Metz

FC Metz date their founding to 20 February 1919, when the Cercle Athletique Messin was formed in the Lorraine city; the club took the Football Club de Metz name in 1932, when it turned professional. Their maroon and white colours, known in French as grenat, give them the nickname Les Grenats. Since 1923 they have played at the Stade Saint-Symphorien, which stands in the neighbouring commune of Longeville-les-Metz.

Metz have won the Coupe de France twice, in 1984 and 1988, and the Coupe de la Ligue in 1996, after taking its unofficial summer forerunner in 1986. They finished second in the top flight in 1997-98, level on points with champions Lens. In the 1984-85 Cup Winners' Cup they lost 4-2 at home to Barcelona, then won 4-1 away to go through 6-5 on aggregate. A frequent mover between the divisions, they won promotion back to Ligue 1 via a play-off against Reims in May 2025 and were relegated again in 2026.