2014–15 Ligue 2

Ligue 2
Season2014–15
ChampionsTroyes
PromotedTroyes
Gazélec Ajaccio
Angers
RelegatedOrléans
Châteauroux
Arles-Avignon
Matches played380
Goals scored855 (2.25 per match)
Top goalscorerMickaël Le Bihan
(18 goals)
Highest attendance20,136
Troyes 4–1 Châteauroux
(22 May 2015)[1]
Average attendance6,159[1]

The 2014–15 Ligue 2 season was the 76th season since its establishment.

Teams

There were three promoted teams from Championnat National, replacing the three teams that were promoted to Ligue 1 following the 2013–14 season. A total of 20 teams competed in the league with three clubs relegated to the third division, the National. All clubs that secured Ligue 2 status for the season were subject to approval by the DNCG before becoming eligible to participate.

On 18 April 2014, Luzenac became the first team to secure a spot in the Ligue 2 following a 1–0 victory over Boulogne-sur-Mer, which gave them an advance on the 4th placed team, Red Star, that couldn't be surpassed in the last games.[2] By gaining promotion for a professional level for the first time in its history, Luzenac, the club of a village of 600 inhabitants in Southern France, became the smallest club in the history of professional football in France.[3] Orléans was the second team to gain promotion to Ligue 2 on 2 May after a 2–0 victory against Paris FC. This marked a return for Orléans in the professional leagues after a twenty-two-years absence.[4] Gazélec Ajaccio was the third and last team to achieve promotion on 9 May 2014.[5] This means that for the first time since the 1997–98 season, a Derby of Ajaccio will be contested between Gazélec and AC Ajaccio.

On 20 April, Ajaccio officially suffered relegation from Ligue 1 after a 2–1 defeat in the Derby Corse against archrivals Bastia.[6] This ended a three-year stint for Ajaccio in Ligue 1. Valenciennes FC were the second team to suffer relegation on 4 May.[7] On 5 June, Luzenac's promotion was revoked by DNCG for financial reasons, but the club decided to appeal.[8]

On 25 June, the DNCG relegated Valenciennes FC to the Championnat National because of their approximate amount of €8 million in debts, this allowing Châteauroux to remain in Ligue 2.[9] On 4 July, DNCG confirmed its denial of Luzenac's promotion despite the appeal,[10] allowing Istres also to remain in Ligue 2. On 11 July the ruling against Valenciennes FC was revoked and FC Istres was once again relegated.[11] Luzenac was found to have an inadequate stadium, thus they were denied promotion. They were also denied re-entry to the Championnat National, so they later entered the regional leagues.

Stadia and locations

class=notpageimage|
Location of teams in 2014–15 Ligue 2
Club Location Venue Capacity
Ajaccio Ajaccio Stade François Coty 10,660
Gazélec Ajaccio Ajaccio Stade Ange Casanova 5,000
Angers Angers Stade Jean Bouin 17,835
Arles-Avignon Avignon Parc des Sports 17,518
Auxerre Auxerre Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps 21,379
Brest Brest Stade Francis-Le Blé 15,583
Châteauroux Châteauroux Stade Gaston Petit 17,072
Clermont Clermont-Ferrand Stade Gabriel Montpied 11,980
Créteil Créteil Stade Dominique Duvauchelle 12,150
Dijon Dijon Stade Gaston Gérard 16,098
Laval Laval Stade Francis Le Basser 18,467
Le Havre Le Havre Stade Océane 25,278
Nancy Tomblaine Stade Marcel Picot 20,087
Nîmes Nîmes Stade des Costières 18,482
Niort Niort Stade René Gaillard 10,406
Orléans Orléans Stade de la Source 8,000
Sochaux Montbéliard Stade Auguste Bonal 20,005
Tours Tours Stade de la Vallée du Cher 16,327
Troyes Troyes Stade de l'Aube 20,842
Valenciennes Valenciennes Stade du Hainaut 25,172

