After making a return to the Ligue 1 the Monegasque club is looking to shake the order in France for years to come and have recently been linked to some big names.
ith seven league titles, five Coupe de France trophies and appearances in the finals of the UEFA Champions League on two occasions (1992 and 2004), AS Monaco are one of the most successful football clubs in France.
1970s and 80s were perhaps the golden age of Monaco under Lucien Leduc and Arsene Wenger. During that time, the club was on par with the likes of Olympique de Marseille, AS Saint-Etienne and Stade de Reims.
After being mired in footballing mediocrity for most part of the new millennium, Monaco are now set to once again regain their past stature. Much of the credit for what could happen in future goes to Russian billionaire, Dmitry Rybolovlev.
The Russian owner indeed saved the club from what seemed to be an inevitable catastrophe following their relegation to Ligue 2 about two years ago. Prince Albert, the then president of the club, was forced into sale of many players in order to keep the club running and Rybolovlev intervened just in time to save a club that had been the face of French football for many years.
Traditionally, Monaco has successfully produced some of the greatest players world football has ever seen. The likes of World Cup winners Youri Djorkaeff, David Trezequet, Emmanuel Petit, Fabian Brathez and Lillian Thuram were the part of a Monaco side that could have achieved greatness had the club managed to hold on to these legends. Belgian legend, Enzo Scifo, England legend Glenn Hoddle, German legends Oliver Bierhoff and Jurgen Klinsmann are to name just few of the players that once proudly donned the colours of a club representing the Principality.
In the past 50 years or so, no club in France has been able to attract players the way Monaco has and it seems that phase two of the trend is about to begin.
With the change in ownership, there has been quite a dramatic change in the club’s ambitions. Monaco, a team that used to prioritise top three positions above all else, now wants to mingle with the big clubs in Europe and are willing to spend big in order to do so.
This trend could see birth of a new rivalry considering the fact that recently-crowned champions, Paris Saint-Germain are also not looking to stop their spending in transfer markets. Although many people have been critical of this spending, it has definitely resulted in a lot of attention given to French football that for a long time, has struggled to get the attention the likes of teams in Germany, Spain, England and Italy get.
AS Monaco have been hotly linked with a host of players including the likes of Radamel Falcao, Dani Alves and Victor Valdes. However, signing players of such calibre does not guarantee immediate success. Though they have returned to Ligue 1, AS Monaco will initially have a hard time competing against many sides in the league.
Monaco have been linked to players who have enjoyed success in some of the biggest teams in the world and we are yet to see whether these players will be willing to sacrifice Champions League football for a team which has just earned promotion to the French Ligue 1.
According to various sources the French outfit have secured the services of experienced midfielder Joao Moutinho and flamboyant winger James Rodriguez both from Porto, in a deal believed to be in the reign of 70 million euros, and there is much speculation that advanced talks are being held with Atletico Madrid for the transfer of Radamel Falcao.
Signing players of such calibre is surely a signal of intent, and if the club can wisely use its resources and have patience with their new signings gelling in the team, we could verily see Monaco regain their past glory.
The first season in Ligue 1 under new ownership will be an important one for the club and should they succeed in getting a place in the top three, Monaco will then be able to attract stars the same way PSG did last summer.
1970s and 80s were perhaps the golden age of Monaco under Lucien Leduc and Arsene Wenger. During that time, the club was on par with the likes of Olympique de Marseille, AS Saint-Etienne and Stade de Reims.
After being mired in footballing mediocrity for most part of the new millennium, Monaco are now set to once again regain their past stature. Much of the credit for what could happen in future goes to Russian billionaire, Dmitry Rybolovlev.
The Russian owner indeed saved the club from what seemed to be an inevitable catastrophe following their relegation to Ligue 2 about two years ago. Prince Albert, the then president of the club, was forced into sale of many players in order to keep the club running and Rybolovlev intervened just in time to save a club that had been the face of French football for many years.
Traditionally, Monaco has successfully produced some of the greatest players world football has ever seen. The likes of World Cup winners Youri Djorkaeff, David Trezequet, Emmanuel Petit, Fabian Brathez and Lillian Thuram were the part of a Monaco side that could have achieved greatness had the club managed to hold on to these legends. Belgian legend, Enzo Scifo, England legend Glenn Hoddle, German legends Oliver Bierhoff and Jurgen Klinsmann are to name just few of the players that once proudly donned the colours of a club representing the Principality.
In the past 50 years or so, no club in France has been able to attract players the way Monaco has and it seems that phase two of the trend is about to begin.
With the change in ownership, there has been quite a dramatic change in the club’s ambitions. Monaco, a team that used to prioritise top three positions above all else, now wants to mingle with the big clubs in Europe and are willing to spend big in order to do so.
This trend could see birth of a new rivalry considering the fact that recently-crowned champions, Paris Saint-Germain are also not looking to stop their spending in transfer markets. Although many people have been critical of this spending, it has definitely resulted in a lot of attention given to French football that for a long time, has struggled to get the attention the likes of teams in Germany, Spain, England and Italy get.
AS Monaco have been hotly linked with a host of players including the likes of Radamel Falcao, Dani Alves and Victor Valdes. However, signing players of such calibre does not guarantee immediate success. Though they have returned to Ligue 1, AS Monaco will initially have a hard time competing against many sides in the league.
Monaco have been linked to players who have enjoyed success in some of the biggest teams in the world and we are yet to see whether these players will be willing to sacrifice Champions League football for a team which has just earned promotion to the French Ligue 1.
According to various sources the French outfit have secured the services of experienced midfielder Joao Moutinho and flamboyant winger James Rodriguez both from Porto, in a deal believed to be in the reign of 70 million euros, and there is much speculation that advanced talks are being held with Atletico Madrid for the transfer of Radamel Falcao.
Signing players of such calibre is surely a signal of intent, and if the club can wisely use its resources and have patience with their new signings gelling in the team, we could verily see Monaco regain their past glory.
The first season in Ligue 1 under new ownership will be an important one for the club and should they succeed in getting a place in the top three, Monaco will then be able to attract stars the same way PSG did last summer.
