SAINT-ETIENNE, THE HISTORY OF LES VERTS RED STAR 93
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SAINT-ETIENNE, THE STORY OF LES VERTS

By G. Valck & JWH

1919-1966

The club came into existence in 1919, when a footballing section was created by the shopping chain Casino. This company used the color green, so green was to be the color worn by the players. In 1933, the Association Sportive de Saint-Etienne was created, with an eye on the championship - in the first season promotion was narrowly missed, losing out narrowly to Alès. In 1937-38 Tourcoing were hammered 7-2 at the stade Geoffroy Guichard (named after their founder) and Saint Etienne found themselves in the top flight.
In the first season in D1 they finished fourth, and and players such as Marcel Langiller (ex-Audonien), Roger Rolhion, Max Charbit, Jean Snella and Pierre Garonnaire. After the war came Kader Firoud, Antoine Cuissard, then in 1946 les Verts missed out on a first championship to Lille. Jean Snella took over as coach, instigating a policy of youth development, reaping rewards in 1957 with a first title of champions of France. A young player from Cavigal de Nice arrived : Robert Herbin (see photo).
Robert Herbin A first attempt at the European Cup failed at the hands of Glasgow Rangers. 1960 - cup final appearance, losing 4-2 to Monaco after extra time, then in 1961 Roger Rocher became the Club President. But he could not halt a slide to D2 in 1962, but in the same year Saint-Etienne triumphed in the Cup. 1962-63 promotion from division two was easily achieved, and against Red Star there was a 1-1 draw at Saint-Ouen before hammering the Parisiens 6-2 in the Forez. In the Cup-winners' cup Sétubal (Portugal) were dispatched before going out to Nuremberg.
In 1963-64, the miracle as the newly-promoted club won the division one title. This was to be the start of the rise of one of France's football legends.

Match programme 1967

1967-1976

A new era was about to begin for Saint-Etienne, a third championship in 1967, and Albert Batteux became the coach. The double completed, winning the league by eleven points. Red Star-Saint Etienne, 1975 A new signing arrived at the club, in a taxi from Paris, Salif Keita, which cost the club one thousand francs, but was to be repaid in full with a chmpionship title in 69-70, and a 5-0 hammering of Nantes in the Cup. Hervé Revelli top scorer, thumping Red Star 5-1 at home and a 1-1 away. Then followed a period of relative decline and the emergence of Marseille as champions, but in 74-75 another double, and a European Cup run, going out to Bayern Munich in the semi-final. Next year was to be the pinnacle of achievement for Saint-Etienne. Coached by Robert Herbin, les Verts skipped past K.B. Copenhagen, Rangers, Dynamo Kiev with Oleg Blokhine in the quarter final and then Eindhoven in the semi-final.
Dominique Rochetau, the Green Angel For the final, in Glasgow, between 25000 and 30000 supporters bedecked in green set out for Scotland. Disappointment for Saint-Etienne, as the holders Bayern Munich weathered a green storm, scored against the run of play in the 57th minute, and with an injured Dominique Rocheteau (see photo), Saint-Etienne are denied by the woodwork and some last-gasp defending. Despite the defeat, the players are lauded as heros back home.

FALL THEN REBIRTH

Recent years have seen a decline then a rebirth: despite signing Michel Platini, the club was hit hard by allegations of financial misdeeds, slush funds and all this led to the imprisonment of President Roger Rocher. In 1996 the club very nearly went bankrupt, and slumped into the second division. Two nightmare years followed, when relegation to the National was avoided on the last day two seasons running. Last season, the club re-emerged, winning the Division Two championship, and also breaking the record attendance for a division two match, Red Star-Saint Etienne, 48018 at the Stade de France. Promoted, the club has fared well in D1, with some astute transfers having been made (Pedron, Alex and Alosius to name a few).

TOP FIVE GOALSCORERS FOR SAINT-ETIENNE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP

1. Hervé Revelli : 175
2. Salif KEITA & Rachid MEKLOUFI : 125
4. René ALPSTEG : 81
5. Jean-Michel LARQUE : 78 The last time the two clubs met

A HISTORY OF MEETINGS BETWEEN THE TWO CLUBS

The two clubs have never met in the cup, and Red Star have never won away.

They have played for both green shirts :
Authié, Belkebla Y., Bernard, Guillou, Kastendeuch, Langiller, Lemasson, Mamoum, Médaillon, Mermet, Obina, Redon, Roussey, Thimothée
Gérard Valck

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