Étoile FC

Étoile
Full name	Étoile Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Star
Founded	2010
Dissolved	2012
Ground	Queenstown Stadium; Queenstown, Singapore
Capacity	3,800
League	S.League
2011	S.League, 5th of 12
Home colours	Away colours

Étoile Football Club was a professional football club from France based in Commonwealth, Singapore which was formed to play in Singapore's S.League in 2010. Étoile was the first team of players all born in Europe to play football in Singapore's professional league, and the first in Asia. The club was mostly made up of players of French origin.

Étoile then made history by becoming the first foreign team to win S.league title, sealing the title on a dramatic final day with a 4–2 victory over Albirex Niigata (S). Ètoile have won 1 league title, 1 Singapore League Cup and 1 Community Shield.

After pulling out of the S.League in 2012, Étoile was converted to Ètoile Football Academy based in Commonwealth, aiming to provide quality football coaching and development for individuals from all walks of life. ^[1]

History

Étoile Football Cub became the eighth team defined by foreign team composition to compete in the S.League after Sinchi (2003), Albirex Niigata (S) (2004), Sporting Afrique (2006), Liaoning Guangyuan and Super Reds (both 2007), Dalian Shide Siwu (2008) and DPMM (2009). Étoile's debut season was one for the team to remember as they were not only crowned champions of the Singapore League Cup, but also the Champions of S.League and 3rd place in the Singapore Cup.

Étoile became the first foreign team to win the S.League title following a 4–2 win over Albirex Niigata (S) at the Jurong East Stadium. On that fateful night, Kazuki Kobayashi had scored twice to give the Japanese satellite team a 2–1 lead at half time. However, goals by Frédéric Mendy (2 goals) and Matthias Verschave sealed the title win for Étoile. Frédéric Mendy went on to become the 2010 S.League top scorer with 21 goals.

Étoile was the 'brainchild' of ex-Gombak United midfielder Johan Gouttefangeas. He was the chairman of Étoile since its formation in 2010. In June 2011, Johan relinquished his position as chairman and Hicham Moudden took over.^[2] In 2012, Ludovic Casset stepped up as chairman.

Grassroots football

Étoile pulled out of the S.League for the 2012 season to focus on grassroots football and youth development with the creation of Étoile Academy.^[3]

Étoile Academy bases itself on three core principles: Grassroots football is football for all, play is the best means of learning – above all, youngsters should have fun and children are not just miniature adults.^[4]

They were sponsored by Lufthansa Technik in 2017.^[5]

Controversy

During the 2011 S.League match between Étoile and Hougang United on 23 May 2011, several Étoile players were involved in the controversial match against Hougang United which was called off before kick-off when an all in brawl erupted during the pre-match warm up. Details of the fracas are sketchy, however it is believed the fight started when goalkeeper Hadama Bathily entered the Hougang's warm up area to retrieve a miss-kicked ball. Bathily then attacked Hougang's assistant coach Hasrin Jailani after it was claimed by Bathili that he was racially abused by Jailani. Both teams then rushed to defend their respective team members where the fight escalated. As a result of the fracas, Basit Abdul Hamid and the Hougang assistant coach were taken to hospital, whilst Étoile players Franklin Anzite and Bathily were also taken to hospital.^[6]

After a week-long disciplinary hearing from the Football Association of Singapore, which took 5 sessions, a total of 18+ hours, finally reached a verdict. Both clubs were docked 5 points each, and fined $10,000, of which $5,000 is suspended until the end of the 2011 S.League season, dependent on each clubs good behaviour.^[7] Three Hougang United members were charged with gross misconduct which brought the game into disrepute.^[8] Assistant coach Jailani was fined $1,000, charged with using vulgar language and received a 3-match touchline ban.^[8] Hougang's captain Shariff Abdul Samat was fined $1,500 and charged with committing an act of violence upon Bathily, and received a 5-match suspension.^[8] Fathi Yunus was cleared of all charges by the tribunal.^[8]

Bathili himself was charged with committing an act of violence upon the Hougang assistant coach, was fined $2,000 and received a 7-match ban,^[8] whilst Bathili's teammate Serge Souchon-Koguia was charged with committing an assault on Hougang player Basit Abdul Hamid, fined $1,500 and received a 5-match ban.^[8]

Honours

League

S.League
- Champions (1): 2010

Cup

Singapore League Cup
- Champions (1): 2010
Singapore Charity Shield
- Runners-up (1): 2011

Seasons

Season	Pos.	Pl.	W	D	L	GS	GA	P	Singapore Cup	League Cup	Top goalscorer		Managers
2010	1st	33	21	7	5	54	23	70	Third Place	Winners	Frédéric Mendy	21	Patrick Vallée
2011	5th	33	21	4	8	65	36	62	Third Place	Quarter-finals	Jonathan Toto	10	Guglielmo Arena

Records and statistics

Top 10 all-time appearances


Rank	Player	Years	Club appearances
1	Anthony Moulin	2010–2011	46
2	Serge Souchon-Koguia	2010–2011	45
3	Andréa Damiani	2010–2012	44
4	Nordine Talhi	2010–2011	40
5	Julien Delétraz	2010–2011	37
	Cyril Bagnost	2010–2011
	Frédéric Mendy	2010
8	Pierre Nlaté	2011	36
9	Antonin Trilles	2011	35
	Matthias Verschave	2010
	Maxime Belouet	2011–2012
	Sirina Camara	2011

Top 10 all-time scorers


Rank	Player	Club appearances	Total goals
1	Frédéric Mendy	37	24
2	Jonathan Toto	28	14
3	Kamel Chaaouane	23	10
3	Matthias Verschave	35	10
5	Maxime Belouet	35	8
7	Aly Doumbouya	20	7
	Wilson Grosset	29
	Théo Raymond	32
	Karim Boudjema	33
	Anthony Moulin	46

Biggest Wins: 6–1 vs Tanjong Pagar United (On 26 September 2011)
Heaviest Defeats: 2–7 vs Albirex Niigata (S) (On 7 September 2011)
Youngest Goal scorers: Théo Raymond ~ 19 years 6 months 16 days old (On 14 April 2011 vs Home United)
Oldest Goal scorers: Aly Doumbouya ~ 33 years 4 months 7 days old (On 25 November 2011 vs Albirex Niigata Singapore)
Youngest ever debutant: Stan Fougeroud ~ 19 years 2 months 29 days old (On 17 February 2011 vs Geylang United)