Angers

Angers SCO (Sporting Club de l'Ouest) is a French professional football club based in Angers, Pays de la Loire. Founded in 1919, the club plays its home matches at the Stade Raymond-Kopa, a 17,835-seat venue named after the legendary Ballon d'Or winner who began his career at the club. Angers returned to Ligue 1 for the 2024-25 season following a single-year absence after relegation at the end of the 2022-23 campaign. The club is known for its strong academy system, which has produced talents such as the aforementioned Raymond Kopa. Angers achieved their best-ever Ligue 1 finish of third place during the 1966-67 season and reached the Coupe de France final twice, in 1957 and 2017. The team operates with a modest budget compared to the league's elite but has consistently demonstrated resilience and competitiveness in the top flight.