940 – 28 July 2016) was a Yugoslav and Serbian footballer who played as a forward. Club career Born in Ivanjica, Kovačević moved to Belgrade in 1955 and joined the youth system of Partizan. H ...

* Guy Moussi *

Albert Poli Albert Poli (born Alberto Poli; 21 May 1945 – 6 December 2008) was a professional Association football, footballer who played as a midfielder. Born in Italy, he moved to France at the age of two and was later Naturalization, naturalized. Car ...

Ulrich Ramé Ulrich Jean Eugène Ramé (born 19 September 1972) is a French former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. In a professional career which spanned two decades, he played mainly for Bordeaux (14 seasons), appearing in more than 500 ...

Amar Rouaï Amar Rouaï (March 9, 1932 – November 11, 2017) was a former Algerian international football player and manager. From 1958 to 1962, he was a member of the FLN football team. Club career Rouaï began his career with MC El Eulma, making his debu ...

Emil Săndoi Emil Săndoi (born 1 March 1965) is a Romanian professional football manager and former player. Career A centre-back, who was born in Craiova and debuted in Divizia A with hometown side Universitatea Craiova in 1983. Săndoi made his debut fo ...

* Steve Savidan *

André Strappe André Louis Strappe (23 February 1928 – 10 February 2006) was a French professional footballer who played as a forward, and later served as a manager. Club career Strappe was a player for Lille, Le Havre, and Nantes, and then a player-mana ...

Jean Vincent Jean Vincent (29 November 1930 – 13 August 2013) was a French international footballer and manager who played as a left winger. Playing career Playing primarily at outside-left, Vincent enjoyed a highly successful career at club and intern ...

Managers

References

External links

* {{Championnat National 2 Group B Association football clubs established in 1919 Sport in Angers 1919 establishments in France Football clubs in Pays de la Loire Ligue 1 clubs