Montpellier

Montpellier HSC trace their origins to the Stade Olympique Montpellierain, founded in 1919, but date their modern creation to 1974, when a merger with AS Paillade formed a new club under the ownership of Louis Nicollin. The club have been called Montpellier Herault Sport Club since 1989, play in blue and orange and are nicknamed La Paillade. Their home since 1974 has been the Stade de la Mosson, opened in 1972 and officially named Stade de la Mosson-Mondial 98 since it hosted matches at the 1998 World Cup.

The club's first major trophy was the 1929 Coupe de France, won as SO Montpellier, and a second followed in 1990. Montpellier have also won three second-division titles as the league counts them (1946, as southern-group winners, 1961 and 1987), the 1999 UEFA Intertoto Cup and the 1992 edition of the old summer Coupe de la Ligue. Their peak came in 2011-12, when Rene Girard's side won Ligue 1; Olivier Giroud scored 21 goals and John Utaka's two in a 2-1 win over Auxerre clinched the title. In April 2025 they were relegated after 16 consecutive top-flight seasons.