Anthony Caci Reflects on Strasbourg Return Ahead of Europa Conference League Clash
1. FSV Mainz 05 defender Anthony Caci is set for an emotional return to his former club RC Strasbourg Alsace this week, having been named in the squad for the Europa Conference League quarter-final second leg. The 28-year-old, who spent over a decade at Strasbourg before his transfer to the Bundesliga side, confirmed his availability for the crucial match at the Stade de la Meinau. The tie is finely poised after Mainz secured a 2-0 victory in the first leg on home soil.
Speaking ahead of the match, Caci admitted the prospect of facing his old club on the European stage felt improbable. He described a mix of emotions, expressing happiness at returning to familiar surroundings and seeing old faces, while maintaining a firm ambition to help Mainz qualify for the semi-finals at Strasbourg's expense. The draw provoked a flood of messages from friends and former acquaintances in Alsace, all remarking on the remarkable nature of the fixture.
Caci's connection to Strasbourg runs deep. He joined the club's academy at the age of 13 or 14 after being spotted in a regional detection program, choosing Strasbourg over interest from Metz and Nancy due to its focus on technical football over pure physicality. His early years coincided with a period of severe institutional crisis for the club, which entered administration and lost its professional status shortly after his arrival. He recounted anecdotes of the academy's austerity, including players eating frozen meals and doing their own washing up due to a lack of staff, experiences he believes forged a unique mentality.
Despite the off-field turmoil, Caci progressed to the first team and became a fan favourite. He cites two standout memories from his professional tenure: winning the Coupe de la Ligue in 2019 after a penalty shootout victory over Guingamp, and scoring a last-minute equaliser against Paris Saint-Germain in April 2022. That goal, a volley from a Dimitri Liénard cross, was his first at the Meinau as a professional and came just before his departure, making it an intensely emotional moment.
Caci's move to Mainz was finalized as a permanent transfer, though the fee remained undisclosed. The switch offered a new challenge in a top-five league after he had risen through the ranks with Strasbourg, making over 150 appearances for the club. His time in Germany has been disrupted by a serious seven-month injury this season, but he has now returned to a Mainz side that has dramatically improved its fortunes under new coach Urs Fischer after a difficult start to the Bundesliga campaign.
Returning to a transformed Strasbourg, now under the ownership of BlueCo, Caci acknowledges the club has changed, noting a younger, more international squad and a modernized stadium. He believes the current team's possession-based principles align with his own style of play, but he feels the famous fiery atmosphere of the Meinau has become more subdued in the early phases of matches. He maintains, however, that president Marc Keller ensures the club's foundational Alsatian values remain intact.
For Mainz, Caci's experience and versatility provide valuable options in defence as they seek to close out the European tie. His personal journey from Strasbourg's academy to facing them in a European knockout match encapsulates a unique footballing story. The second leg promises a poignant homecoming for the player, but one where his sole focus will be on securing Mainz's passage to the next round.
