Between Toulouse and Montpellier, the “sports co'”, where the elite of national clubs
Chance of the calendars, Ligue 1 and the Top 14 offer this Sunday, October 2 two clashes between Toulouse and Montpellier, two cities in the same region with a unique density in France, outside of Paris, of clubs at the highest level in sports collectives.
Lovers of sport Toulouse and Montpellier are often spoiled for choice on weekends.
The two Occitan metropolises are both represented in the men’s elite of football, rugby, handball and volleyball, as well as in the women’s first basketball division.
A concentration of professional clubs that only Lyon (without handball) and Nantes (without rugby) come close to in the provinces.
Kamel Shibliresponsible for sports in the Occitanie region, sees it as the fruit of a “very favorable ecosystem”, with sports leaders “committed” and “attached to their territory”, and proactive local policies.
“There has long been a somewhat bizarre behavior of politicians with professional clubs,” he notes. “Who says pro, says money, so it was important not to get involved”.
Until the communities understand, according to him, that the “national and international influence” of high-level clubs could be “a real vector for the promotion of heritage, culture, tourism and gastronomy”.
“We have put the means”
Self-proclaimed”first sports city in France“, Montpellier was built sportingly on almost virgin ground in the early 1970s around several strong men, including the duo Louis Nicollin-Georges Frêche.
The first, boss of a garbage collection company, woke up Montpellier football by taking it from the honor division in 1974 to the title of French L1 champion in 2012.
The second, mayor from 1977 to 2004, modernized his city around culture and sport. “Thirty years ago, there was only one club in the first division, that of volleyball”, recalls his former sports assistant Christian Bénézis.
“We have put in place a policy of development of high level and sport in the neighborhoods,” he adds. “For the high level, we put the means. We went from 200,000 to 14 or 15 million euros in subsidies”.
For former international handball player Jérôme Fernandez, who worked for the clubs of Montpellier and Toulouse, having such sporting density is “a real wealth”.
“It allows young people who grow up in these cities or around to be able to taste everything,” he says. “Seeing high level every weekend makes them progress, by mimicry”.
Muted competition
In Montpellier, the pro clubs engage in a competition felted, in relative indifference. They rely on strong owners in a fragile economic context, but struggle to anchor their popular base. Like the MHR of billionaire Mohed Altrad, fresh French rugby champion, who has still haven’t played a sold-out game this season.
Lack of history, volatile population or sports offer too wide for a relatively small town (less than 500,000 inhabitants)? The public does not necessarily adhere and weakens somewhat the sustainability and ambition of these clubs.
The cohabitation seems closer to Toulousewhere “Téfécé” and Stade Toulousain, for example, offered a joint pack last season to attend two matches at the Stadium.
“It’s a chance for Toulouse to have so many high-level matches. We can even see them all. There’s room for everyone,” says football coach Philippe Montanier.
His team receives Sunday on the occasion of the 9th day of L1 the MHSC, with which there is not (yet) any real rivalry.
For the Toulouse supporters, the derbies are rather chosen against Castres in rugby and Bordeaux in football, a discipline in which Montpellier residents prefer to hate their neighbor Nîmes.
Administratively brought together by the redistricting of the regions in 2015, the two cities, separated by approximately 200 km, have a different history and culture. Corn the same passion for sport.