{{Short description|French football club}} {{about|the men's football club|the women's football club|Montpellier HSC (women)}} {{Use British English|date=September 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Montpellier | image = Montpellier HSC logo.svg | upright = 0.8 | fullname = Montpellier Hérault Sport Club | nickname = ''La Paillade''<ref name="nickname">{{Cite web |url=https://footnickname.wordpress.com/2020/10/11/273-montpellier-hsc-la-paillade/|title=#273 – Montpellier HSC : la Paillade|language=fr|date=11 October 2020 |publisher=Footnickname |access-date=22 December 2021}}</ref> | short name = MHSC | founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1974}} | ground = Stade de la Mosson | capacity = 33,556 | owner = {{Interlanguage link|Groupe Nicollin|lt=Groupe Nicollin|fr|Groupe Nicollin}} | chrtitle = President | chairman = Laurent Nicollin | mgrtitle = Head coach | manager = Zoumana Camara | league = {{French football updater|Montpellier}} | season = {{French football updater|Montpellier2}} | position = {{French football updater|Montpellier3}} | website = {{URL|https://mhscfoot.com/}} | pattern_la1 = _montpellier2526h | pattern_b1 = _montpellier2526h | pattern_ra1 = _montpellier2526h | pattern_sh1 = _montpllier2526h | pattern_so1 = _montpellier2526hl | leftarm1 = 000055 | body1 = 000055 | rightarm1 = 000055 | shorts1 = FF6600 | socks1 = 000055 | pattern_la2 = _montpellier2526a | pattern_b2 = _montpellier2526a | pattern_ra2 = _montpellier2526a | pattern_sh2 = _montpellier2526a | pattern_so2 = | rightarm2 = | body2 = | leftarm2 = | shorts2 = | socks2 = | pattern_la3 = | pattern_b3 = _montpellier2526pink | pattern_ra3 = | pattern_sh3 = _montpllier2526pink | pattern_so3 = | rightarm3 = FE2E9A | body3 = FE2E9A | leftarm3 = FE2E9A | shorts3 = 000000 | socks3 = FE2E9A | current = 2025–26 Montpellier HSC season }} '''Montpellier Hérault Sport Club''' ({{IPA|fr|mɔ̃pəlje eʁo spɔʁ klœb|lang}}; {{langx|oc|Montpelhièr Erau Sport Club}}), commonly referred to as '''Montpellier HSC''', is a French professional football club based in Montpellier, Occitanie, France. The club's origins date back to 1919, but it was officially founded in 1974 through a merger of both ''Stade Olympique Montpelliérain'' and ''AS Paillade''.<ref>{{cite web |title=50 years of Montpellier HSC! |url=https://ligue1.com/en/articles/l1_article_1282-50-years-of-montpellier-hsc |publisher=Ligue 1 |access-date=6 August 2025}}</ref>
The club currently competes in Ligue 2, the second level of French football. They play their home matches at the Stade de la Mosson, located within the city. The first team is managed by Zoumana Camara.
Montpellier is owned by Laurent Nicollin, the son of Louis Nicollin, a French entrepreneur, who had been owner since 1974. The club have produced several famous players in its history, most notably Laurent Blanc, who has served as manager of the France national team. Blanc is also the club's all-time leading goalscorer. Eric Cantona, Roger Milla, Carlos Valderrama and Olivier Giroud are other players who have played in Montpellier's colours. In 2001, Montpellier introduced a women's team.