Personnel and kits

Team Manager1 Captain1 Kit Manufacturer1 Main Sponsor1
Ajaccio France Olivier Pantaloni France Johan Cavalli Macron Suite Home
Gazélec Ajaccio France Thierry Laurey France Louis Poggi Macron Carrefour
Angers France Stéphane Moulin France Olivier Auriac Kappa Scania
Arles-Avignon France Victor Zvunka France Erwan Quintin Legea Groupe Nicollin
Auxerre France Jean-Luc Vannuchi France Sébastien Puygrenier Airness Remarques LOUALT,Vitrans
Brest France Alex Dupont France Bruno Grougi Nike Quéguiner
Châteauroux France Cédric Daury France Sébastien Roudet Nike
Clermont France Corinne Diacre Cameroon Eugène Ekobo Patrick Crédit Mutuel
Créteil France Thierry Froger France Jean-Michel Lesage Nike SFB Béton,Holcim
Dijon France Olivier Dall'Oglio France Cédric Varrault Kappa DVF, Doras,IPS
Laval France Denis Zanko France Anthony Gonçalves Kappa Lactel
Le Havre France Thierry Goudet France Yohann Rivière Nike Api
Nancy Uruguay Pablo Correa France François Bellugou Nike Dane Elec
Nîmes France José Pasqualetti France Toifilou Maoulida Erreà Marie Blachère
Niort France Régis Brouard Senegal Mouhamadou Diaw Puma Restaurant Le Billon (home), Cheminées Poujoulat (away)
Orléans France Olivier Frapolli France Maxime Brillault Kappa CTVL
Sochaux France Olivier Echouafni France Édouard Butin Lotto Peugeot
Tours France Gilbert Zoonekynd France Bryan Bergougnoux Nike Corsicatours
Troyes France Jean-Marc Furlan France Benjamin Nivet Kappa Babeau Seguin,FSE
Valenciennes France David Le Frapper Mali Adama Coulibaly Uhlsport GDE Recyclage

1Subject to change during the season.

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Replaced by Date of appointment
Clermont Foot France Régis Brouard End of contract 16 May 2014 Pre-season Portugal Helena Costa 16 May 2014
Chamois Niortais France Pascal Gastien End of contract 16 May 2014 France Régis Brouard 21 May 2014
Sochaux France Hervé Renard End of contract 17 May 2014 France Olivier Echouafni 17 June 2014
Châteauroux France Jean-Louis Garcia Resigned 29 May 2014 France Pascal Gastien 4 June 2014
Créteil France Jean-Luc Vasseur Signed by Reims 14 June 2014 France Philippe Hinschberger 17 June 2014
Clermont Foot Portugal Helena Costa Mutual consent 24 June 2014 France Corinne Diacre 28 June 2014
Nîmes France René Marsiglia Mutual consent 24 June 2014[12] France José Pasqualetti 25 June 2014[13]
Valenciennes Belgium Ariël Jacobs Resigned 11 July 2014[14] France Bernard Casoni 17 July 2014[15]
Arles-Avignon France Franck Dumas Resigned 22 August 2014[16] 18th France Bruno Irles 22 August 2014
Arles-Avignon France Bruno Irles Sacked 20 October 2014 19th France Stéphane Crucet 20 October 2014
Ajaccio France Christian Bracconi Sacked 18 October 2014[17] 12th France Olivier Pantaloni 6 November 2014[18]
Tours France Olivier Pantaloni Resigned 21 October 2014[19] 20th France Gilbert Zoonekynd 21 October 2014[20]
Créteil France Philippe Hinschberger Sacked 18 November 2014[21] 18th France Thierry Froger 18 November 2014
Le Havre France Erick Mombaerts Resigned 10 December 2014[22] 8th France Thierry Goudet 28 December 2014[23]
Arles-Avignon France Stéphane Crucet Sacked 29 December 2014[24] 20th France Victor Zvunka 1 January 2015
Châteauroux France Pascal Gastien Sacked 9 February 2015[25] 19th France Cédric Daury 16 February 2015[26]
Valenciennes France Bernard Casoni Resigned 24 February 2015[27] 17th France David Le Frapper 25 February 2015[28]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or Relegation
1 Troyes (C, P) 38 24 6 8 61 24 +37 78 Promotion to Ligue 1
2 Gazélec Ajaccio (P) 38 18 11 9 49 37 +12 65
3 Angers (P) 38 18 10 10 47 30 +17 64
4 Dijon 38 17 10 11 44 34 +10 61
5 Nancy 38 15 13 10 53 39 +14 58
6 Brest 38 14 15 9 41 27 +14 57
7 Le Havre 38 14 13 11 47 37 +10 55
8 Laval 38 11 21 6 41 34 +7 54
9 Auxerre 38 12 16 10 48 42 +6 52
10 Sochaux 38 13 13 12 39 37 +2 52
11 Niort 38 11 17 10 41 42 −1 50
12 Clermont 38 12 13 13 43 47 −4 49
13 Nîmes[a] 38 12 10 16 44 57 −13 46 Relegated in the 17th March 2015 and then readmitted in 20th May 2015.
14 Créteil 38 10 15 13 44 52 −8 45
15 Tours 38 12 8 18 49 54 −5 44
16 Valenciennes 38 10 12 16 34 51 −17 42
17 Ajaccio 38 9 14 15 32 42 −10 41
18 Orléans (R) 38 9 13 16 36 47 −11 40 Relegation to Championnat National
19 Châteauroux (R) 38 7 11 20 31 63 −32 32
20 Arles-Avignon[b] (D, R) 38 7 9 22 31 59 −28 30 Relegation to CFA
Source: Ligue 2
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (D) Disqualified; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ It was announced on 17 March 2015 that Nîmes would be relegated to the next lower level at the end of the season, as a sanction for match fixing the previous season.[29] The decision was overturned on 20 May 2015.[30]
  2. ^ Administratively relegated to Championnat de France Amateur for failing to guarantee sufficient capital.[31]

