US Avranches

US Avranches
Full nameL’Union Sportive Avranches Mont Saint Michel
Founded1897 (1897)
GroundStade René Fenouillère
Avranches, Normandy
Capacity2,000
ChairmanGilbert Guerin
ManagerCédric Hengbart
LeagueChampionnat National 2
2024–25National 2 Group B, 9th of 16
Websitewww.usamsm.org

L’Union Sportive Avranches Mont Saint Michel (French: [lynjɔ̃ spɔʁtiv avʁɑ̃ʃ mɔ̃ sɛ̃ miʃɛl]), known as US Avranches is a French football club based in Avranches, in the department of Manche, and founded in 1897. Since the 2024–25 season, it plays in the Championnat National 2, the fourth tier of French football. On December 19, 2025, US Avranches stunned Ligue 1 team Brest in the 2025-26 Coupe de France round of 64, winning on penalty kicks, 1–1 (5–4).

The club has been chaired by Gilbert Guérin since 1990.

History

Football arrived in Avranches in the mid-19th century, due to an influx of British immigrants who brought their customs and lifestyle to the area. In 1895, Paul Lebedel and Auguste Desclos, with approval from Henri Goujon, formed the Association Sportive du Collège d'Avranches. The club had several sections of sport, which included gymnastics, fencing and shooting, but the club specialized in football. The ASCA recruited most of their players from students who attended the university and players who lived nearby. The club endured difficulties following a match against Stade Rennais Université, now Stade Rennais F.C., after the external players arrived home too late following the match. This caused a significant outrage from their parents and guardians and, eventually, the ASCA were forced to abandon signing players from outside the university. Due to this, a man named Alexandre Legrand concluded that the people outside the university should form their own club. After discussions, the club was formed in April 1897 as L’Union Sportive Avranches'. Due to his input, Legrand was inserted as the club's treasurer. The club competed mainly against local colleges in Avranches and played their first official match against AS du Collège de Vire.[1]

Chairmen

Présidents of l'US Avranches Mont-Saint-Michel
Rang Nom Période
1 Marcel Barbé 1897–1907
2 Victor Poisnel 1907–1914
3 Armand Lebreton 1917–1940
4 Alexandre Legrand 1940–1943
5 Eugène Dodier 1943–1944
6 Henri Barbé 1944–1945
7 Docteur Gendrot 1945–1960
8 Albert Nativelle 1960–1970
Rang Nom Période
9 Claude Masson 1970–1973
10 Docteur Gendrot 1973–1975
11 Albert Nativelle 1975–1976
12 Rémi Guérin 1976–1981
13 Thierry Lecardonel 1981–1985
14 Gérard Antoine 1985–1988
15 Philippe Dupré 1988–1990
16 Gilbert Guérin Depuis 1990

Current state

The club's performance during the 20th century was mostly muted with the club often hovering in between the 7th, 6th, 5th, and 4th divisions until reaching the Championnat National during its inaugural season in 1993–94. The competition, at the time, involved two geographical areas and was mostly the top amateur clubs. The club won its first match, a 2–0 victory over AS Cherbourg, and went undefeated in their first nine matches. However, the club soon hit a slide and ended up finishing 9th. They remained in National for another three years before suffering relegation to the CFA, where they lasted only one year falling down to CFA 2 in 1998–99. After 10 years in CFA 2, the club finally returned to the CFA after their 2nd-place finish.

Since 2024, US Avranches plays in the Championnat National 2, the fourth tier of French football.

Team kit

The club's kit are manufactured by the English sporting goods company Umbro.

Stadium

The clubs stadium was renamed after former player and French international René Fenouillière in the 1930's in memorial to him losing his life in the first world war.[2][3]

Notable coaches

Managers of l'US Avranches Mont-Saint-Michel
Rang Nom Période
1 Jean Lhermitte 1947–?
2 Pierre Chayriguès 1952–1955
3 Lucien Vallaeys 1966–1970
4 Gilles Hidrio 1970–1972
5 Luis Borgo 1972–1973
6 Adolphe Mamberta 1974–1978
7 Roland Beatrix 1978–1981
8 Pierre Leresteux 1981–1986
9 Bernard Maccio 1986–1997
Rang Nom Période
10 Bernard Maligorne 1997–1999
11 Gilles Guillot 1999–2000
12 Yann Ruel 2000–2001
13 Bernard Maccio 2001–2002
14 Richard Lecour 2002
15 Christophe Point 2002–2005
16 Jean-Noël Le Buzullier 2005–2007
17 Živko Slijepčević 2008–2010
15 Stéphane Mottin 2010–

Players

Current squad

As of 26 January 2026.[4]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  FRA Anthony Beuve
3 DF  FRA Pierre Bourdin
4 DF  SEN Baye Ablaye Mbaye
6 MF  FRA Noah Françoise
7 FW  FRA Vincent Créhin
8 MF  GHA Charles Boateng
9 FW  FRA Shahin Cissé
10 MF  GEO Zourab Sopromadze
11 FW  FRA Anas Lamrabette
12 MF  BEN Jordan Adéoti
14 FW  FRA Kenny Herbin
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 GK  FRA Nathan Bisson
17 DF  FRA Paul Terrien
18 MF  FRA Killian Gesmier
19 DF  FRA Nassim Sabihi
24 DF  CGO Steevy Mazikou
25 MF  FRA Jessy Pi
26 DF  FRA Emeric Dudouit
27 DF  FRA Damon Bansais
28 FW  FRA Ali Dicko
29 DF  FRA Sasha Delestre
30 GK  FRA Alexandre Marfaing

References

  1. ^ la Préhistoire (1897–1907) Archived 29 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "René Fenouillère, a Blue killed in November 1916". Ouest-France (in French). Ouest-France. 2 August 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  3. ^ "Les Normands et l'équipe de France (1/5). René Fenouillère, the pioneer who died for France". Ouest-France (in French). Ouest-France. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  4. ^ "Liste: AVRANCHES [USA] NATIONAL". US Avranches. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.