Clearly, history repeats itself. As in 1984 and 2001, FC Nantes will play their last home game of the season this Saturday evening against Saint-Etienne. As in 1984 and 2001, the match will be sold out. As in 1984 and 2001, if the Yellows succeed, the fate of the Greens will be sealed. A demotion to the lower echelon while the Canaries celebrate. The first time, to salute the legendary Marcel-Saupin enclosure one last time. The second, to celebrate the eighth title of Champion of France with, in passing, the invasion of the field. And this Saturday, the presentation of the Coupe de France, fourth of the name in the Nantes cabinet, to some 28,000 spectators who are just waiting for that.
Halilhodžić and Vahirua, executioners of the Stéphanois
“Last night, for the last time, we crossed the Loire to say ciao to Marcel-Saupin with a glass of Muscadet in supportsaid Georges Dominique, Charles Ortega in their report for TF1. It was, moreover, not just any last, the Yellows against the Greens, Nantes against Saint-Etienne, the two headliners of French football over the past 15 years.” On April 28, 1984, the Canaries, reigning French champions, and sixth in the championship were still in the race for European qualification. Far from the concerns of Jean Castaneda’s teammates, Thierry Oleksiak and Patrice Ferri.
In bad shape after seeing a string of stars leave, including Janvion, Rep, Battiston and Paganelli, the Greens are heading towards a chaotic end to the year. And their short stay in Loire-Atlantique will not allow them to leave this eighteenth place synonymous with dams. “Play resumed eight minutes into the second half, Amisse center, Halilhodžić pops up, one to nil“, relates Georges Dominique. The top scorer of the Canaries and the French championship, last season, sent Saint-Etienne to play two play-off matches against RC Paris. At the end of which, they will experience the second descent in their history. A scenario that will repeat itself at the beginning of the second millennium with, this time, Marama Vahirua as the executioner of Rudi Garcia’s proteges.
– Frank Perry
“He had the maintenance at his toes last year, he has the title at the end of his paddle”
After six successes in a row, Raynald Denoueix’s FC Nantes is 90 minutes away from lifting a new trophy. Still need to have the Greens. For the occasion, this May 12, 2001, the Beaujoire stadium is full. Some 35,852 spectators eager to celebrate those, who a year earlier, had passed close to the correctional. “15 days, 15 days to ruminate since the victory in Troyes, 15 days to think that the title may be for tonightwe hear in a documentary that traces this memorable season. Nantes will then not even need to turn around to know the fate of their pursuers, 15 days and 10 minutes. Because at the end of this cross, Da Rocha saw his magic striker, this angel who can do everything, turn everything upside down. He had the maintenance at his toes last year, he has the title at the end of his paddle. Vahirua tonight turned 21 but he’s the one giving the gift.”
The years pass, the rivalries remain. And this Saturday evening, after Halilhodžić and Vahirua, a man will be keen to shake the concrete of Beaujoire: Randal Kolo Muani. For his last match with the FC Nantes shirt, in his garden, the top scorer of the Canaries and author of a splendid rush in the first leg at the end of which he had scored the only goal of the meeting wants to heal his farewells. Before celebrating with great fanfare the victory in the Coupe de France. And to see, perhaps, history repeat itself a third time for AS Saint-Etienne by Pascal Dupraz.