the Auxerrois win the title and validate their return to Ligue 1 with one day remaining

The historic Burgundian club, officially promoted on Friday, will have only spent one season far from the elite.

Like the end of an anomaly. The Auxerre Youth Association validated its return to Ligue 1, Friday May 10, thanks to its draw at Amiens (0-0), in front of a large contingent of supporters from Yonne to celebrate both the promotion and the title of Ligue 2 champion. For this historic club, it is a first line in the prize list since the Coupe de France won in 2005.

A turning point took the season from gloom to hope: a large victory against Saint-Etienne (5-2), on November 11, 2023. The start of a series of fourteen matches without defeat. Auxerre has not left the first two places since the 18th day, alternating with Angers. Defender Paul Joly describes “a cohesive team”, comfortable everywhere; the best on the road and the second at home; the best attack and the second defense in the championship.

From the 24th day, the Burgundians never left first place. “We gained confidence as the matches progressed, goalkeeper Donovan Léon told a press conference on Thursday, May 9. A lot of people thought we were going to break down, but we showed our character.”

The fifth climb of Christophe Pélissier

In an almost perfect second half of the season, there was only one moment of hesitation, mid-April: two losses in a row at Quevilly (4-3) and Rodez (2-0). Three victories in quick succession brought back serenity. Coach Christophe Pélissier, delighted by this salutary reaction, found his players “monstrous” And “inhabited” by their objective.

Who else but this technician to bring the AJA back to its place? The promotion at the end of the season is in addition to the four obtained by the successor of Jean-Marc Furlan in his three previous clubs (Luzenac, Amiens and Lorient). His contract, extended last summer, expires in June 2025.

“It is a great joy, reacted the legendary Guy Roux, still loyal to the club of his life, after the decisive victory against Paris FC, Saturday May 4. The management, the coach and his assistants worked well to keep the players we needed to keep and recruit new ones judiciously.” In this last category, let us cite the attackers Ado Onaiwu and Florian Ayé, 12 and 10 goals.

In the first category, there are three elements nominated for the UNFP Trophies, which will be awarded on Monday May 13: Donovan Léon is applying for the title of best goalkeeper, Gauthier Hein and Gaëtan Perrin, co-best passer in the championship, for that of best player. Added to this is the presence of Christophe Pélissier in the list of the best coaches.

The party will be complete for the last home match of the season, Friday May 17 against Concarneau. The Abbé-Deschamps stadium will be sold out, and supporters without tickets will be able to celebrate the climb at the Auxerre Fair, where a giant screen will be installed.

In unison with a loyal audience, former players were delighted to see AJ Auxerre on the upper level again, like former center forward Djibril Cissé, twice top scorer in the championship with its training club.

Remaining in the elite for thirty-two years after its very first rise in 1980, the AJA hopes to last longer than during its previous stint, limited to the 2022-2023 season alone. “Compared to our first climb, it’s less of an accident,” assures owner James Zhou in Republican Yonne.” He now hopes “become a real Ligue 1 club”. Or rather, become one again.