Valenciennes

[SuperSAINT]

54 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

Yeah just saw the official announcement of hognon leaving 

"a club that will have one of the biggest budgets in the National next season"

Sounds promising 

Interesting he’s coming in before a new DoF is arriving.

[Convict Colony]

1 hour ago, SuperSAINT said:

Interesting he’s coming in before a new DoF is arriving.

Guess Gerkhin and CEO calling the shots

[FredVaFC59100]

18 hours ago, ChristopheVAFC said:

Monday's press review:

VAFC : Vincent Hognon dans le flou, un chantier à tous les étages à Valenciennes - La Voix du Nord

the end of the sporting policy focused on exotic, data-driven recruitment, which has yielded no positive results since June 2023. 

ya think ? 2 years in, a complete U-turn already and one new coach every 6 months  ?

Do SR know what the hell they are doing ?

The American people want to know.

Edited May 20 by FredVaFC59100

[Holmes_and_Watson]

5 hours ago, FredVaFC59100 said:

ya think ? 2 years in, a complete U-turn already and one new coach every 6 months  ?

Do SR know what the hell they are doing ?

The American people want to know.

>raises hand< I know this one!

No, they really don't.

[Football Special]

19 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

>raises hand< I know this one!

No, they really don't.

The lack of strategy and leadership seems to be a common theme 

[ChristopheVAFC]

The recent departure of Ben Chorley and that of coach Vincent Hognon yesterday herald the start of a major sporting project.

On the sporting director's side, our current head of scouts, Mathieu Frison, should be appointed sporting director, and on the coach's side, Stéphane Moulin will replace Vincent Hognon.

All this will be made official during the course of the week, and the club will immediately begin work on the squad, which is expected to include between 15 and 20 departures, as well as around 15 new recruits.

 

[ChristopheVAFC]

Valenciennes FC

Quote

VAFC press release: Mathieu Frison promoted to sports coordinator

VAFC is pleased to announce the appointment of Mathieu Frison to the position of sports coordinator.

In this strategic role, Mathieu Frison will be responsible for ensuring the operational link between the management, the technical staff and all the club's sporting components. He will play an active role in recruitment and the implementation of VAFC's development project, both at professional level and in the structuring of training.

VAFC's new sports coordinator cut his teeth at Club Bruges and then at LOSC's training centre, where he was in charge of recruitment. Having arrived at VAFC in January 2024 as head of recruitment, Mathieu Frison has distinguished himself through his modern vision of sporting organisation, his ability to engage in dialogue with all those involved on the pitch and his sense of responsibility.

Yoann Godin, CEO of VAFC: "I am delighted to promote Mathieu to the position of sports coordinator at VAFC. I've worked with him on a number of projects and I'm convinced that he'll take VAFC forward in terms of its sporting organisation. He already knows how the club and Sport Republic operate, which is a real asset. He will play a key role in the link between management and the field. His profile combines innovation, expertise, method and in-depth knowledge of the business: essential qualities to support VAFC's sporting project effectively and coherently.

 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

6 hours ago, ChristopheVAFC said:

The recent departure of Ben Chorley and that of coach Vincent Hognon yesterday herald the start of a major sporting project.

On the sporting director's side, our current head of scouts, Mathieu Frison, should be appointed sporting director, and on the coach's side, Stéphane Moulin will replace Vincent Hognon.

All this will be made official during the course of the week, and the club will immediately begin work on the squad, which is expected to include between 15 and 20 departures, as well as around 15 new recruits.

 

I take it I'm missing a step.

The head of scouts gets a promotion? The scouting network that's resulting in most of the squad leaving, as not being remotely good enough?

I can only imagine it's an operational role, rather than being part of any of the actual recruitment shambles?

[Nolan]

10 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

I take it I'm missing a step.

The head of scouts gets a promotion? The scouting network that's resulting in most of the squad leaving, as not being remotely good enough?

