Saint-Étienne on FM26 - Wake Up the Cauldron
10 Ligue 1 titles — ABSOLUTE RECORD in France. 6 Coupes de France. European semi-finals. And yet: STILL IN LIGUE 2 in 2025-26. Eliminated from the promotion playoffs against Nice. Ian Cathro (Scottish) in charge. The Cauldron (41,965 seats) waits in silence. It's on you to WAKE UP THIS SLEEPING GIANT.
Why choose Saint-Étienne?
Because you love suffering — but with STYLE. ASSE is the most decorated club in Ligue 1 history with 10 championships — a record dating back to 1981 that NOBODY has managed to break. TEN titles. And yet, les Verts are STILL IN LIGUE 2 in 2025-26, after failing the promotion playoffs against OGC Nice. Ian Cathro — Scottish, 41, poached from Estoril Praia in Portugal — is trying to drag them out. Stade Geoffroy-Guichard (41,965 seats), nicknamed the 'Cauldron', is one of the most intimidating stadiums in France. Michel Platini played here. Dominique Rocheteau. Salif Keïta. World football legends have worn the green shirt. In FM26, you aim to get a club back into Ligue 1 that has ABSOLUTELY NO BUSINESS being outside it. And once there, rebuild a REAL great Saint-Étienne side.
Promotion as the first objective
In Ligue 2, the goal is ONE: go up. Limited budget, restricted transfers (Chico Lamba, João Ferreira, Irvin Cardona). Ian Cathro must bring top-flight football back to Geoffroy-Guichard. The fervour is there — the Cauldron remains impressive even in L2.
Tactics: rediscovering the Stéphanois soul
Saint-Étienne has historically played collective, physical football rooted in combativeness. In L2 first: defensive solidity, attacking efficiency, no frills. In FM26, build a united team with calibrated pressing and players who run for the shirt. The club's history inspires — players feel the weight of Platini on their shoulders.
Objectives: from L2 to glory
Season 1: PROMOTION TO LIGUE 1 (absolute priority). Seasons 2-4: consolidation in the top flight. Long term: reconnect with a top 5 finish and European football. 10 L1 titles and none since 1981 — it's time.
Saint-Étienne is a GREEK TRAGEDY of French football. The most decorated club, humiliated in Ligue 2. This may be the most EMOTIONAL challenge in FM26: bringing the Cauldron back where it belongs. FORZA SAINT-ÉTIENNE!