Angers’ Road Back to Ligue 1 After One Season Absence

Angers, founded in 1919, finished second in Ligue 2 last season, earning their promotion to Ligue 1 for this campaign. The last time Angers earned promotion into Ligue 1 was in 2015 and remained playing in France's top flight until 2023.

The French club stood by manager Alexandre Dujeux despite their relegation from Ligue 1 after the 2022-23 season. Dujeux guided Angers to 20 wins, eight draws, ten losses, and 68 points last season, but they fell seven points short of winning the Ligue 2 title over Auxerre, who finished top of the league with 74 points.

Even though Les Scoïstes fell short of a trophy, they made their way back to Ligue 1 directly through the standings and avoided the uncertainty of the playoff stage. One of the standout players for Angers SCO last season was Loïs Diony as the veteran forward scored 15 goals in Ligue 2.

Angers have also finished second on other occasions, as they were runners-up for the Coupe de France in 1957 and 2017. In 2017, Angers lost 1-0 to Paris Saint-Germain, falling short of winning a major trophy.

Le SCO have also been a launching place for players to get their football careers started. Raymond Kopa was one of the notable players to play for Angers as he began his professional career with the French side in Ligue 2 as a teenager.

After his time with Les Noirs et Blancs was over, he moved to Stade de Reims, winning two Ligue 1 titles in his first stint, and then Real Madrid, winning two league titles and three European cups. Kopa would also win the Ballon d'Or in 1958.

Another notable player who played for Angers is Karl Toko Ekambi. The Cameroon native made 72 total appearances, scored 25 goals, and registered 11 assists. Toko Ekambi left Angers in 2018 to play for clubs like Villarreal and Olympique Lyonnais.

With Angers back in Ligue 1 it will be interesting to see what player on their current squad follows in the footsteps of Kopa and Toko Ekambi.

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