I can only imagine it's an operational role, rather than being part of any of the actual recruitment shambles?

Yes you're missing that we have a unified scouting network with Spors effectively at the top and the guy from Hoffenheim coming in.

[ChristopheVAFC]

11 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

I take it I'm missing a step.

The head of scouts gets a promotion? The scouting network that's resulting in most of the squad leaving, as not being remotely good enough?

I can only imagine it's an operational role, rather than being part of any of the actual recruitment shambles?

Ben Chorley arrived at the same time as Sport Republic here at Valenciennes in July 2023, while Mathieu Frison was recruited in January 2024.

The two people are totally different (one having never worked in France, the other having been at LOSC Lille and having already taken part in sporting missions).

Mathieu's a good fit because he's familiar with the way the game works here in France and he's brought in some good players this winter, like Ousmane Touré and Axel Camblan, for example.

I don't know if this will be a winning choice, but I hope it will work out in any case.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, Nolan said:

Yes you're missing that we have a unified scouting network with Spors effectively at the top and the guy from Hoffenheim coming in.

 

1 hour ago, ChristopheVAFC said:

Ben Chorley arrived at the same time as Sport Republic here at Valenciennes in July 2023, while Mathieu Frison was recruited in January 2024.

The two people are totally different (one having never worked in France, the other having been at LOSC Lille and having already taken part in sporting missions).

Mathieu's a good fit because he's familiar with the way the game works here in France and he's brought in some good players this winter, like Ousmane Touré and Axel Camblan, for example.

I don't know if this will be a winning choice, but I hope it will work out in any case.

 

The point about him being here since Jan 2024 was what had caught my eye. How many recruits was he involved in if not in that January window, then in the summer leading into this season? Good to hear that his winter window was better.

Even better, that there's improved oversight across the group, as per Nolan's post. Of course, the SR wider recruitment strategy for VA has now resulted in "Frenchfying" it. So, a combination is probably best.

 

[Convict Colony]

Unbeaten season loading up for Valenciennes, I like these appointments.

Assume Spors led, confirmed the sporting coordinater part and also the coach ? 

 

[SuperSAINT]

On 19/05/2025 at 19:38, Convict Colony said:

Guess Gerkhin and CEO calling the shots

Gherkin will relish that challenge

[ChristopheVAFC]

Recent news: New coach and 1st summer recruit:

Quote

https://www.va-fc.com/articles/communiqué-%3A-stéphane-moulin-nommé-entraîneur-du-vafc-28508

Press release: Stéphane Moulin appointed VAFC coach

VAFC is pleased to announce the appointment of Stéphane Moulin as head coach of the professional team. He will be accompanied by Patrice Sauvaget as his assistant.

Stéphane Moulin has a wealth of experience on the benches of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 clubs, including a remarkable ten-year stint as coach of SCO d'Angers. After moving up to Ligue 1 in 2015, the 57-year-old kept the Angevin club in the top flight for six seasons in a row, even reaching the French Cup final in 2017. In 2021, the coach joined Caen, with whom he finished seventh in Ligue 2 in 2022 and fifth in 2023.

Renowned for his rigour, his vision of the game and his ability to help his teams progress, Stéphane Moulin fully embodies the values of the club.

VAFC is convinced that his expertise and leadership will enable us to open an ambitious new chapter.

The entire club would like to welcome Stéphane Moulin and Patrice Sauvaget and wish them every success as they take charge of the first team.

Yoann Godin, CEO of VAFC: "Stéphane Moulin's appointment marks an important step in the new dynamic we want to inject into the club. His track record, his high standards and his ability to bring people together make him a coach who is perfectly aligned with our project. I'm delighted to be able to begin a human and sporting adventure with Stéphane and Patrice.

and

Quote

https://www.va-fc.com/articles/gaëtan-courtet%2C-première-recrue-du-vafc--!-28547

Gaëtan Courtet, VAFC's first recruit!

