Stade de Reims: France's First European Giant Returns to the Spotlight

In the 1950s, Stade de Reims were the embodiment of French footballing elegance and excellence. Under the guidance of coach Albert Batteux, Reims not only dominated domestically but also brought French football to the international stage. They won six Ligue 1 titles and two Coupe de France trophies during that golden era.

Born in 1931 to Polish immigrant parents, Raymond Kopa emerged as the heartbeat of Reims’ golden era. A technically gifted inside forward, Kopa joined Reims from Angers in 1951. Within two seasons, he was dazzling crowds with his dribbling, vision, and intelligence.

Kopa helped Reims win Ligue 1 titles in 1953 and 1955, before playing a starring role in the inaugural European Cup final in 1956, where Reims lost a dramatic 4-3 contest to Real Madrid. That performance caught the eye of Madrid themselves, who signed Kopa that summer. He would go on to win three consecutive European Cups with Los Blancos and the Ballon d’Or in 1958. Kopa returned to Reims in 1959, helping the club to another league title in 1960 and lifting the last of his four French championships in 1962.

Reims' European legacy, steeped in the history of French football

If Kopa was the architect, Just Fontaine was the executioner. The Morocco-born striker joined Reims from Nice in 1956, just as Kopa was leaving. He filled the void instantly, scoring with clinical, almost mathematical regularity.

In his very first season at Reims, Fontaine scored 30 goals in 31 league games and helped the club win the 1958 Ligue 1 title. That same year, he made history at the World Cup in Sweden, scoring 13 goals in just six matches — a record that still stands to this day.

Fontaine’s partnership with the likes of Roger Piantoni and Jean Vincent propelled Reims back to the European Cup final in 1959, where they once again fell to Real Madrid. Sadly, a serious injury in 1960 ended Fontaine’s career at just 26, but not before he had scored 121 goals in 130 matches for Reims.

The names Kopa and Fontaine remain sacred in Reims, not just for their talent, but for what they represented: a small French city with a team that could conquer Europe. In 2025, while the names have changed — Junya Ito, Mohamed Daramy, Teddy Teuma, and Yehvann Diouf lead the charge — the spirit remains. Reims’ return to the Coupe de France final for the first time in 48 years is a poignant callback to their past glories.

Their route to the final included wins over Monaco, Angers, and Cannes, and now they stand just 90 minutes away from their first major silverware since 1958. Against PSG — a modern-day juggernaut with 15 Coupe de France titles and global superstars — Reims will not only fight for a trophy, but for history.

READ MORE: 

>>Coupe de France Preview: PSG Seek Repeat, Reims Chase First Cup Since 1958