Results

Home \ Away ACA GAZ ANG ACAA AUX BRS CHA CLR CRE DIJ LVL LHA NAL NMS NRT ORL SOC TOU TRO VAL
Ajaccio 0–3 1–1 2–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–2 0–1 1–0 0–0 0–1 2–0 0–1 0–0 2–3 0–2 1–0 2–1 2–1
Gazélec Ajaccio 0–2 1–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 3–2 3–2 3–0 1–1 0–4 2–0
Angers 1–0 2–0 2–0 0–0 1–2 1–1 3–0 3–0 1–0 2–0 1–0 3–1 3–0 0–0 2–1 0–0 2–0 0–3 0–0
Arles-Avignon 0–0 0–0 1–3 2–4 1–0 0–1 0–0 2–0 0–2 2–3 0–1 1–0 0–1 1–0 4–1 2–2 1–0 0–4 1–2
Auxerre 1–1 0–0 0–1 2–1 0–3 3–1 1–1 2–2 3–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 0–1 1–0 2–3 0–1 1–2
Brest 2–1 3–0 0–0 1–0 0–1 3–0 2–1 2–2 0–0 0–0 1–0 2–0 3–1 0–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–1 1–0
Châteauroux 0–0 0–2 0–1 1–2 2–1 1–1 3–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–0 2–5 2–1 0–1 0–0 1–4 2–1 0–1 3–0
Clermont 1–1 3–4 2–0 3–1 1–1 1–0 3–3 1–0 2–5 0–0 1–0 0–1 3–0 1–1 1–0 0–0 2–2 1–0 0–0
Créteil 3–2 1–1 0–1 2–0 2–2 2–1 3–0 2–2 0–2 1–0 0–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–0 1–2 1–4 1–1 0–0
Dijon 3–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 0–1 1–0 2–1 1–0 1–1 3–1 4–5 1–0 2–1 1–0 0–3 0–1 1–1
Laval 0–0 0–2 3–2 1–0 1–1 2–2 1–0 3–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 0–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–1 2–1 3–1
Le Havre 2–1 1–1 1–0 2–0 2–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–0 0–1 0–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 0–1 3–2 3–1
Nancy 2–0 1–0 0–0 1–1 2–1 2–1 6–0 1–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 0–0 1–2 2–2 1–1 2–1 2–0 0–1
Nîmes 1–1 2–0 3–2 2–2 0–1 0–0 1–0 0–1 0–1 2–2 0–0 3–3 1–1 3–2 0–1 2–1 3–2 1–2 2–0
Niort 1–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 0–0 3–0 0–0 1–3 1–1 0–3 1–0 1–4 3–2 1–1 0–1 1–1 1–0 3–0
Orléans 1–1 0–1 2–3 1–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 1–1 0–1 1–1 2–2 0–1 1–1 0–0 1–0 2–1 0–1 0–1
Sochaux 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–0 0–0 0–0 3–0 1–0 2–1 0–1 1–1 0–1 0–2 2–0 2–3 0–1 2–1 0–2 1–1
Tours 0–2 2–1 1–2 2–2 2–3 1–1 1–0 0–1 4–2 0–0 1–1 3–2 1–1 1–2 1–0 4–3 0–1 0–2 1–0
Troyes 2–0 1–1 2–1 4–0 1–2 1–0 4–1 2–0 2–0 1–0 0–0 2–2 1–0 2–0 4–1 1–0 2–0 1–0 0–0
Valenciennes 1–1 2–1 1–0 3–0 1–2 0–1 1–0 2–1 1–1 0–3 2–2 0–4 1–1 2–2 1–3 2–0 1–2 1–2 1–1
Source: Ligue 2
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Season statistics

