2010–11 Ligue 2


The 2010–11 Ligue 2 season was the 72nd since its establishment. Caen were the defending champions. The fixtures were announced on 22 May 2010 and the season began on 6 August and ended on 27 May 2011. The winter break would be in effect between 22 December and 14 January 2011. There were three promoted teams from the Championnat National, replacing the three teams that were relegated from Ligue 2 following the 2009–10 season. A total of 20 teams currently competes in the league with three clubs suffering relegation to the third division, the Championnat National. All clubs that secured Ligue 2 status for the season were subject to approval by the DNCG before becoming eligible to participate. In addition, German sportswear company Puma, whom the Ligue de Football Professionnel share a partnership with, provided a brand new match ball for the new season.

Teams

was the first club to suffer relegation to Ligue 2. The club's impending drop occurred on 10 April 2010 following the team's 4–0 defeat to Toulouse. On 3 May 2010, both US Boulogne and Le Mans were relegated to Ligue 2 following defeats. Le Mans relegation was confirmed following their 3–2 loss away to Nancy, while Boulogne suffered relegation after losing 1–0 to Saint-Étienne, who both Boulogne and Le Mans were trailing. Boulogne's return to Ligue 2 meant a short-lived stay in the highest division. The club had successfully earned promotion to Ligue 1 the previous year. Due to suffering relegation to Ligue 2, Le Mans will unveil their new logo and new name, Le Mans Football Club, as well as their new stadium, MMArena, while playing in the second division.
In the Championnat National, Évian was the first club to achieve promotion to Ligue 2 after defeating Amiens 1–0 on 16 April. On 7 May, Stade Reims made their return to Ligue 2 after one season in the Championnat National following a convincing 4–2 win over Luzenac. With Troyes drawing with Cannes the same day, Reims' second-place position and promotion was secured. The following week, the final club in National achieved promotion to Ligue 2 with Troyes' 2–0 win over Cassis Carnoux.
Teams relegated to Ligue 2
Teams promoted to Ligue 2
After earning promotion to Ligue 2 for the 2010–11 season, Évian were rumored to be pursuing a move to play their home matches at the Stade de la Praille in Geneva, Switzerland after it was determined that their current facility, the Stade Joseph-Moynat, did not meet the Ligue de Football Professionnel's standards. Thonon-les-Bains, the commune where the club situates itself, is a few kilometers from the Swiss border and is only, a 45-minute car drive, from the city of Geneva. It was reported that the club's president, Patrick Trotignon, had been in the process of advocating for the move since the beginning of the 2009–10 Championnat National season just in case the club had achieved promotion to the second division. The vice-president of Swiss club Servette FC, who occupy the stadium, questioned the move citing possible schedule conflicts, as well as the health of the pitch if both clubs were to use the stadium on a weekly basis. However, his claims were refuted by Benoît Genecand, who serves as president of Fondation du Stade de Genève, which owns and operates the facility. The club responded immediately to Genecand's comments via a press release posted on the club's official website.
Évian petitioned to the State Council of Geneva and obtained approval from the LFP for the move in early May. On 20 May 2010, Évian received a favorable ruling from the French Football Federation with the Federal Council voting in favor of the move. According to the federation, the move now had to be agreed upon by a UEFA executive committee, which is composed of seventeen officials. On 8 June, UEFA officially denied Évian's request to play at the Stade de la Praille meaning the club will likely play its home matches at the Parc des Sports in nearby Annecy.
ClubLocationVenueCapacityAverage Attendance1
AjaccioStade François Coty10,6603,280
AngersStade Jean Bouin17,1006,292
Boulogne-sur-MerStade de la Libération15,0048,581
ChâteaurouxStade Gaston Petit17,1736,082
Clermont-FerrandStade Gabriel Montpied10,3633,993
DijonStade Gaston Gérard9,1115,751
AnnecyParc des Sports212,5004,674
GrenobleStade des Alpes20,0685,235
IstresStade Parsemain17,4681,824
LavalStade Francis Le Basser18,7395,557
Le HavreStade Jules Deschaseaux16,4547,380
Le MansMMArena325,0008,826
NantesStade de la Beaujoire38,28511,270
NîmesStade des Costières18,4826,392
MetzStade Municipal Saint-Symphorien26,7007,389
ReimsStade Auguste-Delaune II22,0008,184
SedanStade Louis Dugauguez23,1898,952
ToursStade de la Vallée du Cher13,5006,287
TroyesStade de l'Aube21,8778,877
VannesStade de la Rabine8,0003,687

1
2Temporary facility as current home stadia, the Stade Joseph-Moynat, doesn't meet the LFP's stadium criteria.
3Replaced the Stade Léon-Bollée in January 2011.

