FC Nantes (commonly known as "Nantes", English name: FC Nantes) was founded in 1943 and is a professional football club located in Nantes, in the Loire Valley region. It is one of the most successful and historic football clubs in France, nicknamed the "Canaries".
The club has won the French Ligue 1 championship eight times and has won the French Cup and French League Cup multiple times. It is known for its unique "Nantes style", which emphasizes teamwork, quick passing, and fluid attacking football, established and passed down by legendary coaches such as José Arribas. Nantes also has a renowned youth academy, considered a "talent factory" for French football, which has produced numerous world-class players such as Didier Deschamps, Marcel Desailly, Claude Makélélé, and Michel Landreau. The forward, Jackie Simon, was the first player in the club's history to receive a national team call-up.
At the beginning of the 21st century, Nantes experienced a period of relegation, but in 2013, they returned to Ligue 1 and have remained a mainstay of the top league. In recent years, they have continued to be competitive, winning the French Cup again in 2022. Nantes continues to contribute to French football with its distinctive style and strong youth development tradition.