AS Saint-Étienne, commonly known as "Saint-Étienne" (French: AS Saint-Étienne), was founded in 1919 as "Casino Group Employees' Friendship". It underwent several name changes before officially becoming a professional team in 1933. Located in Saint-Étienne, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France, it is a professional football club in France.
The 1950s marked a golden era for the club, as under the legendary coaches Snella and Butler, the Greens won 10 Ligue 1 titles between 1956 and 1981. During the period from 1968 to 1970, they achieved a remarkable double by winning both the league and the cup three times. The 1976 European Cup final, where they narrowly lost to Bayern Munich in the "square posts" incident, remains an eternal memory for fans, with stars like Platini leaving their mark here.
Since 1982, the club has entered a period of decline, with financial scandals leading to the president's imprisonment, resulting in a long-term slump for the team, which has experienced multiple promotions and relegations. In the 21st century, the club returned to European competitions in 2008 and surprisingly won the League Cup in 2013, ending a 30-year championship drought, but overall performance has been inconsistent. In recent years, the team has struggled near the relegation zone, and in 2022, they were relegated after losing in the playoffs on penalties, leading to severe penalties for fan riots. In 2024, they returned to Ligue 1 through the playoffs, but were relegated again the following year, constantly hovering in the relegation zone. The century-long rise and fall is marked by the dedication of local loyalists like Pélissier and the fans' faith in the team.