French club Stade Malherbe Caen, co-owned by Kylian Mbappe, is facing mass staff layoffs after a nightmare season.
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Article continues below
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- Caen relegated to France’s third tier
- Club announces major job cuts amid financial crisis
- Mbappe's club may lose professional status
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Caen, who dropped to France’s third tier after finishing bottom of Ligue 2 this season, have announced a major internal shake-up. The club revealed the plan to lay off several employees after a disastrous season. This move comes as they for a critical review by the DNCG, French football’s financial watchdog, which could result in the loss of its professional status. After investing heavily to cover a reported deficit of over €11 million, the Mbappe camp is now expected to propose a reduced budget that will drop from €15m to around €8–10m for the upcoming season in National 1.
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- AFP
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The Real Madrid star acquired an 80% stake in Caen through his investment firm in July 2024. However, the team suffered a catastrophic season, finishing last in Ligue 2 with only five wins and the worst defensive record in the division. They went through three managers – Nicolas Seube, Bruno Baltazar and Michel Der Zakarian – none of whom could save them from relegation. Fans were quick to vent their frustration at Mbappe, with banners blaming the former PSG star for the club’s decline.
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DID YOU KNOW?
This is the first time since 1984 that Caen will play outside France’s top two professional divisions. The club had been competing in Ligue 2 since their relegation from Ligue 1 in 2019. Interestingly, Mbappe was nearly signed by the club’s youth recruitment team, led by Laurent Glaize, who had been tracking him since the age of eight and came close to securing the French sensation when he was just 11.
- AFP
WHAT NEXT FOR KYLIAN MBAPPE AND CAEN
Caen's immediate focus is to stabilise its finances and prepare for the DNCG review. The club has appointed Maxime d'Ornano as the new head coach to lead the team in National 1. Meanwhile, Mbappe has joined the France squad for the upcoming Nations League semi-final games against Spain. The 2018 World Cup winner was left out of the Nations League matches last November but returned for the quarter-final fixtures against Croatia in March.
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