ChristopheVAFC

The French version of Wikipedia: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valenciennes_Football_Club "Purchase by Sport Republic (2023-) After the club held on to its title at the last minute on the final day of the season, rumours of a sale resurfaced. On 16 June 2023, the management published a press release announcing that "the club's majority shareholders had entered into exclusive negotiations with Sport Republic, a London-based sports investment company and majority shareholder in English football club Southampton FC and Turkish football club Göztepe SK, with a view to investing in the club's economic and sporting development "64. On 13 July 2023, following two general meetings, the sale of the club was completed. To embody their plans, the new directors appointed Jorge Maciel as first-team coach. A former assistant at LOSC Lille, this was his first experience as head coach. "

Photo of our 2 stadiums, when the old one had not yet been demolished, in 2012. Now, in place of our old stadium, we have an aquatic centre.

Yes, my stadium has 25,172 seats, it hasn't been full very often and the fact that the sporting results don't follow suit doesn't bring people to the stadium... I think that when we have better results, and we're playing at the top of the table, we'll have more people at the stadium.

The city of Valenciennes has around 41,000 inhabitants and its conurbation (the towns around Valenciennes) has just over 192,000 inhabitants. From 1911 to 2011, we had a stadium called the Stade Nungesser, with a capacity of 16,547, and since 2011 we have had the Stade du Hainaut, with a capacity of 25,172. For 9 years, our club was run by a chairman who is, in real life, a company director in Valenciennes. His management has been more than dubious and he has had many problems with employees, players and supporters too. The sale of our club to Sport Republic was difficult because he was very tough in the negotiations. We were relieved when our club was sold. Of course, it's not what we had hoped for from a sporting point of view, but most of us are aware that it will take time to rebuild. Some people are unhappy of course, but we're keeping faith in Sport Républic, because we're aware that SR has taken over a club in a sorry state (debts, some facilities in need of repair). I take Sekou Mara every day haha!

Hello Mick! Initially, with our former coach, Jorge Maciel, it was more or less his philosophy of play, possession of the ball, high and attacking play, but it never worked... With our current coach, Ahmed Kantari, it's a bit more of a simple game and it's based on construction. We've rarely had so many chances in a game this season. The problem for us is that when you're last in the league, it's difficult and you don't necessarily have confidence or success. I hope we can get back on track quickly.

Good evening everyone. My team lost again tonight against FC Girondins de Bordeaux. The content was much better, but it's still not working out for us. Note the presence of Henrik Kraft in the stands. Next game this Saturday at home against Bastia (Corsica). Good night to you all.

Hello ! By chance, the person who keeps the account: https://twitter.com/SouthamptonFCFR is a friend in real life and lives in Valenciennes like me. He fell in love with your club before Sport Republic bought my club. He's even a work colleague, we work for the same company!

Congratulations on your unbeaten run in the league and cup. It's really something!

It's true that this is a subject that will always be debated haha. Personally, I think you have to wear your colours proudly, whether at home or away. Even if the most important thing is to be there to support your team.

Personally, I think I'll be buying your shirt when I come here soon

The club decided to be a little original, haha!

It's one of our old shirts, but a very good choice, with one of the stands of our old stadium, the Stade Nungesser.

Next round of the French Cup, away to Saint Priest (5th division), a town near Lyon. Match to be played on 7 February. Rather positive draw, but it's never easy on their home ground.

