The Corsicans after a season of restructuring following non-promotion to D2 at the end of the season 1998-99. Following in the footsteps of the Gazélec, four-times French amateur champions, GFCO will be looking to improve on last seasons' showing.
Goalkeepers : Briquez (Annecy), Levet (Beauvais).
Defence : François (Metz), Gagliardi, Luccini, Luciani, Moretti, Paoli, Poggi, Wayaridri.
Midfield: Cristafori, Colinet (Fréjus), Diagouraga (Viry), Fiori, Léonetti, Merdja (Lormont).
Attack : Meslin (Rennes), Soler (Paris FC).
Coach: Hubert Velud.
Ater an absence of three seasons Alès are back in senior football, but an almighty task awaits them. One of the first pro clubs in France in 1932-33, todays' side will be looking to assure a comfortable spot in their first season back.
Goalkeepers : Sanson, Vialet.
Defence : Bekhti, Benyahia, Chalier, Cissoko, Demirdjan, Soulas, Torres.
Midfield: Basile, Homon, Liron (Beaucaire), Moutard (Beaucaire), Rey, Vasquez-Garcia.
Attack : Akpakoun, Dos Santos, Jourda, Millereau, Rossetti, Schwoob (Fréjus).
Coach: Jacky Novi.
The curse of the new stadiums strikes again - despite a move from their old home to a spanking new ground, the Stade de la Licorne, Amiens plunged from an early season second place to finish in the bottom three - a bit like Red Star 93. However the Picards seem to be well-equipped for a speedy return, especially with coach Denis Troch in charge.
Goalkeepers : Lachuer, Merville, Poil.
Defence : Abalo, Leroy, Miennel, Necsulescu (Mulhouse), Wargnier.
Midfield: Darbelet, Duchemin, Ewolo, Kharbouchi, Lambert, Lebrun (Valenciennes), Mukoko.
Attack : Chalier, Cocquelet (Reims), Lecocq (Beauvais), N'Dumbu, Rivenet, Rivière (Laval), Sampil (Beauvais).
Coach: Denis Troch.
One of last seasons' surpise package, getting off to a flying start and occupying top spot for three quarters of the season, Besançon slipped away somewhat in the final run-in. Nevertheless, they will look to their good form for encouragement, and together with a renovation of the old stadium likely, the Bisontins have ambition.
Goalkeepers : Cappone (Bourg-Péronnas), Desmars, Grandel.
Defence : Dias, Faivre, Maire, M.Michel, Palumbo, Renou, Spielmann, Tournoux.
Midfield: Arniotte, Benkara, J.J. Domoraud (Sochaux), Faivre (Paris FC), Lamoureux (Romorantin), Maītre, Maubert (Thouars), Marchandé (Raon), Métivier, Otta, Soltani.
Attack Bizot (Clermont Foot), Da Silva, Lestic (Red Star 93), M'Banza (Delemont), Perrot.
Coach: Sylvain Matrisciano.
Brests' secret weapon is their fantastic support, averaging over four and a half thousand last term in the CFA. Brest, who lost their professional status in 1992-93 are coached by that sides' coach Alain de Martigny. No Ginola this time out, but nonetheless Brest aim to be a major player, and at least to achieve a high standing in the championship, before a big push to D2 in 2002.
Goalkeepers : Boulic, Cado.
Defence : Arphexad, Boutruche, Fagon, Kerriou, Lazennec, Le Guen (Thouars), Louvet, Ouehi, Sergent, Talmont (Vannes), Tréguer.
Miliux : Cissokho (Fréjus), Didot, Droesch (Rouen), Pabois, Robinet (Juventus Ste-Anne), Saliou.
Attack : Dugand, Guyon, Lerand, Moreira (Rouen), Vaugeois (Paris SG).
Coach: Alain de Martigny.
Coach Le Lamer has quit Clermont in order to try the big time with League Cup winners Gueugnon. The new staff will try to improve on last terms' performance, and with a good home support (average 4-5 thousand), the club from the Auverge will play an important rôle in the National this season.
Goalkeepers : Enjolras, Trigo.
Defence : Bessaque, Comade, Kittler (Le Havre), Massot (Valenciennes), Mazeyrat, Moreau, Quitti (Valenciennes).
Midfield: Chavanon, Claire, R. Clapson, Correia, Poinçon (Istres).
Attack : Chastang, D. Clapson, Courtet, Mussard (Thouars), Parente.
Coach: Albert Rust.
Similarly to Alès, Dijon find themselves back in the third division, and will look to consolidate their standing.
Goalkeepers : Bourgeois, Kret.
Defence : Bouchellaleg (Longvic), Engel, Gagneux, Gay, Noirot (Auxerre), N'Timbanzeh, Peres, Vernier (Grenoble).