== History ==
=== Origins (1919–1974) === Montpellier was founded in 1919 as ''Stade Olympique Montpelliérain'' and soon went on to win the Coupe de France in 1929 in a 2–0 victory over FC Sète.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Montpellier HSC Club Profile: News, Data & Analysis |url=https://www.footballteamnews.com/team?montpellier-hsc |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=Football Team News |language=en |archive-date=18 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718011551/https://www.footballteamnews.com/team?montpellier-hsc |url-status=live }}</ref> SO Montpelliérain was one of twenty clubs to have played in the inaugural 1932–33 Division 1 season, the first season of professional top flight football in France.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Montpellier HSC Tryouts & Club Guide: History, Stadium, Players, and More! |url=https://fcscout.com/europe/france/montpellier-hsc/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=FCScout.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1974, SO Montpelliérain merged with ''AS Paillade'' to form the current iteration of the club, ''Montpellier Hérault Sport Club.''<ref>{{cite web |title=Everything you need to know about Montpellier HSC |url=https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/pre-season/find-out-about-ligue-1s-montpellier-hsc-before-crystal-palace-friendly/ |publisher=Crystal Palace F.C. |access-date=6 August 2025}}</ref>
=== Continued success & promotions and relegations (1974–2011) === Many decades later, Montpellier went on to win their second Coupe de France in 1990 in a 2–1 victory over RC Paris. The club went on to win the Coupe de la Ligue in 1992 in a 3–1 victory over Angers. The club ended the decade winning the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ligue1.com/articles/legends/2021/03/12/nimes-to-montpellier-crossing-the-derby-divide-savanier-blanc-cantona/|title=From Nîmes to Montpellier: Crossing the derby divide|website=www.ligue1.com|access-date=15 May 2024|archive-date=15 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515081803/https://www.ligue1.com/articles/legends/2021/03/12/nimes-to-montpellier-crossing-the-derby-divide-savanier-blanc-cantona/|url-status=live}}</ref> Montpellier was relegated to Division 2, as it was known as at the time, at the end of the 1999–2000 season finishing in last place on 31 points. They were promoted the following season, returning to Division 1 for the 2001–02 season. The club was again relegated to Ligue 2 at the end of the 2003–04 season and went on to spend five consecutive seasons in Ligue 2 before being promoted back to Ligue 1 for the 2009–10 season where they finished in 5th place.
=== Title winners & eventual relegation (2011–present) === At the end of the 2011–12 season, Montpellier won its first Ligue 1 title, finishing the season with 82 points, three points ahead of runners-up Paris Saint-Germain. The league-winning match took place on 20 May 2012, in a game marred by stoppages for crowd violence which saw John Utaka score a brace to secure a 2–1 victory over Auxerre. Olivier Giroud, who finished the season with 21 goals and 9 assists, was the league's top goal scorer. Despite being tied on goals with Paris Saint-Germain attacker Nenê, he was named the league's top scorer by the Ligue de Football Professionnel due to finishing with more goals in open play.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.lfp.fr/ligue1/article/olivier-giroud-couronne.htm | publisher = Ligue de Football Professionnel | title = Olivier Giroud couronné | date = 20 May 2012 | access-date = 17 June 2012 | language = fr | archive-date = 27 October 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171027034454/http://www.lfp.fr/ligue1/article/olivier-giroud-couronne.htm | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://breakingthelines.com/historical/when-montpellier-ruled-france-a-look-back-at-the-2011-12-ligue-1-champions/|title=When Montpellier Ruled France: A Look Back at the 2011/12 Ligue 1 Champions|website=breakingthelines.com|date=21 January 2023 |access-date=15 May 2024|archive-date=15 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515080518/https://breakingthelines.com/historical/when-montpellier-ruled-france-a-look-back-at-the-2011-12-ligue-1-champions/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 26 April 2025, after 16 consecutive seasons in Ligue 1, Montpellier was relegated to Ligue 2.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Montpellier relegated to Ligue 2 after 16-year top-flight stint |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/montpellier-relegated-ligue-2-after-16-years-top-flight-2025-04-26/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250429150638/https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/montpellier-relegated-ligue-2-after-16-years-top-flight-2025-04-26/ |archive-date=2025-04-29 |access-date=2025-05-17 |work=Reuters |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Players ==
