Football. I am fulfilled: winners of Saint

Thanks to their victory in Saint-Étienne (3-0) on Saturday, Troyes secured their return to Ligue 1 with two matches remaining, completing a three-year journey during which the club rose high… all the way from the National League.

Specializing in promotion, Troyes has made the leap from Ligue 2 to Ligue 1 five times since 2012. But this promotion was the most unexpected: narrowly avoiding relegation to the third division in May 2024, following Bordeaux’s collapse, Troyes were even last for part of the previous season before finishing tenth.

“We want to do better than last season,” cautiously stated Troyes president Edwin Pindi in September, when asked about the club’s ambitions. In fact, the promotion to Ligue 1 was not initially set as a goal, neither by the management nor the players. This ambition grew throughout the matches as Stéphane Dumont’s team realized they were superior to many of their opponents.

Troyes’ coach, who arrived in August 2024, has done remarkable work by establishing an ambitious playing style and strong team spirit. Despite receiving four red cards this season, Troyes never lost (three wins and one draw), showcasing exceptional solidarity in the team.

Many Injuries

This confidence was not even shaken by the numerous injuries throughout the season, including players like Nicolas Lemaitre, Paolo Gozzi, Yvann Titi, Alexandre Phliponeau, Merwan Ifnaoui, and Tawfik Bentayeb.

Despite a series of three defeats spanning January and February, none of their competitors managed to catch up with Troyes. While teamwork is the main asset of Troyes, it is supported by individual performances like those of Martin Adeline and local talent Mathys Detourbet, who have excelled in recent months.

The summer recruitment led by director Antoine Sibierski quickly paid off with players like Antoine Mille, Merwan Ifnaoui, and goalkeeper Hillel Konate, who had a successful season. Not to mention Tawfik Bentayeb, who arrived at Troyes late in the transfer window and is currently the top scorer in Ligue 2 with 18 goals.

The future remains uncertain for the Moroccan forward, who is loaned by US Touarga without a buying option, as well as for director Antoine Sibierski, who is rumored to be leaving.

If he were to leave, the choice of his successor would reveal a lot about the club’s sporting strategy in Ligue 1. As doubts persist about the true project of the Emirati group that owns Troyes, the upcoming off-season must be convincing to ensure continued enthusiasm around this team.

>> Results, standings, and schedule for Ligue 1