Season Preview #10: AS Monaco

With the 2024/25 Ligue 1 season fast-approaching, we’re running through every team in the league, giving you all you need to become a Ligue 1 expert. Every day from now until the season kicks off on August 16, we’ll preview two clubs every day, breaking down their key moves and how the season is likely to unfold for them.

AS Monaco

Founded: 1924

Stadium: Stade-Louis II

Nickname(s): Les Rouges et Blanc, Les Monégasques

Manager: Adi Hütter (second season)
Were it not for the Cinderella story of Éric Roy's Stade Brestois last season, Hütter may have had a good chance to finish as manager of the season. Shaking off the early-season heartbreak of being eliminated from the Champions League playoffs, lengthy injury absences on the parts of Caio Henrique and Breel Embolo, and several players being absent for the Africa Cup of Nations, the Austrian manager guided the club to a comfortable second place finish, securing a return to Europe's biggest stage. While the mercato is yet to close, it's clear the club's hierarchy back him, making the Principality side serious title contenders.

Last season: 2nd, Ligue 1

Cult hero: Aleksandr Golovin

Having arrived in the Principality in 2018, the waspish attacking midfielder had always shown marked ability going forward, yet injuries and defensive rigour had been lacking in his early spell at the club. What had started to changed two seasons ago was in full view in the last campaign under Hütter. His fitness and physicality improving all the while, Golovin regularly turned in the spectacular, but also showed a new level of depth and versatility, even playing as a holding midfielder on occasion. Now the club captain, he will again be key as the team look to build on last season.

Key arrivals:

The club have bought young this summer, save making the loan arrival of Thilo Kehrer permanent, in adding a trio of players aged 20 or younger. Despite their inexperience, though, the trio of Lamine Camara, George Ilenikhena and Christian Mawissa have all proven themselves in impressive fashion, and even if they may not be first choice from the off, they can add important depth whilst also gaining valuable experience.  

Key departures:

Wissam Ben Yedder, at nearly 34 years old, didn't exactly seem to fit into the squad's development philosophy, given the average age of their incoming players, but there's no doubting that his contributions, even as he was sometimes dropped at later points in the season, were important. With Folarin Balogun struggling at times to display a consistent presence in attack, his 16 goals in the league were vital to the club's finish, and even with Embolo returning, his preternatural finishing ability could be missed. 

Season Outlook:

Monaco have bought smartly and retained most of their key players of this writing, and while it remains to be seen how Hütter will deploy his side tactically this season, there is simply too much depth and attacking talent in this team to not see them as the side best-equipped to challenge PSG for the title. If the manager can keep his squad happy with their time on the pitch through rotation, a repeat of the 2017 team's achievements eight years on wouldn't be outside the realm of possibility.

Likely XI (4-2-3-1): Majecki; Vanderson, Kehrer, Salisu, Henrique; Zakaria, Fofana; Minamino, Akliouche, Golovin; Embolo