It's a first-rate recruit who kicks off VAFC's mercato! Having reached the end of his contract with Dunkerque, with whom he has just played in the Ligue 1 play-offs, Gaëtan Courtet has decided to join the Red and Whites for the 2025/26 season. The 36-year-old striker, who has signed a two-year contract, will bolster the Valenciennes dressing room with a CV packed with experience.

Having played for Lorient, Reims, Brest, Auxerre, Ajaccio, Guingamp and Dunkerque, Gaëtan Courtet has played no fewer than 74 Ligue 1 games (scoring 11 goals) and 371 Ligue 2 games (scoring 86 goals). A professional for over 15 years, the player, who played 32 Ligue 2 games this season (5 goals, 4 assists) and reached the semi-finals of the French Cup, will be one of the key figures in Stéphane Moulin's dressing room. Welcome to VA Gaëtan!

Gaëtan Courtet, new VAFC striker: "VAFC is a great challenge. It's a club that has what it takes to go higher. I like a challenge, I've taken on a few in my career and I'd like to succeed with this one. I intend to bring my experience and try to help the younger players as much as possible, and I also intend to score goals for VAFC!

Yoann Godin, General Manager of VAFC. "We're delighted to have succeeded in bringing Gaëtan Courtet to VAFC. It just goes to show that we have a project that is attracting interest, despite our position in the National League last season. We wanted to attract a player with a lot of experience, one who played at the top end of Ligue 2 last season, even reaching the play-offs. We know that he's going to bring us a lot with his grit, his desire and his ability to be a very good striker. We're delighted to have Gaëtan in our squad next season.

Mathieu Frison, VAFC sports coordinator. "Gaëtan's recruitment is in line with our desire to recruit players who match VAFC's DNA. He's a player who was invaluable last season thanks to his consistency on the pitch and his leadership in a team in the top 4 of Ligue 2. We're delighted to have him on board.

 

[ChristopheVAFC]

12 hours ago, Convict Colony said:

Unbeaten season loading up for Valenciennes, I like these appointments.

Assume Spors led, confirmed the sporting coordinater part and also the coach ? 

 

I hope we have a good season. In any case, announcing the new coach and our 1st summer recruit now, while the other clubs are on holiday, sends out a message that Valenciennes won't be making up the numbers next year.

All that's left to do now is tackle the squad, which is going to change a lot with around fifteen departures and around the same number of arrivals.

The most difficult thing will be to make the right choices that will pay off on the pitch.

We believe!

[ChristopheVAFC]

12 hours ago, SuperSAINT said:

Gherkin will relish that challenge

With the departure of Ben Chorley, the trio of Dirk Gerkens (chairman of VAFC) and Yoann Godin (CEO of VAFC), with the support of Mathieu Frison (sports coordinator), are in charge of the club and its decisions.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

20 minutes ago, ChristopheVAFC said:

I hope we have a good season. In any case, announcing the new coach and our 1st summer recruit now, while the other clubs are on holiday, sends out a message that Valenciennes won't be making up the numbers next year.

All that's left to do now is tackle the squad, which is going to change a lot with around fifteen departures and around the same number of arrivals.

The most difficult thing will be to make the right choices that will pay off on the pitch.

We believe!

SR finally hiring a manager who has been at the levels they want o reach, has done good things with multiple clubs, and who hopefully challenges and drives those above him. Could be SR are learning.

While not prolific, it looks like you're getting in some veteran experience in Courtet. Someone with a long career at the step above. Nothing fancy, but a foundation stone for the campaign. Hopefully setting an example. Hopefully with more impact than Lallana had for us.

[ChristopheVAFC]

Hello friends, I hope you're well this Sunday. 

Yesterday, at the Stade du Hainaut, there was a press conference to introduce our new coach, Stéphane Moulin, with the presence of Mathieu Frison (sports coordinator) and Yoann Godin, CEO of VAFC.

