Founded : 1921. Stade Francis Turcan, 29 chemin de Paradis 13500 Martigues.
Coach : Mahmoud Guendouz, successor to Christian Dalger, coach at the start of the season.
When Martigues won the second division title in 1993 they embarked upon a three-season stint in the top flight. After the highlights, the lows of a slump to the National.
Famous Martigues old-boys include Bosquier, Herbet, Boubacar, Di Meco, Anziani, Ferreri, Durand Eric.
Last season the club finished eleventh, and still hold the professional club status, but if promotion is not achieved this season, the club must revert to being amateur. To avoid this the club has recruited heavily during the summer, bringing in Aït-Ouarab, Scooto Di Porfirio (Nice), Davezac (Saint-Maur-Lusitanos), Frapoli (Beauvais), C. Rémi (Rennes), Tudela (OM) Bruno (Paris FC). Unfortunately the results have not followed, and as a result coach Christian Dalger, former Monaco player, was shown the door. Since then, Martigues have reawakened, and are ninth, only three points behind Red Star. Martigues have the second best attack in the National, Davezac with eight leads tha way, but can also sount upon Jacques Rémy, who scored twelve last season. Martigues also have a very talented young goalkeeper, Jean-Daniel Padovani, an under-21's international.
The two clubs have met on twelve occasions in division two. The first, in 1976 was won by Red Star 3-0, and that season Red Star top scorer was Ahmed Rached, who also went on to play for Martigues. The last time Red Star played Martigues at home was the 13th December 1997, won by Red Star 2-1 at Stade Bauer.
G. Valck, translation JWH