ASSOCIATION JEUNESSE AUXERROISE
Stade de l’Abbé Deschamps : cap 3 000
89000 Auxerre
Tel. +33 3 86 72 32 32
Founded : 1905
Last season in the CFA : 4th group D (with Red Star)
Colours White with blue trim/white/white
President : Jean-Claude Hamel
Coach : Bernard David
Bernard David and Bruno Naidon, prior to last seasons' encounter in Auxerre, won 3-1 by Red Star
SQUAD :
Goalkeepers : Maeyens, Petric
Defence : Akakpo, Itoua, Messiba, Londas, Rys, Fachand
Midfield : Gnakpa, Mahamat, Ndinga, Apo, Jasse, Ondjola
Attack : Mendes, Puyot, Kitambala, Cissokho
In : Mendes (Lyon)
Out : Ferradj (Brest), Dufour (Grenoble), Pierre, Audel (Espagne)
THE TOWN
Main town of the département of the Yonne (pop 45 000)at 162 kilometers from Paris. The town is bisected by the River Yonne and possesses a rather attractive Gothic Cathedral. The town emerged from relative obscurity thanks to the exploits of its football team, and also due to the charismatic coach Guy Roux. A forty-five year associaton with the club came to an end with Rouxs' retirement, but after a two year absence Roux caused a sensation in the footballing world by emerging from retirement to coach nothern club Lens. Normally forbidden to ply his trade due to his age (68 where the normal age limit for a coach is 65), Roux succeeded in amending the rules to take his place on the bench. However after a disastrous start to the season Roux stepped down to be replaced by goalscoring legend Jean-Pierre Papin.
The reserves play on a grass pitch just behind the main arena at the Abbé Deschamps complex. The stadium has a large grandstand recovered from the main arena during the ground improvement works carried out when the club hit the big time. Auxerre are one of the few French football clubs to actualy own their own ground (the majority are owned by local councils) and the amount of land owned by the sporting complex and the number of football pitches is very impressive.
Last season Red Star pulled off a surprise 3-1 win in Auxerre, Greg Lefort being a hat-trick hero on the day.
© AllezRedStar.com 2007