Here's a press article summarizing what was said:

https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/1589144/article/2025-05-24/vafc-pas-ici-pour-partir-dans-un-du-temps-et-des-ambitions-au-menu-de-stephane

Quote

VAFC: ‘Not here to leave in a year’, time and ambitions on Stéphane Moulin's menu at Valenciennes

Three days after making his appointment at Valenciennes official, Stéphane Moulin has revealed more about his intentions on the VA bench. With him, the club is opening a new chapter in its quest for a little more stability, without denying its ambitions of returning to Ligue 2.

Already approached last winter after Ahmed Kantari was sidelined, Stéphane Moulin finally turned down VA's offer. ‘I'm not saying I couldn't do it, but I had my doubts about it, and I needed a little more time to get the best out of myself,’ explains Moulin, who took the opportunity to familiarise himself with the French national team.

The good contacts made this winter prompted the management to contact him again ‘three or four weeks ago’, explains CEO Yoann Godin, when the first doubts about continuing with Vincent Hognon appeared. There was no certainty on either side at the time, while Stéphane Moulin was being courted by other National League sides and even a L2 club. Then things began to become clearer in the minds of the Valenciennes directors. When a good run becomes a little less good, you ask yourself questions,’ continues Godin. If we could do it with Vincent, the answer was yes, but if we could do better with Stéphane, I think so too.

‘Two years to get back into Ligue 2 and another three to go higher’.

Discussions then intensified and became more concrete with Stéphane Moulin until he signed on Wednesday, two days after the announcement of Hognon's departure. Once and for all in the north of France, the new VA coach obviously spoke very highly of his new home - ‘a club like VA has to play the leading roles. I didn't come here to finish 9th, that's not my objective or that of the club’ - but without selling dreams. ‘The task won't be easy, but if I come here it's not to leave in six months or a year.

In other words, Stéphane Moulin wants to build, and that takes time. The obsession with immediate promotion is therefore no longer an obsession. Yoann Godin has made things clear with a five-year roadmap: ‘two years to get back into Ligue 2 and another three to go higher. Although no one will be complaining that things are moving faster.

To get back into action, the team will, as expected, be largely renewed, with a mix of experienced players such as Gaëtan Courtet, the first summer recruit, and other younger players, possibly on loan, as Mathieu Frison's connection as sporting coordinator with LOSC could open new doors. The idea is to have a large part of the squad ready for the start of the new season on 1 July. After that, the pitch will speak for itself.

 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, ChristopheVAFC said:

Hello friends, I hope you're well this Sunday. 

Yesterday, at the Stade du Hainaut, there was a press conference to introduce our new coach, Stéphane Moulin, with the presence of Mathieu Frison (sports coordinator) and Yoann Godin, CEO of VAFC.

Here's a press article summarizing what was said:

https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/1589144/article/2025-05-24/vafc-pas-ici-pour-partir-dans-un-du-temps-et-des-ambitions-au-menu-de-stephane

 

Thanks Christophe.

It might be realistic, but it's essentially saying SR were either unprepared for the challenge, or made such a mess of it, that you could be spending a other 2 years in that division, just to get back to where you were.

I have a bin full of 5 year and 10 year plans trotted out by clubs, when the tenure of managers resembles the lifespans of mayflies.

I'd like to think about that with better recruitment, and your new manager, you'll get the results for a challenge in the season to come, considering VA's resources.

[FredVaFC59100]

Frisson is a very smart person, He is going to move up the ladder quickly and end up in SFC headquarter within 2 years. It would work out very well with Will Still me think.

[Nolan]

8 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Thanks Christophe.

It might be realistic, but it's essentially saying SR were either unprepared for the challenge, or made such a mess of it, that you could be spending a other 2 years in that division, just to get back to where you were.

I have a bin full of 5 year and 10 year plans trotted out by clubs, when the tenure of managers resembles the lifespans of mayflies.

