May 2011: a final victory in Troyes was not enough and Vannes were relegated to National after three seasons in Ligue 2. It was close; but for one little point, the Bretons missed the opportunity of a first ever match against Monaco in the following league season. At the same time, indeed, the club from the principality capped a nightmare term with a drop to the second-tier of French football, for the first time in thirty-four years.
Since that missed rendezvous in Ligue 2, there has been little in common between the two clubs. While we have all seen Monaco returning to the top of Ligue 1 and become a relevant rival to Paris Saint Germain thanks to Dmitry Rybolev’s roubles and Claudio Ranieri’s tactics, Vannes were never able to recover from their few years in the professional world, and the situation keeps getting worse for the Morbihan club.
Already struggling for survival in National, Vannes were given a four-point penalty a few weeks ago, sanctioning the club’s financial difficulties after losing its professional status last summer and the subsequent loss of income from TV rights. The penalty left the VOC in last place in National and, four years after the biggest highlight in the club’ history and a Coupe de la Ligue final at the Stade de France, the possibility of returning to the amateur leagues has become a real threat. So, for Thierry Froger’s men, the opportunity of facing Monaco’s millionaires at home is a godsend and a fabulous New Year gift. No doubt the 9,500 seats at the Stade de la Rabine will be full for this match, giving the club a well-needed breath of financial fresh air, and Vannes’ blend of seasoned professionals (Bedenik, Pelé, Suarez) and ambitious youngsters (Rouger, Héry, and on-loan-from-Evian Adrien Thomasson, recently tipped as a rising star by France Football) will be determined to show that they have got the quality required to give Monaco’s superstars a run for their money.
Although Vannes are without a win since October 4th – their second success only in the league this season – their previous Coupe de France performance has been rather convincing, as they easily brushed past regional rival Saint-Malo (0-2), a team leading its group in the CFA and very much looking to replace Vannes in the National, on their way to try and fulfil greater ambitions.
The next step is rather steep, without a doubt, but let Monaco be warned: Vannes’ are running out of time and their chance of breaking the downward spiral could well live in a solid cup run. In a Stade de la Rabine that will reach boiling point for the first time in years, they are ready to invite Les Monegasques for an evening in hell… But do they still have what it takes?