Girondins de Bordeaux

Lore & Background

Bordeaux was founded on 1 October 1881 as a multi-sports club. The club took its name Girondins from the demonym for people from the department of Gironde. Football was introduced in 1910 on a trial basis, lasted only a year, and returned in 1919. The club achieved professional status on 2 July 1936 after merging with Girondins Guyenne Sport. Bordeaux won its first major honour, the Coupe de France, in 1941. The club captured its first league championship in 1950, its first season in the first division. Under president Claude Bez in the 1980s, Bordeaux won three league championships (1983–84, 1984–85, and 1986–87) and two Coupe de France titles (1986 and 1987).

In Their Own Story

The rain lashed against the Parc des Princes as floodlights cut through the grey Parisian sky during a decisive title decider. In the stands, a sea of blue and red clashed with the visiting contingent in white and blue stripes, the air thick with tension; this was more than another Sunday match. It was a collision of philosophies played out on wet turf. The crowd roared as a goal echoed through the history books, reminding everyone why this battle for France's crown was so fiercely contested between two teams fighting for the same ultimate prize.

Reader's Guide

Bordeaux's home ground was the Stade Chaban-Delmas from 1938 until 2015, after which the club moved to the Stade Atlantique. The club has won six Division 1/Ligue 1 titles, the last in 2009, four Coupe de France titles, three Coupe de la Ligue titles, and three Trophée des champions titles. In international competitions, Bordeaux reached the UEFA Cup final in 1996 and the Latin Cup final in 1950.

Did You Know?

• Bordeaux's first ever league match was on 22 August 1937, losing away to Toulouse 3–2.
• The club's first manager was Spaniard Benito Díaz.
• Bordeaux's first league win was against Nîmes.
• The scapular tradition was adopted after a merger with AS Port in 1940.