Midfield: Bourabia, Champion, Jobard, Lebellec, Lécluse, Livramento (Raon), Ruiz (Marignane).
Attack : Boukoko (Romorantin), Caron, Fenart, Guigue, Martins.
Coach: Daniel Joseph.
Grenoble missed out on promotion by only three minutes last season in a clash at Angers. They will hope to correct affairs this season and have opted for experience in their recruitment policy.
Goalkeepers : Guéguen (Niort), Mignani (Libourne).
Defence : Benhamou, Courtin, Laranjo, (Chaves, Portugal), Milazzo, Ravaux (Sochaux), Sergi (Niort), Sonko ; Yao.
Midfield: Camacho, David (Amiens), Debrosse (Niort), Doucende, Morele, Périatambée (Auxerre), Traoré.
Attack : Carrière, Dagve (Monthléry), Menezes, N'Daw (Ryad, Saudi Arabia), Recordier (Pernes).
Coach: Alain Michel.
Since relegation to the National, Istres have been hoping for a return to the D2. They are handicapped by a lack of support, being so close to Marseille and to a lesser extent Martigues' promotion to D2.
Goalkeepers : Quiévreux (Paris SG), Mondillon.
Defence : Adam (Gap), Aiteur, Guion, Richter, Savry, Sighiri.
Midfield: Dumoulin, Elisor, Harnidi, Imbert, Kehiha, Mauffroy, Mille, Mzé-Issa.
Attack : Akrour (Woking FC, England), Duboscq (Reims), Tabet, Thiaw.
Coach: Arnaud Dos Santos
Another return. A lack of funds relegated the club from D2 to the CFA, but last season they stormed their group and will be looking to consolidate their position in the National.
Goalkeepers : Ardouin (Grenoble), Minguet (Bressuire).
Defence : Billong (Limoges), Binet, Boche (ESO La Roche), Fernandez, Guitton, Limouzin, Rubert, Souchet.
Midfield: Gaborit (Angers), Goupil, Guérineau, Hériteau, Ledève, Mitri, Pacreu (Valenciennes), Suire, Vrignon.
Attack : Baylet (Libourne), Bourguigneau, Delaunay, Fadili (Les Sables), Huberdeau.
Coach: Eric Bourget.
After a quick season in the D2, marked by bad luck, injuries and red cards, The team from the Bresse finished in bottom spot. With many leaving the club, a new challenge awaits, starting with a home tie versus Red Star 93. However, the other two relegated clubs seem to be better prepared for a speedy return to the higher level than Louhans.
Goalkeepers : De Cicco, Druguet.
Defence : Allegro, Dufournet, Jean, Lugien, Marolany, Patouillard, Tall, Yahia.
Midfield: Ascone (Saint-Etienne), Bayle, Bellisi (Caen), Da Silva (Thouars), Ducloux, Ferrere, Mermet-Maréchal, Sane.
Attack : Allais (Wasquehal), Alexandre (Angoulême), Bradaïa (La Réunion), Gauthier, Heitzmann (Auxerre), Mendes, Poncet, Ribas (Metz).
Coach: Philippe Hinschberger.
The permanent miracle, the little Paris suburbs club that refuse to be written off. Despite being tipped for the drop, Noisy manage year after year to keep themselves in the National. Can it continue ?
Goalkeepers : Chauray, Corbin, Desse.
Defence : Djoudi, Hamoun, Kaissi (Montreuil), Kajima (Reims), Keita, Tail, Tchana.
Midfield: Kangulungu (Paris SG), Pereira (Villemomble), L. Sandjak, L. Sandjak, Taine, Tran, Welsringer (Le Perreux).
Attack : Diop (Montreuil), Guizonne, Hebbar, Mayuna, Mandasu (Paris FC).
Coach: Nasser Sandjak.
Village football represented here by Pacy. But this time it could be just too much for this tiny club to bear.
Goalkeepers : Bisson, Etouayo (Congo).
Defence : Bellanger : Desnoyers, Kouakoua, Martin (Rouen), N'Tounou, Sylva.
Midfield: Edouard, Jenni, Larcier, Savoye.
Attack : Ahyala (Saint-Léger), Cuvier, El Hajri, Myombo (Saint-Léger).
Coach: Laurent Hatton.
With a tight budget but a loyal public, despite competition from both rugby and basket-ball, Pau achieved a good placing in 1999-2000, and will hope to continue this good work.
Goalkeepers : Coffy (La Roche-sur-Yon), Giudicelli.
Defence : Belbachir (Villenave d'Ornon), Delmas, Gibert, Paviot, Turpin.
Midfield: Bathie, Bedani, Lagaronne, Vignaux (Lorient), Vuksanovic.
Attack : Avezac, Baylac, Becas, Guerri, Ipharraguerre, Lecomte (Sedan).
Coach: Joėl Lopez.
