Bordeaux Secures First Win Amid Financial Turmoil

Bordeaux clinched their first league win of the season in Saumur a charming town along the Loire River with two goals from 35-year-old former Liverpool striker Andy Carroll. Bordeaux, once a powerhouse in French football, now sits in the fourth division and struggles with heavy debt. The club is far from its glory days when stars like Alain Giresse and Zinedine Zidane played for it.

The club mismanaged its finances over the past decade by spending excessively under various owners. This led to its relegation to Ligue 2 two years ago and its filing for administration this summer. As a result, Bordeaux has lost its professional status and closed its youth academy. This academy once produced international talents like Aurélien Tchouaméni.

Amid this turmoil, Liverpool’s Fenway Sports Group attempted a takeover of Bordeaux. However, the deal fell through because of disagreements over stadium costs and the financial crisis in French football. The current season has already seen bizarre incidents including manager Bruno Irles conducting transfer discussions while driving.  The club encountered significant challenges in assembling a team for their first match of the season.

As a result, former players Rio Mavuba and Paul Baysse returned to help fill the roster. Despite these challenges, the club’s supporters remain passionate, though protests against owner Gérard Lopez have intensified due to his failure to stabilize the club. Some fans have initiated a Socios project to gain more control over the club’s future raising funds to ensure better governance.

The women’s team used to compete in the Women’s Champions League. However, it has faced issues because of the men’s team’s mismanagement and has been excluded from national leagues. While Bordeaux’s current situation remains precarious, the club continues to draw support from fans who are hopeful for a turnaround. Carroll’s performances and the work of the remaining staff keep the club going but recovery will be difficult and take time.