AS Saint-Étienne, often abbreviated as ASSE, is one of the most successful football clubs in France. The club was founded in 1919 by employees of the supermarket chain Casino, which is also the origin of the club’s green colours. The club enjoyed its heyday in the 1960s and 1970s, winning no fewer than ten national titles – a record in French football. The absolute highlight was the 1976 European Cup final, in which Saint-Étienne narrowly lost to Bayern Munich.

The club’s home ground is the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, which opened in 1931. The stadium has a capacity of around 42,000 spectators and is known for its intense atmosphere. The stadium is nicknamed “Le Chaudron”, or “the cauldron”, because of the fanatical home crowd. The stadium has also been used for major international tournaments on several occasions, including the 1998 World Cup and the 2016 European Championship.

Saint-Étienne is located in the east of France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Originally an industrial city, known for mining and metalworking, it is now also a centre for design and innovation. The club is deeply rooted in the local culture and has a loyal and passionate following, who continue to support the club through thick and thin.