Joachim is a young player who has been with us since the summer of 2021. He recently signed his 1st pro contract in September 2023 and is now under contract until 2026. A very intelligent player with a good head on his shoulders. Here is an extract from our local media: "La Voix du Nord": "Joachim Kayi Sanda arrived at VAFC's training centre in the summer of 2021 from Boulogne-Billancourt, and has been quick to impress. From Loïc Fievet at U17 level to Simon Raux, the training centre director, and Sigamary Diarra, the man behind his arrival, everyone at the club has hailed his immense maturity. "He's the kind of player every coach dreams of having in his team," Loïc Fievet summed up last year, when JKS was captain in the Gambardella. He was also captain of the French U17 team and has been upgraded in every category at VA, so he is used to growing up fast. "He's not like the others: off the pitch, he doesn't spread himself too thin with all those things he does for the youngsters, and on the pitch, he's not afraid to talk to the adults," says those around him. Having joined the pro squad this season after several training sessions last year, he has quickly found his place in the men's game. "Because he already is one," says Maciel (last coach of Valenciennes." He's realised that he could be someone important here and he never goes out of his way to be very professional," says his coach with satisfaction. He's always regular in training. He's concentrated and capable of putting in a sustained effort. Even Sven Botman at Lille had some incredible games, but his concentration wasn't there at the start of the week. Joachim, on the other hand, is always on top form. Equipped to go very high, he is giving himself the means to follow in the footsteps of Dayot Upamecano and Ismaël Doukoure, two other VA-trained defenders with very precocious talent. For Taylor Moore, there is no doubt about his success. "Probably the best young player I've seen," said the English defender after his team-mate's signing. I wouldn't be surprised if he had a long and successful career as a professional footballer.

I can only thank you sincerely for creating this position in my honour and in the honour of my club. I'd be delighted to keep you up to date with the latest news from Valenciennes. Don't hesitate to ask me any questions, I'll be happy to answer them !

It's a pleasure for me to give you all the information about my club, and I also watch your results a lot. I'm very happy for you, it must be great to be playing at the top of the table! Normally, before the end of the season, I'll be coming to Saint Mary's Stadium to see one of your matches, I can't wait!

Tonight, our coach preferred to field a team that is well placed in the league, with a number of changes if you look at the league match played in December 2023. December 2023: Louchet (GK), Basse, Moore, Poha, Blancquart, Masson, Banse, Boutoutaou, Hamache, Lilepo, Haouari Tonight: Diabaté (GK), Linguet, Poha, Cuffaut, Basse, Knockaert, Foe Ondoa, Masson, Boutoutaou, Oyewuzi, Jung. 4 players out of 11 were present at kick-off for the 2 matches. Then here in France, it depends on the coaches, but it's not systematic either.

Thank you very much for your message. A win that will do the players a world of good and reassure everyone. First home win of the 2023/2024 season. It's good to see us through to the 1/8th final of the Coupe de France. Next up in the league is a trip to Girondins de Bordeaux on Tuesday evening.

I understand and I totally agree with you, a descent is never pleasant, especially as the Premier League is one of the best leagues in Europe in my opinion. This year, you've put in some great performances and you've rediscovered the passion and joy of the Saint Mary's Stadium, and I wish you all the best for a comeback at the end of the season. You've had a few bad moments, but now things are much better and I hope it will be the same for us.

It's a great video that sums up your team's championship. You can be proud and I hope your series of positive results continues!

I have a lot of faith in Sport Republic and the fact that they bought us to take us far, although at the moment that's not the case, and it's even the opposite, with a possible descent into the 3rd division, but I think our club will undergo a lot of changes in the near future. Like you, I think that in the summer of 2024, Sport Republic will begin a profound change in our club, with a reorganisation of the workforce (players and employees), and also I think a new way of working and better management, a bit like you I think. I can't hide the fact that I'm still worried, but I'm confident about the future, and when I see the work our owner has done for you, I hope we'll soon be seeing some great football here at Valenciennes.

I'd like to wish my club Valenciennes FC the same trajectory, a complicated start but a great comeback, you've had the rain and now you have the sun. I've had a lot of admiration for what you've achieved over the last 2 years and I sincerely wish you all the best!

1 minute 30, no pénalty, wtf !

It would be a pleasure to give you news about my club. Thank you all very much!

Hello friends of Southampton! As you can see, Ahmed Kantari has been confirmed as head coach of our team until the end of the season. Opinions among us are rather mixed but Ahmed knows the club well as he was one of our former players, coach of our reserve team and coach of our first team at the end of last season. Staying in the 2nd division looks very difficult, we hope that our players will feel fully involved to get out of it, we have been promised that they will fight for our club, but the only truth is on the pitch. This weekend we played in the 1/32nd final of the French Cup, and won 2-0 against Sarreguemines, who play in the 5th division below us. Saturday's derby against Amiens SC is at home, and we hope they win the game.