Red Star F.C.
Red Star Football Club, also known simply as Red Star (French pronunciation: [ʁɛd staʁ futbɔl klœb]), is a French association football club founded in Paris in 1897, and is the fourth oldest French football club, after Standard AC of Paris, Le Havre AC and Girondins de Bordeaux. Since the 2019–20 season the club has played in the Championnat National, the French third tier, after been relegated from Ligue 2 at the end of the 2018–19 season. It plays matches at Stade Bauer. The team is managed by Habib Beye.
| Full name | Red Star Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | L'Étoile rouge (The Red Star) Les verts et blancs (The Green and Whites) Les Audoniens (The Audonians) | ||
| Founded | 21 February 1897 | ||
| Ground | Stade Bauer | ||
| Capacity | 10,178 | ||
| Owner | 777 Partners | ||
| President | Patrice Haddad | ||
| Head coach | Habib Beye | ||
| League | Championnat National | ||
| 2022–23 | Championnat National, 3rd of 18 | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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Despite the club's long spell under a semi-pro status, Red Star has a rich history. The club was founded in 1897 under the name Red Star Club Français by French football legend Jules Rimet. Rimet later went on to serve as president of both the French Football Federation and FIFA. The original FIFA World Cup Trophy was named in his honour. Red Star was one of the founding member clubs of Ligue 1 and has spent 19 seasons in the first division; the club's last top tier stint being in 1974–75. In cup competitions, the club has won five Coupe de France titles, which is tied for fifth-best among all French clubs.
While the club have enjoyed only modest success on the field, the club is widely recognised for its distinctive social culture. Red Star supporters are strongly identified with their support of left-wing politics, social activism and a party atmosphere they create at the club's matches.
The club was purchased by US-based private investment firm 777 Partners in May 2022, a move which saw demonstrations from fans leading to the postponement of a Championnat National match in April 2022.