Top goalscorers

As of matches played 22 May 2015
Rank Player Club Goals
1 France Mickaël Le Bihan Le Havre 18
2 France Jonathan Kodjia Angers 15
Ivory Coast Seydou Koné Niort
4 Morocco Youssouf Hadji Nancy 14
France Karl Toko Ekambi Sochaux
6 France Youssef Adnane Tours / Brest 13
France Anthony Le Tallec Valenciennes
8 France Nicolas Fauvergue Ajaccio 12
Mali Mana Dembélé Nancy
10 France Idriss Saadi Clermont 11
France Benjamin Nivet Troyes

Source: Official Goalscorers' Standings

References

  1. ^ a b "Attendances". Ligue de Football Professionel. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  2. ^ "Luzenac en Ligue 2 !" [Luzenac in Ligue 2!] (in French). lequipe.fr. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  3. ^ "Football : le club de Luzenac, village de 650 habitants, accède à la Ligue 2" [Football: Luzenac, from village with 650 inhabitants, reaches Ligue 2] (in French). leparisien.fr. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Orléans valide sa montée en Ligue 2" [Orléans validates its promotion to Ligue 2] (in French). lequipe.fr. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  5. ^ "Le Gazélec Ajaccio en Ligue 2 !" [Gazélec Ajaccio in Ligue 2!] (in French). lequipe.fr. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  6. ^ "L'AC Ajaccio officiellement relégué" [AC Ajaccio officially relegated] (in French). lequipe.fr. 20 April 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  7. ^ "Valenciennes relégué !" [Valenciennes relegated!] (in French). lequipe.fr. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  8. ^ "Luzenac refused promotion to Ligue 2, will appeal" (in French). 5 June 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  9. ^ "Le club de Valenciennes en redressement judiciaire, le Racing n'échappe pas plus au CFA" [Valenciennes in judicial receivership, Racing doesn't escape CFA] (in French). dna.fr. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  10. ^ "Ligue 2 : La DNCG confirme son refus d'accepter Luzenac en L2" (in French). Eurosport. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  11. ^ "VAFC en Ligue 2, Borloo président en attendant Dayan: toutes les réactions" (in French). 11 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  12. ^ "Marsiglia et Nîmes, c'est fini" (in French). Le Figaro. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  13. ^ "Le journal du mercato (25/06)" (in French). Le Figaro. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  14. ^ "Ariël Jacobs quitte Valenciennes" (in French). Le Figaro. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  15. ^ "Casoni à Valenciennes (off.)" (in French). Le Figaro. 17 July 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  16. ^ "Dumas quitte Arles-Avignon" (in French). Le Figaro. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  17. ^ "Bracconi limogé d'Ajaccio" (in French). Le Figaro. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  18. ^ "Pantaloni retrouve Ajaccio" (in French). Le Figaro. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  19. ^ "Pantaloni démissionne" (in French). Le Figaro. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  20. ^ "Tours : Dujeux confirmé" (in French). Le Figaro. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  21. ^ "Créteil : Hinschberger s'en va" (in French). Le Figaro. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  22. ^ "Mombaerts quitte le Havre !" (in French). Le Figaro. 10 December 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  23. ^ "Officiel pour Goudet au Havre" (in French). Le Figaro. 28 December 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  24. ^ "Un nouvel entraîneur à l'ACA" (in French). AVI. 29 December 2014. Archived from the original on 8 January 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  25. ^ "Châteauroux limoge Pascal Gastien" (in French). Le Figaro. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  26. ^ "Châteauroux : Daury entraîneur" (in French). Le Figaro. 16 February 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  27. ^ "Casoni quitte VA" (in French). Le Figaro. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  28. ^ "Le Frapper remplace Casoni" (in French). Le Figaro. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  29. ^ "Nîmes rétrogradé". lequipe.fr (in French). 17 March 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  30. ^ "Matches truqués: Des points de pénalité pour Nîmes, qui n'est plus rétrogradé". lequipe.fr (in French). 20 May 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  31. ^ "Arles-Avignon rétrogradé en CFA". ledauphine.com (in French). 10 July 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
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