Football Season Guide

Dunkerque scrambled for survival successfully last season under Frederic Mercadel, though that was achieved largely thanks to a strong start to the campaign. They spent the second half of the campaign toiling and scraped to safety in the end. Over the course of the summer, they have had a rather traumatic time. They were threatened with administrative relegation due to their poor finances and had to fight off a ban on recruiting players. That was ultimately lifted, allowing head coach Romain Revelli the opportunity to add to his squad. In the meantime, Dunkerque’s departures have helped to trim the size of the squad. While seven players have departed, these players were typically peripheral to the starting XI, with Cheick Diarra the most prominent of the signed players to depart. No doubt, though, that the most telling player to leave the squad is Ilan Kebbal, who provided excitement on the wing, although like many of his team-mates, he was lacking a little in efficiency in the final third of the pitch. Changes, though, could come right up until the end of the transfer window. Harouna Sy, a star performer in the first half of last season, is ready to leave the club and striker Malik Tchokounte, who finished the campaign well, is another who could leave. Coming in are players from lower levels. Desire Segbe Azankpo has arrived from Villefranche in attack, with the idea that he will ultimately replace Tchokounte as he is of a similar profile. In midfield, meanwhile, creativity should arrive from Mohamed Ouadah, who primarily featured as a right-footed left winger for Laval last season. Dunkerque will lean on players coming back from long-term injuries in attack, with Kevin Rocheteau barely featuring last season after joining as their marquee signing and Nicolas Bruneel outstanding in the midfield before his season was cut harshly short. The defence, meanwhile, still has scope for significant change before the end of the window, with Ibrahim Cisse, their best centre-back, and Adon Gomis, another potential starter, both potentially departing. Head coach Revelli’s only previous Ligue 2 experience was overseeing Evian’s relegation in the second half of 2015-16 and he will now aim for a better fate six years on.