The club of Le Mans, the city of the 24-hour race. They held a Ligue 1 place through the 2000s and have a development pedigree: Didier Drogba and Jérémy Ménez both passed through on the way to bigger clubs.

Relegation in 2010 was followed by financial collapse and a slide into the amateur tiers. The rebuild has now delivered a return to Ligue 1 after 17 years.

Le Mans finished second on 62 points with only four defeats all season, completing successive promotions into Ligue 1. Consistency, more than flair, got them there.

Patrick Videira is the head coach, working from a three-man defensive base and grinding out points.

Their operating budget is reported at around €25 million, among the smallest in Ligue 1 — an order of magnitude below Paris Saint-Germain's.

The club was taken over by Brazilian investment fund Outfield and has brought in Bruno Cheyrou, formerly sporting director at Lyon and PSG, as football adviser, with Olivier Thomas promoted to sporting coordinator in July 2026.

Louis Mafouta (#9, FW) leads the line after scoring 15 Ligue 2 goals for Guingamp last season, having previously played for Metz and Amiens.

Algeria international Yasser Larouci joins at left-back from fellow promoted side Troyes, while Billal Brahimi brings Ligue 1 experience from Angers, Nice and Brest.