Football Season Guide

After their past unexpected and impressive campaign, which saw them arriving almost close to promotion despite starting with completely different ambitions, it was quite predictable that Paris FC talents would have attracted the eyes of several bigger clubs. And it is exactly for such reason that the Parisiens were unable to confirm coach Fabien Mercadal at the helm of the team, despite all the good he proved capable of doing during his permanence in the capital city, as he was lured away by the Ligue 1 and SM Caen money. In order to replace the departed coach, the management made pretty clear their own ambitions for the next season as they hired the former Bosnia and Hercegovina manager, Mehmed Baždarević, who had started his career in France and succeeded leading both Istres and Grenoble to promotion to the Ligue 1 at the first time of trying. Baždarević could be a perfect replacement for Mercadal as he also adopts a sort of 4-2-3-1 formation. As for the players, the experienced Cameroonian striker Malik Tchokounte, who scored 12 goals in the past campaign, followed his coach Mercadal in SM Caen while the 32-year-old Ousmane Sidibe, who had a good season at right-back, left for AS Beziers, who were just newly-promoted to the Ligue 2. Another ageing player, the centre-back Hervé Lybohy, was also let go to Nimes Olympique. In terms of new signings, Paris FC tried to add some muscles to their defence and so Ousmane Kante arrived from AS Beziers. Vincent Rüfli, who did not spend much time on the pitch while at Dijon, should be an alternative full-back while the likes of Adama Sarr, Yannick Mamilonne, and Fabien Ourega should only provide some depth in the attack. However, Paris FC should be mostly happy for managing to retain the services of players like Thomas Delaine, Redouane Kerrouche, Cyril and Dylan Saint-Louis, who should represent the backbone of the team also in the new campaign.