Nantes

FC Nantes were founded on 21 April 1943, during the Second World War, when five local clubs merged; Jean Le Guillou and Marcel Saupin were among the founders, and the club turned professional in 1945. The green and yellow colours came from the jockey silks of Le Guillou's racehorse, Ali Pacha, and the team are known as Les Canaris. After decades at the Stade Marcel-Saupin, Nantes moved in 1984 to the Stade de la Beaujoire, which added the name of former president Louis Fonteneau in 1989.

Nantes have been French champions eight times, in 1965, 1966, 1973, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1995 and 2001, and have won the Coupe de France four times, in 1979, 1999, 2000 and 2022, plus three Trophees des Champions. In Europe they reached the Cup Winners' Cup semi-finals in 1979-80 and the Champions League semi-finals in 1995-96. First relegated in 2007, they went up in 2008 and down again in 2009 before returning to Ligue 1 in 2013, and a 1-0 defeat at Lens on 8 May 2026 ended 13 seasons in the top flight.