Julien François drives Thionville’s surge from Régional two to Ligue three in five years | OneFootball

Thionville have sealed the National two group B title and become the first side confirmed for next season’s Ligue three, completing a fourth promotion in five years under coach Julien François.

According to L'Équipe, the rise recalls Luzenac and Chambly’s leaps from the amateur game, yet Thionville’s climb from Moselle is even starker. Ligue three will replace the National this summer.

The former midfielder played 317 Ligue two games, scoring 16 from 2002 to 2015, and had a full Ligue one season with Metz in 2007 to 2008. He notes Thionville’s long absence since their Second Division stint from 1979 to 1981, and says the city and local economy mean the club should not look out of place among the 18.

When he arrived in 2021, the city’s two clubs, Thionville FC and Thionville AS Portugais Saint-François, merged while both were in Régional two, aligning with the mayor’s push to rebuild a club with national reach. François has won 65% of his games at Thionville.

He says he is prepared for tougher tests, recalling his Gazélec spell where teams went up despite the smallest budgets. He also references Le Mans coach Patrick Videira’s notion that declaring promotion aims can stave off a survival mindset, while stressing Thionville will enter with humility and without complexes.

The blueprint, he adds, is unchanged, hard work and constant self-questioning. As squads evolve, the club aim to keep investment, seriousness and rigour while meeting higher standards.

Source: L'Équipe