Football Season Guide

Returning to the second tier of French football after a two-year absence, having fallen all the way down to the Championnat National, in the past season Chateauroux proved capable of getting real close to the promotion playoffs against all expectations. Coach Jean-Luc Vasseur, who was given the reins of the team from Berrichonne last season, was confirmed at the helm of the team for the 2nd year in a row and he will be asked to obtain another quiet salvation. It will not be so easy this time around as many of the heroes of the past campaign had to leave during the summer. In fact, most of them had to return to their parent clubs as their loans came to an end. Vasseur lost fundamental players in almost all the departments but the defence was affected the most: Mouez Hassen, the goalie, had to return to OGC Nice while Richard Samnick, a centre-back, travelled back to Quevilly Rouen Métropole, and the two regular fullbacks, Cheik Traore and Chaker Alhadhur left for EA Guingamp and SM Caen respectively. The newly-arrived Venezuelan international José Contreras will be expected to earn his place between the sticks while the Guinean Sékou Condé, who had some positive seasons in Eastern Europe, could represent a great addition to the defence given his physical prowess. Provided that he manages to stay fit. One more relevant departure is surely represented by Said Benrahma’s return to OGC Nice: he will certainly be missed as he had scored 10 goals in the past campaign despite acting as a right winger. The feeling is that the players departed were not adequately replaced, thus leaving coach Vasseur with limited choices, especially at the back where the likes of Grégory Bourillon and Aldo Angoula are well in their 30s. Luckily enough, though, Chateauroux managed to retain Sidy Sarr, their top scorer with 11 goals in the past campaign, who was acquired for good from KV Kortrijk.