I'd like to think about that with better recruitment, and your new manager, you'll get the results for a challenge in the season to come, considering VA's resources.

Or that the wrong people were making the decisions. 

Sports Republic is very different now with Kraft out, Gerkens in and Spors controlling the setup.

Solak has changed the arrangements to protect his money, and it looks as if sensible decisions are being made.

[Tommy Mulgrew]

4 hours ago, FredVaFC59100 said:

Frisson is a very smart person, He is going to move up the ladder quickly and end up in SFC headquarter within 2 years. It would work out very well with Will Still me think.

It’s not like you to be optimistic, FredVAFC.  😉
 

 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Just now, Tommy Mulgrew said:

It’s not like you to be optimistic, FredVAFC.  😉
 

 

Everyone likes a bit of frisson in their lives. 🙂 

[FredVaFC59100]

2 hours ago, Tommy Mulgrew said:

It’s not like you to be optimistic, FredVAFC.  😉
 

 

Not really, just accepting the sad reality that my team will forever be a sidekick club casted in the shadow of the alpha team. I've come to term with the reality of today's football business model getting me more and more longing for the good old days of pre-Bosman ruling as time goes by.

[Gloucester Saint]

6 hours ago, Nolan said:

Or that the wrong people were making the decisions. 

Sports Republic is very different now with Kraft out, Gerkens in and Spors controlling the setup.

Solak has changed the arrangements to protect his money, and it looks as if sensible decisions are being made. 🤞 

[ChristopheVAFC]

13 hours ago, Nolan said:

Or that the wrong people were making the decisions. 

Sports Republic is very different now with Kraft out, Gerkens in and Spors controlling the setup.

Solak has changed the arrangements to protect his money, and it looks as if sensible decisions are being made.

It seems that shareholders here are getting impatient and are looking for quick results.

The many restructuring measures already announced are moving in this direction.

I hope this time it works out for VA.

[ChristopheVAFC]

Today press: https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/1589431/article/2025-05-26/vafc-apres-gaetan-courtet-quel-mercato-valenciennes-ce-que-souhaite-stephane

Quote

VAFC: After Gaëtan Courtet, what's next for Valenciennes? What Stéphane Moulin wants

VA struck a blow with the announcement of the arrival of striker Gaëtan Courtet. This is far from the end of the story, however, as the squad is still a work in progress.

Mathieu Frison recounts that he asked Gaëtan Courtet the question a few days ago: if Dunkerque had gone up to Ligue 1, would the experienced 36-year-old striker still have signed for Valenciennes in the National League? ‘He told me yes, and I'm going to believe him,’ smiles the newly-appointed sporting coordinator, who did not wait long before pulling off a coup in terms of recruitment, even though the first contacts with the USLD stalwart date back around two months.

‘I want to create a collective force so that danger comes from everywhere’ Stéphane Moulin, VAFC coach.

In a hectic week for announcements at Valenciennes, the arrival of Courtet is a welcome addition to the club's transfer market. He's a leader, he's going to lead the dressing room,’ hopes Stéphane Moulin. In terms of generosity and creating openings for others, he knows what he's doing. But Courtet will not be alone. Stéphane Moulin does not want him to be his only attacking weapon, quite the contrary. ‘I want to create a collective force so that danger comes from everywhere,’ explains the VA coach.

Discussions with Masson and Dibassy

An advocate of attacking football, with teams that are ‘enthusiastic and dynamic’, and of a four-man defence, Stéphane Moulin is as much a believer in his convictions as he is in a genuine ability to adapt and the need for balance in the profiles, cultures and generations that will make up his squad.

The recruits will mainly be players familiar with the French leagues, and Moulin is open to loans. ‘We want to have a team that's better than last year's, even if I'm not here to undo everything that's been done here,’ he continues. In particular, he is counting on Jean Louchet in goal, while discussions are underway with Julien Masson and Bakaye Dibassy about an extension.