Season Preview #17: RC Strasbourg

With the 2024-25 season nearing, we’re reviewing every team in the league, giving you all you need to become a Ligue 1 expert. From now until the season kicks off on August 16, we’ll preview two clubs daily, breaking down their key moves and how the season will likely unfold for them.

RC Strasbourg

Founded: 1906

Stadium: Stade de la Meinau

Nicknames: Le Racing; Les Bleu et Blanc

Manager: Liam Rosenior (first season)

The 40-year-old manager will enter his first season on the sidelines for Strasbourg after being appointed to the job in July. Rosenior takes over for Patrick Vieira, who guided Le Racing to 39 points and a 13th-place finish while also staying ten points clear of the playoff relegation spot. The Englishman will get his first taste of French football after being the manager of Hull City from 2022 to 2024.

Last season: 13th (39 points)

Cult hero: Thomas Delaine

Strasbourg will be counting many young players this season, but there are veterans on this team, and Delaine is one of them. The 32-year-old has been with Strasbourg since 2022, appearing in 47 matches across all competitions while scoring one goal and registering three assists. Before joining Le Racing, Delaine spent five years playing for FC Metz, playing from 2018 to 2022 for Les Grenats.

Key arrivals:

Andrey Santos spent the second half of the 2023-24 season on loan at Strasbourg from Chelsea, where he made 11 appearances and scored one goal. After a few months with the French side, Santos has returned to Strasbourg for an entire season on loan from the Premier League club.

Strasbourg will also be counting on defender Caleb Wiley to play a significant part on the team this season. The 19-year-old arrives on loan from Chelsea and is beginning his first steps into European football after joining the Blues from MLS side Atlanta United.

Key departure:

Les Bleu et Blanc will be a young team in this campaign and with players starting their careers, they require veterans to show them the ropes while passing out their experience. One veteran player that Strasbourg said goodbye to this summer was Kévin Gameiro. The 37-year-old played in 30 total games for Strasbourg last season, scoring five goals and recording two assists.

Season outlook

Strasbourg will be a young squad this season with an average age of 21.5, but the French side will have a talented team. Aside from Habib Diarra, Santos, and Wiley, there are other young talents like Óscar Perea, Ismaël Doukouré, and Guéla Doué, who have the opportunity to become household names. While Rosenior has an exciting young team with a lot of potential, there will be learning curves that they will experience, but the group does have a chance to become a surprise team in Ligue 1 this season.

READ MORE:

>>Season Preview #14: Stade de Reims
>>Season Preview #15: Stade Rennais