France had their fourth totally different champion in as a few years as Lille stormed to the title in a powerful second half of the season to lastly see off the problem of defending champions Marseille in 2010-11.
Rudi Garcia’s males – who additionally picked up the French Cup in a memorable double-winning marketing campaign – thrived on an efficient 4-3-3 formation led by Moussa Sow and Gervinho, with Eden Hazard having fun with a breakout season en path to a primary league win in almost six a long time.
The outdated guard roughly remained there or thereabouts as Marseille, Lyon and PSG occupied the following three spots within the desk. There was a shock fifth place end for Sochaux, whereas on the different finish AS Monaco suffered relegation on the ultimate day of the season – simply seven years after making the Champions League closing.
CHANGES
This was the final 12 months earlier than PSG started to dominate the home panorama, and thus they have been largely absent from the massive spenders record. Certainly, it was Marseille and Lyon who splashed the money on account of consecutive appearances within the Champions League group stage. Lyon opted to grab Yoann Gourcuff from Bordeaux in what was then thought to be the largest intra-domestic switch of recent occasions.
Marseille, in the meantime, on the again of a primary league win in 17 years spent a mixed 31 million euros on Andre-Pierre Gignac and Loic Remy, each of these gamers comfortably getting into within the high 5 most costly transfers in OM’s historical past. Mamadou Niang, the membership’s captain and stalwart stop for Fenerbahce in direction of the top of the window.
After a powerful marketing campaign, Asamoah Gyan swapped Rennes for Sunderland, whereas Marouane Chamakh and Laurent Koscielny have been picked up by Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.
Curiously, there was just one managerial change to report within the low season – Laurent Blanc left after taking Bordeaux to a Champions League quarter-final the 12 months earlier than, and promptly took over the job as France coach after the World Cup. He was changed by Jean Tigana.
SEASON SUMMARY
Whereas Lille have been anticipated to problem for the title, they’d a humorous manner of exhibiting their credentials throughout a stale opening to the marketing campaign. Three wins of their first 10 video games left them 5 behind the highest 4, earlier than they made amends with an unbeaten run within the subsequent fourteen video games to go at one level, as a lot as 5 factors clear over Marseille.
A 2-1 victory over Didier Deschamps’ champions on week 26 not solely cemented their title bid, however invigorated a flagging facet who have been changing into hamstrung by the variety of video games over the course of February and March.
Heading into the run-in, they as soon as extra led by 4 factors over Marseille – however three video games with out a win, together with a defeat to relegation strugglers Monaco noticed them relinquish the result in OM, who themselves have been placing up a powerful response.
And so, Rudi Garcia and his facet – on the third time of asking, didn’t disappoint this time. They conceded simply as soon as of their subsequent 4 video games, placing themselves within the place of solely requiring a degree away to PSG to win the title. They managed that, earlier than seeing off the identical opposition within the cup closing to seal a memorable title.
PLAYER OF THE SEASON
Eden Hazard
In fact, any of Lille’s entrance three had deserved the Participant of the Season award, however Hazard – on the age of simply 20 – was topped one of the best participant of the marketing campaign for his spectacular contribution to LOSC’s title win.
MANAGER OF THE SEASON
Rudi Garcia
A well-regarded supervisor in his time at Le Mans and Dijon, Garcia confirmed his managerial skill holding off the problem of larger rivals to steer Lille to an sudden title victory.
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE SEASON
Mamadou Sakho
The younger PSG captain impressed many observers with plenty of assured performances on the again as his facet certified for the Europa League on the finish of the season.
TOP GOALSCORER
Moussa Sow
With a return of 25 objectives, Sow beat the likes of Kevin Gameiro and Valenciennes’ Gregory Pujol to the award.
TEAM OF THE SEASON:
MANDANDA; REVELLIERE, RAMI, SAKHO, TAIWO; GERVINHO, M’VILA, HAZARD; NENE; GAMEIRO, SOW
MOST EXPENSIVE TRANSFER
Yoann Gourcuff
Bordeaux to Lyon
€24M
KEY MOMENT OF THE SEASON:
PSG 2-2 Lille
Needing only a level to say the title, Lille took a 2-0 lead on the Parc des Princes to place themselves on the point of glory. Whereas the hosts discovered their strategy to declare a degree, it was sufficient to lastly beat Marseille to the trophy.