===Current squad=== {{Updated|17 February 2026}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Effectif et staff |trans-title=Squad and staff |url=https://mhscfoot.com/effectif/2025-2026/equipe-pro/ |publisher=Montpellier HSC |access-date=8 July 2024 |language=fr}}</ref>
{{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no=1|nat=FRA|name=Mathieu Michel|pos=GK}} {{Fs player|no=3|nat=MAR|name=Naoufel El Hannach|pos=DF|other={{small|on loan from Paris Saint-Germain}}}} {{Fs player|no=5|nat=FRA|name=Everson Junior|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no=6|nat=GLP|name=Christopher Jullien|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no=7|nat=COD|name=Nathanaël Mbuku|pos=FW|other={{small|on loan from Augsburg}}}} {{Fs player|no=8|nat=FRA|name=Yanis Issoufou|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no=10|nat=MAR|name=Khalil Fayad|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no=11|nat=FRA|name=Téji Savanier|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no=14|nat=FRA|name=Nabil Homssa|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no=15|nat=FRA|name=Julien Laporte|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no=17|nat=FRA|name=Théo Sainte-Luce|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no=18|nat=FRA|name=Nicolas Pays|pos=FW}} {{Fs mid}} {{Fs player|no=19|nat=GNB|name=Alexandre Mendy|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no=20|nat=FRA|name=Enzo Molebe|pos=FW|other={{small|on loan from Lyon}}}} {{Fs player|no=21|nat=FRA|name=Lucas Mincarelli|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no=22|nat=FRA|name=Axel Gueguin|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no=23|nat=FRA|name=Yaël Mouanga|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no=28|nat=BEL|name=Ayanda Sishuba|pos=FW|other={{small|on loan from Rennes}}}} {{Fs player|no=29|nat=CMR|name=Enzo Tchato|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no=31|nat=CMR|name=Simon Ngapandouetnbu|pos=GK}} {{Fs player|no=33|nat=FRA|name=Fayssal El Mahboub|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no=44|nat=FRA|name=Théo Chennahi|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no=50|nat=SRB|name=Viktor Džodić|pos=GK}} {{Fs end}}
===Out on loan=== {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=MLI|name=Modibo Sagnan|pos=DF|other={{small|at Çaykur Rizespor until 30 June 2026}}}} {{Fs mid}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=UAE|name=Junior Ndiaye|pos=FW|other={{small|at Quevilly-Rouen until 30 June 2026}}}} {{Fs end}}
== Records ==
=== Most appearances === {| class="wikitable" |- ! Rank !! Player !! Matches |- | '''1''' || {{flagicon|Senegal}} Souleymane Camara || 433 |- | '''2''' || {{flagicon|France}} Pascal Baills || 429 |- | '''3''' || {{flagicon|France}} Bruno Carotti || 377 |- | '''4''' || {{flagicon|Brazil}} Vitorino Hilton || 354 |- | '''5''' || {{flagicon|Algeria}} Kader Ferhaoui || 349 |}
=== Top scorers === {| class="wikitable" |- ! Rank !! Player !! Goals |- | '''1''' || {{flagicon|France}} Laurent Blanc || 84 |- | '''2''' || {{flagicon|Senegal}} Souleymane Camara || 76 |- | '''3''' || {{flagicon|France}} Jean-Marc Valadier:)|| 70 |- | '''4''' || {{flagicon|France}} Christophe Sanchez || 50 |- | 5 || {{flagicon|Algeria}} Andy Delort|| 49 |}
== Management and staff ==
=== Club officials === thumb|200px|Montpellier HSC headquarters '''Senior club staff'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mhscfoot.com/le-club/organigramme |title=Organigramme |publisher=Montpellier HSC |language=fr |access-date=26 January 2011 |archive-date=19 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719141831/http://www.mhscfoot.com/le-club/organigramme |url-status=live }}</ref> *'''President''': Laurent Nicollin *'''Association chairman''': Gilbert Varlot *'''Sporting Director''': Bruno Carotti *'''Head of Youth''': Francis De Taddeo
