St-Étienne are dreaming about glory while staring relegation in the face
The club’s new owners brought in an attacking manager and young players without considering the short-term risks
Euphoria, optimism and ambition were the dominant emotions at Saint-Étienne in the summer. With promotion to Ligue 1 secured and new owners onboard, the club could dream of replicating past glories. But waking up the sleeping giant of French football has not been as easy as flicking a switch.
St-Étienne returned to the top flight after a two-year stint in Ligue 2 thanks to a dour relegation playoff win against Metz. Olivier Dall’Oglio, who replaced Laurent Batlles as manager mid-season, took the club up by reverting to a defensive, back-to-basics approach. However, that approach did not translate well in Ligue 1, despite a summer splurge from the new owners.
