Auxerre

Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise (AJ Auxerre) is a French professional football club based in Auxerre, Burgundy. Founded in 1905, the club plays at the Stade de l'Abbe Deschamps, a 17,293-seat stadium that is one of the oldest football grounds in France. AJ Auxerre is renowned for possessing one of the finest youth academies in European football, having produced world-class talents including Eric Cantona, Basile Boli, Philippe Mexes, and Djibril Cisse. Under the legendary manager Guy Roux, who served for over four decades, Auxerre won the Ligue 1 title in 1995-96 and the Coupe de France on four occasions. The club was promoted back to Ligue 1 for the 2024-25 season after one year in Ligue 2. Despite its modest size and resources, Auxerre's commitment to developing young players remains a defining characteristic, and the club continues to compete with determination in the top flight of French football.