25/26 Preview #17: RC Strasbourg
After impressing under new manager Liam Rosenior, it's now up to RC Strasbourg to show their continued progress as they look to compete both domestically and in Europe -- read on for more about what to look for as the Alsatian side kicks off its Ligue 1 McDonald's season.
LAST SEASON:
After an uneven start to the 2024/25 season, Racing hit their stride in the early months of the new year, reeling off a 12-match unbeaten run in the league. While unlikely losses to Le Havre and Angers saw them slip out of the top six, there was still plenty of excitement around this young and eye-catching side, with Rosenior's high-octane play a firm fan favourite.
THE COACH
Liam Rosenior was something of an unknown quantity upon his arrival in France last summer, having only worked in England's lower leagues. Tasked with replacing Patrick Vieira following the French international's uneven spell, Rosenior took some time to impart his methods, but his positivity and ability to improve players (Diego Moreira chief among them) had much to do with his side's strong run-in. Competing on two fronts will add a new wrinkle to his thinking, but having been backed in the transfer window, he'll look to progress in both the league and Europe, with a top for finish not out of the question.
🧠🔀 𝐂𝐎𝐀𝐂𝐇. 💙🤍 pic.twitter.com/3WcIOov5Mf
— Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace English (@RCSA_English) August 8, 2025
KEY ARRIVALS
Racing have been very active in the mercato, signing a dozen players across loans, purchases and activating options. Of these, goalkeeper Mike Penders, midfielder Maxi Oyedele and defender Soumaïla Coulibaly are most likely to be first-team regulars, with Rosenior widely rotating his young team through preseason. Given Emanuel Emegha's struggles with injury, Joaquín Panichelli could also prove vital, the young Argentine having impressed in Spain's second division last season.
KEY DEPARTURES
Racing will hope that the sheer number of arrivals will allow them to make up for the loss of arguably their two most important players last season -- Andrey Santos and Djordje Petrovic. Habib Diarra, the club captain, has also left and his absence will be felt as well, but Santos was arguably the best midfielder not playing for PSG in the league last season, while Petrovic did much to cover a young defence's blushes -- Penders will to well make fans forget the Serbian's strong play.
LIKELY MVP
Diego Moreira's meteoric rise last season was impressive indeed, and Dilane Bakwa was a revelation with eight assists, but Racing's fortunes clearly turned on Emegha. The Dutchman missed a large chunk of time in 2024 and the season's final weeks as well, and results were clearly affected. While not a world-class finisher, Emegha's physicality, pace and tireless running allowed him to find the net 14 times, a figure bettered by only five players in the league. Having been handed the captain's armband, his ability to stay fit will have to much to say in Racing's fortunes this season.
©️ Captain Ema! ©️
Emmanuel Emegha has been named club captain for the 2025-26 season! pic.twitter.com/si7wOc4IXx— Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace English (@RCSA_English) July 26, 2025
YOUNG PLAYER TO WATCH
One could choose from nearly the entire roster, but there has been no small amount of excitement around Chelsea loanee Kendry Paez. Still just 18, Paez has already been capped 13 times for Ecuador and while he's yet to play in Europe, his creativity and ability on the ball have been highly touted. Not likely to start early in the season, he will surely be one to watch ahead of next summer's World Cup.
REMEMBER WHEN...
This month marks thirty years since Racing faced derby rivals FC Metz in the Intertoto Cup. While their fortunes have swung wildly in the years since, the tie (won by Racing, 2-0), marked the first time two French sides met in European competition, a noteworthy milestone.
CULT HERO
There's a case to be made for one of the heroes of the club's title-winning team from 1978/9 -- Dominique Dropsy or Albert Gemmrich for example, but for current fans, it's hard to surpass Dimitri Liénard. Playing for the club across the top three divisions of French football, he helped the team earn two promotions and win the 2019 Coupe de la Ligue earning more than three hundred caps and a permanent place in fans' hearts.