Ambitious with ambitious and wealthy backers, still a candidate to play at the Stade de France as well as hopes of a superb new sports complex at Colombes, Racing have set out their stall. New coach Cavalli, freshly arrived from GFCO Ajaccio is obliged to succeed. He will be handicapped by the Parisian malaise of lack of support.
Goalkeepers : Lafon, Margueritte (Louhans-Cuiseaux).
Defence : Bertrand (Rouen), Behary, Dicanot (Martigues), Janello, Lalisse, Seydi Elhadji (Bournemouth, England), Stojanovic.
Midfield: Bouabdellah, Chandioux (Gueugnon), Colacicco (Grenoble), Dutuel (Bellizona, Switz.), Elbai (Niort), Lanoizelet (Nantes), Mocka (Valence), Poisson (Nīmes), Robert (Noisy-le-Sec), Tanguy (Caen).
Attack : Billac, Dukanovic (Mogren, Yougoslavia), Jean-Elie (China), Zaaboub.
Coach: Jean-Michel Cavalli.
In a similar boat to Racing, Red Star 93 must get promotion at the end ofthe season or lose their professional status. With many departures and as many new faces, Red Star 93 may have blown their hopes with a change of coach just days before the start of the new season.
Goalkeepers : Bayiha, Branger, Itandje.
Defence : El Othmani, Faye (Niayes, Sénégal), Girardot (Châtellerault) Leugueun (Nantes), F. Mary, Oponga, Perron (Guingamp), Saragaglia (Grenoble), Tacalfred, Thiam.
Midfield: Abda, Deom, Busuttil, F. Diawara, N'Goma (Viry-Châtillon), Pizzo, Sirufo.
Attack : Cascarino (Nancy), Gomis, Le Maux (Auxerre), Milton, Ouejdide (Caen), Saci, Serreau (Toulouse), Van Kets (Racing).
Coach: Jacky Lemée.
After one years' acclimitisation period, will Reims be ready for the promtion push ? First appearances appear to indicate a mid-table outcome, but with work starting to rebuild the Stade Delaune, optimism is high.
Goalkeepers : Gervasoni (Tinqueux), Tingry.
Defence : Aït-Alia (Lorient), Bauchart, Bertrand (Grenoble), Ducourtioux, Lafond (Clermont), Mazuel.
Midfield: Denquin (Dunkerque), Laurent (Racing), Guégan (Paris FC), Iakovlev, Letang, Masala, Noro (Lille), Viard (Gueugnon).
Attack : Adoul (Tinqueux), Akoun (Racing), Forest (GFCO Ajaccio), Jacquernet (Saint-Ménéhauld).
Coach: Manuel Abreu.
After deciding to call it a day in the National depite avoiding the drop, the directors of Thouars have decided to give it one more season in the superior level. But they will find it very hard going and appear to be one of the favourites for the drop.
Goalkeepers : Astier, Dolléaus.
Defence : Baron, Benvault, Caizergues, Hébras (Angoulême), Hervé, Soumah (Angoulême), Tronchet (Joué-les-Tours).
Midfield: Chekraoui (Niort), Guégan (Vannes), Moughfire (Sedan), Oyaga (Bordeaux).
Attack : Dubroca (Châteauroux), Jarmes (Angoulême), Sahouri (Niort).
Coach: Thierry Goudet.
The club from the Drôme are the third relegated club. There have been several important departures, and although Valence should be there or there abouts at the and of the campaign, nothing is sure and they may just miss out on promotion.
Goalkeepers : Borghino (Noisy-le-Sec), Bruneau, Marguet.
Defence : Berville (Nice), Fabra, Gauthier, Guerrero, Jarjat, Kossingou, Monnier (Baulmes, Suisse), M'Petschi (Saint-Priest).
Midfield: Bedani (Pau), Calenda, fayard, Féougier (Rodez), Stéphan, Zouaoui.
Attack : Assadourian, Guindo, Roques (Saint-Maur).
Coach: Denis Zanko.
Valenciennes have what it takes to get out of the National, changing coach, judicious recruitment and a big support. They should be in amongst the front runners.
Goalkeepers : Henneuse (Istres), Lambay.
Defence : Bahoken (Sion, Suisse), Piorun, Rauturier (Raon), Scrimenti (Wasquehal), Usaï (Istres), Vigier (Lens).
Midfield: De Luca (AC Ajaccio), Démont (Beauvais), Duncker (Lille), Isabey (Sochaux), Joly, Manchau, Plaquet (Tournai, Belgium), C.Rémy (Martigues), Taraman (Raon).
Attack : Clément-Demange (Wasquehal), Ferreira, A. Lachaab, H. Lachaab, Rjillo, Samarcq (Marly), Traoré (Nancy).
Coach: Didier Ollé-Nicolle.