Toulouse validates its return to Ligue 1, after its victory over Niort (2-0)
The house party. With 11 points ahead of third-placed Auxerre, three days to go, the TFC, supported by more than 24,000 people against the Chamois, is guaranteed to finish in one of the first two places in Ligue 2. party by a massive invasion of the public part of the Stadium.
This is the second time he has managed to climb back into the top flight without wasting (too much) time: after his administrative demotion to National in 2001, the Toulouse club, then bought by Olivier Sadran, had chained two successive climbs.
The Sadran era had experienced a sad epilogue with relegation in the spring of 2020, at the end of a nightmarish exercise (only three wins in 28 matches) interrupted before its end by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The former owner had decided in the wake of selling the club to the American fund Red Bird Capital, which arrived in the Pink City with big ambitions.
“Toulouse is a Ligue 1 club in Ligue 2”, keeps repeating since the new president Damien Comolli, man of confidence of the American owners.
He will have taken two years to keep his promise after having failed last season to immediately bring up the “Téfécé”, beaten by Nantes in the accession dam (1-2, 1-0).
Second climb for Montanier
This return to the top flight is also a personal success for coach Philippe Montanier (57), former club goalkeeper between 1994 and 1997, who had already raised Boulogne-sur-Mer to L1 in 2009.
L2’s biggest budget (approximately 20 million euros) relied this season on a fiery attack, the best in the history of the championship since the introduction of the single group in 1993-1994, with already 80 but in 35 matches.
The TFC is now aiming to seek its third 2nd division championship title (after 1982 and 2003), which could be done quickly since it is eight points ahead of its runner-up, Ajaccio.
What role does he intend to play next on the upper floor? “There is no reason that we should not be at the top of the Ligue 1 classification. I am not talking about European places, but about the top 6-8”, announced President Comolli when he took over. function.
The American owners intend to put their hands in their pockets for the L1 and the budget should experience a very clear increase.
Keep Van den Boomen and Healey
The priority will be to retain key players, including Dutch midfielder Branco van den Boomen, figurehead of these attractive Violets.
Trained at Ajax and bought 350,000 euros from De Graafschap, in Dutch D2, two years ago, he already has 20 assists and 12 goals to his credit. Performances that naturally attract covetousness.
Current top scorer in L2 with 20 goals, the Englishman Rhys Healey could also be in high demand, while the young shoots trained at the club (defenders Bafodé Diakité and Anthony Rouault, midfielder Nathan Ngoumou) should be banned by the leaders. .
Determined to assume its new objectives, Toulouse, with a real popular enthusiasm for two years, should then be quite active on the transfer market, with several positions in advance (left back, midfielder, central defender).