About

En Avant de Guingamp Cotes d'Armor (Breton: War-raok Gwengamp; commonly referred to as EA Guingamp, EAG, or simply Guingamp) is a French association football club based in the commune of Guingamp. The club was founded in 1912 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football, having won promotion from Ligue 2 following the 2012–13 season. Guingamp plays its home matches at the Stade du Roudourou located within the city. The club's status as a professional club is atypical with the club playing in a commune of 7,280 inhabitants, with a stadium capable of holding upwards of 18,000 spectators. However having remained amateur for a long time, playing within the regional leagues, the club got promoted 3 times under the presidency of Noël Le Graët, who took over in 1972. In 1976, Guingamp reached the Third Division (now called Championnat National), and the next season went straight into the Second Division (now called Ligue 2), where they stayed until 1993. The club adopted professional status in 1984, and in 1990 the Stade du Roudourou was opened, hosting Paris Saint-Germain in its first match. The club's first major honour was winning the Coupe de France in 2009; in the process becoming the second team to win the competition from outside Ligue 1. The team defeated Derby Breton rivals Rennes 2–1 in the final. Also, in 2014, En Avant de Guingamp beat Stade Rennais F.C. 2–0 at the Stade de France. Aside from two years of Coupe de France triumph, the club's other success was winning the 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup The club is currently spending their eighth season in the French top flight, having gained promotion only 3 times: 1995, 2000 and 2013. Aside from winning the Coupe de France, Guingamp is known for having served as a springboard for prominent players such as Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, Fabrice Abriel, and Vincent Candela. Managers such as Guy Lacombe, Francis Smerecki, and Erick Mombaerts also used the club as springboards during the infancy of their coaching careers. Guingamp is currently presided over by Bertrand Desplat. The former president, Noël Le Graët serves now as president of the French Football Federation. The team is managed by Brittany native Jocelyn Gourvennec and captained by midfielder Lionel Mathis. The club has a women's team who play in the Division 1 Féminine, and a reserve team in the CFA2. On 12 May 2019, Guingamp were relegated to Ligue 2 ending a six year stay in the top division after drawing 1-1 with rivals Stade Rennais F.C..