ESTAC Troyes have secured promotion back to Ligue 1, clinching the Ligue 2 title with a decisive victory over Saint-Étienne. The club's immediate return to the top flight marks a dramatic turnaround from the turmoil of May 2024, when fans protested a looming relegation to the third tier, a fate only avoided due to the administrative demotion of Bordeaux.
The promotion is attributed to the appointment of manager Stéphane Dumont and a cohesive young squad. Key performers such as midfielder Mathys Detourbet have been instrumental in a campaign where Troyes displayed consistent resilience. The club's revival also underscores the evolving role of its majority owner, the City Football Group.
According to executive president Edwin Pindard in comments to RMC, the multi-club network's support has been crucial. He emphasized the provision of human resources and expertise beyond mere financial investment. This represents a shift from earlier tensions, notably the 2022 signing of Savinho who never played for Troyes before moves within the group, which had frustrated segments of the support.
Current manager Stéphane Dumont told So Foot that collaboration is now smooth, with regular communication and shared methodology seminars across the City Group clubs. Sporting director Antoine Sibierski, who will depart this summer, is credited with fostering a more horizontal relationship. This model appears distinct from other multi-club ownership situations in France, such as at Strasbourg with Chelsea, where concerns about being used primarily as a feeder club are more pronounced.
The promotion ensures Troyes will rejoin a Ligue 1 landscape increasingly populated by clubs under similar ownership structures, including Lorient, Strasbourg, and Nice. It validates a long-term project that survived significant fan discontent. The challenge now will be to establish the club in the top division while navigating the expectations and player movement inherent within a global network, all under the watchful eye of a supporter base that has recently shown its capacity for protest.
