Nickname(s) MHSC, La Paillade President Louis Nicollin Arena/Stadium Stade Jules Rimet Location Montpellier, France Capacity 500 | Ground Capacity 500 Manager Jean-Louis Saez League Division 1 Féminine Founded 2001 | |
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Full name Montpellier Hérault Sport Club Féminines Ground Stade Jules Rimet, Sussargues | ||
Montpellier Hérault Sport Club Féminines ([mɔ̃pɛˈlyeɪ eɪˈroʊ]; commonly referred to as simply Montpellier) is a French women's football club based in Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone, a commune in the arrondissement of Montpellier. The club was founded in 1990. Montpellier currently play in the Division 1 Féminine having finished in 4th place in the 2009–10 season. The club is currently managed Sarah M'Barek and was captained by goalkeeper and French women's international Céline Deville before she departed for club rivals Lyon in July 2011.
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Montpellier hosts its home matches at the Stade Joseph-Blanc, a 1,000-capacity stadium that is situated in Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone. The club also hosts matches at the Stade de Grammont in Montpellier, where the male section is based.
History
The club was formed in 1990 under the name Montpellier-Le-Crès following the fusion of local clubs Racing Club de Paillade and Entente Cressoise. In 2001, the women's club became the women's section of football club Montpellier HSC. Since joining Montpellier, the women's section has won the Division 1 Féminine twice in 2004 and 2005 and the Challenge de France three in 2006, 2007, and 2009 making the club one of the most successful women's football club in French football. Montpellier reached the semi-finals of the 2005–06 edition of the UEFA Women's Cup and, during the 2009–10 season, reached the quarter-finals of the inaugural edition of the UEFA Women's Champions League losing to Swedish club Umeå on the away goals rule.
Montpellier has produced several well-known players that have played for the France women's national football team. Hoda Lattaf is a current member of the Montpellier first-team and was one of the leading players of the national team during her ten-year stint from 1997–2007. Lattaf finished her international career with 112 appearances and 31 goals. Current internationals and former players include Sonia Bompastor and Camille Abily who both player abroad in the WPS in the United States. Internationals Louisa Necib, Élodie Thomis, and Laure Lepailleur all played for Montpellier before joining Olympique Lyonnais.
Current squad
As of the 15 January 2017Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.