26/27 Preview #11: AS Monaco
Last season
After consecutive podium finishes, Monaco entered 2025/26 looking to establish themselves as Champions League regulars. Instead, a turbulent campaign ended with Les Rouge et Blanc slipping to seventh.
Adi Hütter departed in October with Monaco fifth, prompting the appointment of Sébastien Pocognoli. The Belgian initially brought an upturn in results and oversaw a ten-match unbeaten run, but Monaco ultimately fell away during the closing weeks of the campaign. They also reached the Champions League knockout phase play-offs, where they were eliminated by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.
There were still individual positives. Folarin Balogun enjoyed his most consistent campaign since arriving in the Principality and was voted Monaco's player of the season, while Ansu Fati rediscovered his goalscoring touch during his loan from Barcelona.
The coach: Filipe Luís
Filipe Luís is one of the most intriguing new arrivals in Ligue 1 McDonald's this season. The former Atlético de Madrid and Chelsea left-back has signed a contract until 2028 after beginning his coaching career with Flamengo.
His spell in Brazil was brief but successful. Filipe Luís won five trophies after taking charge of Flamengo in 2024, including the Campeonato Brasileiro and Copa Libertadores double in 2025, before leaving the club in March.
The Brazilian has spoken of his desire to build an ambitious, proactive side while continuing Monaco's tradition of developing young players. It is a profile that fits naturally with the club's sporting model, but after missing out on the Champions League last season, there will also be pressure to deliver immediately.
Key arrivals
Monaco have once again looked towards youth in their recruitment. Matthis Abline has arrived from FC Nantes after recording eight goals and seven assists in Ligue 1 McDonald's last season, giving Filipe Luís another versatile attacking option alongside Balogun and Mika Biereth.
Sadibou Sané, 22, has joined from FC Metz to reinforce the centre of defence, while Portuguese left-back Flávio Nazinho has arrived from Cercle Brugge following Caio Henrique's departure. Young winger Mathys Detourbet has also joined on loan from Manchester City.
Monaco have also made Ansu Fati's stay permanent. After an encouraging first campaign in the Principality, the Spain international has signed until 2030 following the activation of his purchase option from Barcelona.
Key departures
The biggest loss is undoubtedly Maghnes Akliouche. A product of La Diagonale who developed into a France international during his time at the club, the attacking midfielder has joined Paris Saint-Germain after nine years with Monaco. His creativity and ability between the lines will be difficult to replace.
Caio Henrique has also brought his six-year spell in the Principality to an end by joining Ajax, while academy midfielder Aladji Bamba has moved to Newcastle United and Kassoum Ouattara has signed for Beşiktaş.
Those departures mean this is a younger and noticeably different Monaco side, but the core remains strong. Balogun, Biereth, Aleksandr Golovin, Lamine Camara, Denis Zakaria and Thilo Kehrer provide Filipe Luís with plenty to work with as Monaco target a return to the European elite.
Remember when...
Monaco's 1999/2000 side produced one of the most entertaining title-winning campaigns in the club's history. Coached by Claude Puel, Les Rouge et Blanc combined an emerging generation of academy talent with an attack packed with quality. David Trezeguet scored 22 league goals, while Marco Simone contributed 21 as Monaco claimed the seventh French championship of their history.
The squad also featured Fabien Barthez, Ludovic Giuly, Rafael Márquez and Willy Sagnol, providing another example of Monaco's long-standing ability to blend promising youngsters with established talent.
Cult hero: Delio Onnis
Few players have left a goalscoring legacy in French football comparable to Delio Onnis.
The Argentine striker arrived in the Principality in 1973 and went on to score 223 goals for Monaco, making him the club's record goalscorer. His 299 goals in the French top flight also remain an all-time record.
Onnis helped Monaco re-establish themselves among France's leading clubs during the 1970s and became the attacking figurehead of a side that remarkably won the league title in 1977/78 immediately after earning promotion back to the top flight. More than four decades after his departure, his numbers remain untouched.
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