La Belle Endormie: FC Girondins de Bordeaux awaken from from a nightmare

Words: Dave Harry

Images: Dave Harry

Relegations due to administration and financial problems aren’t new to FC Girondins De Bordeaux (Les Girondins), though their current plight is undoubtedly the hardest one, with one France’s most successful sides now rebuilding in the country’s fourth tier.

A little over a decade ago, Les Girondins had won the Coupe de France for a fourth time and regularly qualified for the Europa League.

For a club that won three French titles in the 80s and were the main rival to the dominant Marseille side of Papin, Waddle and Abédi Pelé, this success was modest even if by many club’s standards it was decent.

But a combination of takeovers and COVID placed the club in a precarious financial position and they were initially relegated by the French Football Federation to France’s third level.

Yet, with the club’s situation so dire, Bordeaux gave up their status as a professional club, were effectively made bankrupt, and the FFF relegated them to the regionalised fourth level.

Though the big story of Les Girondins centres around their current lowly league status, the signing of former England international Andy Carroll for season 24/25, was a story in itself; not just that a player of his stature was happy to join them but also that reportedly spent more on living in Bordeaux than he earned as a player.

Thus, shattering the claim that modern players are only after the money - and it’s to Les Girondins credit that even at this low for them, the stadium, the club, the city and the fans prove such a draw.

Wondering around the beautiful streets of the city it’s easy to see why anyone would want to live here. Its laidback, it offers great beers as well as its famed wine, and the architecture is a lovely mix of old and new.

Les Girondins former stadium now hosts its European Champions Cup winning rugby team (they beat Northampton) and is a stunning art deco classic, their new ground though a fair way out of town is beautiful in its simplicity; the many single posts that the roof is suspended on, look like multiple white lights flashing out from the shore – fitting for a coastal city.

©Dave Harry/ Terrace Edition. FC Girondins de Bordeaux vs US Glanville.

Stepping into the ground and you find passionate support. The ultras occupy both ends, the “Ultramarines” (founded in 1987) never stop the chants and exchange good natured banter amongst themselves whilst waiting their next que to sing.

They beat US Glanville 3-2 with Andy Carroll scoring the winner from the spot, with the visiting side missing a penalty not long after, though that didn’t stop their 100 or so travelling fans who’d made an 800 mile round-trip to go to the game, from singing for their team either.

But with the season nearly done, the win is enjoyed but near meaningless – Bordeaux finish fourth in the table and will compete in the same league again next season. This Sleeping Beauty has not quite re-awakened and Carroll has gone back to England to sign for Dagenham and Redbridge.

For the older fans who remember the forced relegation of 1991 - the FFF demoting them to France’s second level due to administration problems – and the glorious come back from that with players like Zidane and Dugarry taking star turns and achieving European and domestic success, there will be a hope that even if the road back is long this time, Bordeaux will be back among the elite French clubs and renewing rivalries with Marseille and Nantes.

©Dave Harry/ Terrace Edition. Matmut Atlantique stadium.

©Dave Harry/ Terrace Edition. Utramarines. FC Girondins de Bordeaux vs US Glanville.

©Dave Harry/ Terrace Edition. Andy Carroll penalty. FC Girondins de Bordeaux vs US Glanville.

Dave is on X: @daveharry007; Instagram: @dave_harry007 and Bluesky: @daveharry007bsky.social

Saints and oaks

Complete

Merthyr: New Balance

San Mames: Transcending

Sestao River Club