'''Coaching and medical staff'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mhscfoot.com/groupe-pro/le-staff |title=Le Staff |publisher=Montpellier HSC |language=fr |access-date=26 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825220618/http://www.mhscfoot.com/groupe-pro/le-staff |archive-date=25 August 2010}}</ref> *'''Head coach''': Zoumana Camara *'''Assistant head coach''': Ghislain Printant *'''First-Team coach''': Hilton *'''Goalkeeper coach''': Robin Gasset *'''Fitness coach''': Claude Duvergne *'''Scout''': Adrien Bordeau
=== Coaching history === {{Col-begin}} {{Col-2}} {| class="wikitable" |- ! Tenure<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/players/trainers-fran-clubs.html |title=France – Trainers of First and Second Division Clubs on RSSSF |website=RSSSF |access-date=23 July 2007 |archive-date=18 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618093752/http://www.rsssf.com/players/trainers-fran-clubs.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ! Manager |- | 1924–1925 | Victor Gibson |- | 1936–1937 | Jules Dewaquez |- | 1937–1938 | Istvan Berecz |- | 1938–1939 | Georges Azema |- | 1945–1946 | Gabriel Bénézech |- | 1946–1948 | Georges Kramer |- | 1948–1950 | Georges Winckelmans |- | 1950–1951 | Jean Bastien |- | 1951–1952 | Istvan Zavadsky |- | 1952–1953 | Luis Cazarro |- | 1953–1954 | Julien Darui |- | 1954–1956 | Marcel Tomazover |- | 1956–1958 | Istvan Zavadsky |- | 1958–1963 | Hervé Mirouze |- | 1963–1968 | Louis Favre |- | 1968–1969 | Roger Rolhion |- | 1969–1970 | Marian Borowski |- | 1970–1974 | Hervé Mirouze |- | 1974–1976 | André Cristol |- | 1976 | Louis Favre |- | 1 July 1976 – 30 June 1980 | Robert Nouzaret |- | 1 July 1980 – 30 June 1982 | Kader Firoud |- | 1982–1984 | Jacques Bonnet |- | 1 July 1983 – 30 June 1985 | Robert Nouzaret |- | 1 July 1985 – 30 June 1987 | Michel Mézy |} {{Col-2}} {| class="wikitable" |- ! Tenure ! Manager |- | 1 July 1987 – 30 June 1989 | Pierre Mosca |- | 1989–1990 | Aimé Jacquet |- | 12 February 1990 – 30 June 1990 | Michel Mézy |- | 1990–1992 | Henryk Kasperczak |- | 1992–1994 | Gérard Gili |- | 1 November 1994 – 30 June 1998 | Michel Mézy |- | 1 July 1998 – 30 November 1999 | Jean-Louis Gasset |- | 30 November 1999 – 1 November 2002 | Michel Mézy |- | 1 November 2002 – 10 February 2004 | Gérard Bernardet |- | 10 February 2004 – 29 August 2004 | Robert Nouzaret |- | 29 August 2004 – 24 April 2007 | Jean-François Domergue |- | 29 April 2007 – 30 June 2009 | Rolland Courbis |- | 1 July 2009 – 30 June 2013 | René Girard |- | 1 July 2013 – 5 December 2013 | Jean Fernandez |- | 9 December 2013– 25 December 2015 | Rolland Courbis |- | 27 December 2015 – 26 January 2016 | Pascal Baills<br>Bruno Martini |- | 26 January 2016 – 30 January 2017 | Frédéric Hantz |- | 30 January 2017 – 23 May 2017 | Jean-Louis Gasset |- | 23 May 2017 – 24 May 2021 | Michel Der Zakarian |- | 1 June 2021 – 17 October 2022 | Olivier Dall'Oglio |- | 14 November 2022 – 7 February 2023 | Romain Pitau |- | 8 February 2023 – 20 October 2024 | Michel Der Zakarian |- | 22 October 2024 – 7 April 2025 | Jean-Louis Gasset |- | 8 April 2025 – present | Zoumana Camara |} {{Col-end}}
== Honours ==
=== Domestic === thumb|Historical league performance chart of Montpellier HSC *'''Ligue 1''' **''Champions'' (1): 2011–12 *'''Ligue 2''' **''Champions'' (3): 1945–46, 1960–61, 1986–87 *'''Coupe de France''' **''Champions'' (2): 1928–29, 1989–90 **''Runners-up'' (2): 1930–31, 1993–94 *'''Coupe de la Ligue''' **''Champions'' (1): {{ill|Coupe de la Ligue de football 1992|fr|Coupe de la Ligue de football 1992|lt=1992}} **''Runners-up'' (2): {{ill|Coupe de la Ligue de football 1994|fr|Coupe de la Ligue de football 1994|lt=1994,}} 2010–11 *'''Division d'Honneur (Languedoc-Roussillon)''' **''Champions'' (2): 1981, 1992<ref>The two DH titles won were achieved by the club's reserve team.</ref>
=== Europe === *'''UEFA Intertoto Cup''' **''Winners'' (1): 1999
=== Other === *'''Division d'Honneur (Sud-Est)''' **''Champions'' (3): 1928, 1932, 1976
=== U19 === *'''Coupe Gambardella''' **''Champions'' (3): 1996, 2009, 2017 **''Runners-up'' (3): 1984, 1985, 1997
== See also == *Montpellier HSC (women)
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{commons category}} *{{Official website}} {{in lang|fr}}
{{Montpellier HSC}} {{Ligue 1}} {{Championnat National 3 Group A}} {{Original Ligue 1 Clubs}} {{UEFA Intertoto Cup winners}}
Category:Montpellier HSC Category:Association football clubs established in 1919 Category:Sport in Montpellier Category:1919 establishments in France Category:UEFA Intertoto Cup winning clubs Category:Football clubs in Occitania (administrative region) Category:Ligue 1 clubs