25/26 Season Preview #2: AJ Auxerre

Despite some key departures over the summer, Christophe Pélissier's AJ Auxerre will be hoping to build-on a surprise 11th-placed finish in Ligue 1 McDonald's, and continue to compete against the division's big boys.

Last Season

The expectation for Les Diplomates last season was simply to survive, after sealing promotion from Ligue 2 BKT during the previous campaign. Yet Christophe Pélissier's men became one of the division's surprise stories of the 2024-2025 campaign - beating the very best of the division whilst entertaining in the process. By November, l'AJA were one of the highest-scoring clubs in the division, beating the likes of Nice, Marseille, Brest, and earning a rare draw against an all-conquering Paris Saint-Germain side.

READ MORE:
>> Back to the Big Time: Auxerre's road back to Ligue 1 McDonald's
>> Pélissier: Meet the veteran manager behind Auxerre's rise

The Coach: Christophe Pélissier

Veteran tactician Christophe Pélissier has once again shown his knack for overachieving with modest resources. After guiding both Amiens and Lorient to unexpected success in Ligue 1 McDonald’s, he’s now doing the same at Auxerre with one of the leanest budgets in the league. His style is pragmatic but resilient, and he'll be looking to continue that progress going into the next season.

Key arrivals

l'AJA have been reinforced with some youthful additions this season after some key departures. Exciting winger Josué Casimir has joined from Le Havre along with Racing Club de Strasbourg's Marvin Senaya. Watford FC defender Francisco Sierralta brings some more experience to the backline, with the biggest addition coming in the form of Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Ibrahim Osman - who'll be looking to make a breakthrough season in Ligue 1 McDonald's.

Key Departures

There have, however, been some key losses at Stade Abbé-Deschamps during the summer. Last season's explosive loanee Junior Hamad Traoré has returned to his parent club Bournemouth, after scoring 10 goals in 26 matches last season and being one of the best attacking prospects in the league. The experienced and creative force of Gaëtan Perrin will also be missed, after the Frenchman joined Russian Premier League side Krasnodar along with emblematic Brazilian centre-back Jubal.

Key Player: Donavan Léon

The 32 year-old shot-stopper is entering the peak of his career, as many goalkeepers do at his age. The French Guiananese goalkeeper comes off the back of his first Ligue 1 McDonald's season as an undisputed starter. Playing every minute of the league campaign (≈2,880 minutes), he kept a solid four clean sheets and delivered match-winning performances, none more memorable than the goalless draw against Paris Saint‑Germain where he stopped an astounding 11 shots. That night he became the Ligue 1 leader in saves for the season, surpassing 60 with a save rate around 73.8%—the most in the division. If anyone can define the resilience of Pélissier's side, then it is Léon.

Remember when...

Auxerre’s golden era under Guy Roux remains one of the most remarkable stories in French football. A one-club man for more than four decades, Roux guided AJA from the amateur ranks to Ligue 1 champions in 1995–96, defeating PSG to the title and completing a historic double with a Coupe de France triumph. That legendary side featured talents like Laurent Blanc, Sabri Lamouchi, and Lilian Laslandes, with Stéphane Guivarc’h later adding a World Cup winner’s medal in 1998. Auxerre would go on to feature regularly in European competition, including the Champions League group stage, and remain a model of provincial success built on youth development and long-term vision.

Cult hero: Djibril Cissé

Before the flashy haircuts and Premier League fame, Djibril Cissé was a purebred product of the Auxerre academy. He burst onto the scene under Guy Roux in the early 2000s, combining blistering pace with clinical finishing. Cissé scored 70 goals in 128 league appearances for AJA, twice finishing as Ligue 1’s top scorer (2001–02 and 2003–04), and helped the club lift the 2003 Coupe de France. His dynamic style and personality made him a fan favourite — and he remains closely tied to the club to this day, having returned as an assistant coach in 2025. Cissé is the embodiment of Auxerre’s ability to mould stars from within and remains a beloved figure at the Abbé-Deschamps.