Personnel and kits

TeamManager1Captain1Kit Manufacturer1Shirt Sponsor1
Ajaccio Thierry DebèsDuarigGéant
Angers Grégory MalickiUmbroNext Generation
Boulogne Grégory ThilUhlsportBoostyle
Châteauroux Didier Tholot Vincent FernandezNikeLe Seyec
Clermont Michaël FabreKappaClermont-Ferrand
Dijon Sebastián RibasNikeSita-Suez
Évian Cédric BarbosaDuarigDirect 8
Grenoble Nicolas DieuzeNikeFlash Kado
Istres Gary CoulibalyDuarigKertel
Laval Johann ChapuisDuarigLactel
Le Havre Hassane AllaAirnessSystem U
Le Mans Didier OvonoKappaLOUÉ
Nantes Stéphane DarbionKappaProfil+
Nîmes Benoît PoulainErreàMac Dan
Metz Romain BrégerieKappaPeugeot
Reims Cédric FauréLottoIDEC
Sedan Jérôme LemoigneNikeInvicta
Tours Julien CardyDuarigRica Lewis Groupe
Troyes Gaël SanzDuarigUrbanéo
Vannes Patrick LeugueunAdidasBreizh Cola

1 Subject to change during the season.

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyTableIncoming managerDate of appointmentTable
Reims Marc CollatMutual consent16 May 2010Off-season Hubert Fournier18 May 2010Off-season
Châteauroux Jean-Pierre PapinResigned18 May 2010Off-season Didier Tholot1 June 2010Off-season
Metz Joël MullerMutual consent14 May 2010Off-season Dominique Bijotat4 June 2010Off-season
Troyes Patrick RémyMutual consent22 June 2010Off-season Jean-Marc Furlan23 June 2010Off-season

In-season

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyTableIncoming managerDate of appointmentTable
Grenoble Mehmed BaždarevićMutual consent1 September 201020th Yvon Pouliquen6 September 201020th
Nîmes Jean-Michel CavalliContract terminated8 November 201017th Noël Tosi8 November 201017th
Boulogne Laurent GuyotContract terminated27 December 201012th Michel Estevan30 December 201012th
Nîmes Noël TosiContract terminated2 March 201117th Thierry Froger2 March 201117th
Nantes Baptiste GentiliResigned6 March 201115th Philippe Anziani6 March 201115th

League table

Results

Statistics

Top goalscorers

PositionPlayerNationalityClubGoals
1Sebastián RibasDijon23
2Thorstein HelstadLe Mans21
3Sloan PrivatClermont20
4Julien ToudicReims16
5Grégory ThilBoulogne15
6Nassim AkrourIstres14
7Guie AbrahamTours13
7Brice JovialLe Havre13
9Filip ĐorđevićNantes12
9Jean-François RivièreAjaccio12
9Richard SocrierAjaccio12
9Jérôme LeboucLaval12

Last updated: 25 May 2011
Source:

Assists table

PositionPlayerNationalityClubAssists
1Rudy HaddadChâteauroux10
2Lossémy KarabouéSedan9
3Kevin LejeuneTours8
3Jérôme LeboucLaval8
3Christian KinkelaAjaccio8
6Romain AlessandriniClermont7
6Johan CavalliAjaccio7
6Claudiu KeserüAngers7
9Vincent GragnicReims6

Last updated: 25 May 2011
Source:

Awards

Yearly

The nominees for the Ligue 2 Player of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, and Manager of the Year. The winners were determine at the annual UNFP Awards, which was held on 22 May. The winners will be displayed in bold.

Ligue 2 Player of the Year

Goalkeeper of the Year

Manager of the Year

Team of the Year

List of 2010–11 transfers