Club 22 December 2021, 15:46

10 years of Presidency, 10 years of evolution

From Ligue 2 to the last four of the Champions League, through the strengthening of the team's training methods and infrastructure, AS Monaco has evolved a lot since the arrival of Dmitry Rybolovlev in December 2011. On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of his Presidency, here's a look back at some of the highlights of these first ten years.

10 years of presidency, 10 years of evolution. On December 23, 2011, when Dmitry Rybolovlev became the majority shareholder and President of AS Monaco, the Club were 19th in Ligue 2. Relegated the previous season, the Rouge et Blanc were in a trying time. But after surviving thanks to a successful winter transfer window (Nabil Dirar, Danijel Subasic), they rose to the top flight in the summer of 2013 before securing a place on the podium in the top flight the following year.

Returning to the Champions League group stage in 2014 for the first time since 2005, AS Monaco were once again one of the top sides in French football, less than three years after the arrival of Dmitry Rybolovlev. This return to the limelight was confirmed in the following seasons, as Rouge et Blanc compiled six top three finishes in eight seasons.

Stars at the Stade Louis-II

The instincts of goalscorer Radamel Falcao, the return of Eric Abidal, the defensive rigor of Ricardo Carvalho, the vision of Joao Moutinho, the technique of James Rodriguez, the class of Dimitar Berbatov … In a few years, many internationally renowned players would play at the Stade Louis-II, helping to put the Club in the spotlight.

The apotheosis would come, though, in the 2016-17 season. This team, a clever mix of veteran players like Falcao, Moutinho, Germain, Glik, Subasic and a fiery youth represented by Mbappé, Fabinho, Bernardo Silva, Lemar, Sidibé, and Mendy, was led by Leonardo Jardim, and made opponents fearful throughout Europe.

These champions, who made their mark during their time in the Principality, allowed AS Monaco to further its reputation throughout the continent.

An eighth league title and two European runs

Less than four years after its return to the first division, AS Monaco lifted its eighth title as French Champion title in its history, on May 18, 2017. They did so rackng up incredible statistics (95 points, 107 goals scored). The same year, the Monegasques reached the semifinals of the Champions League after knocking out Tottenham, Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund.

Two years earlier, again in Europe’s top competition, the Monegasques had stunned Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium before eliminating the London side at the Stade Louis-II.

Ever in AS Monaco’s DNA, Europe has been a common thread over the past decade: almost a third of the 203 matches played by the Club on the continental stage have been played in recent years.

New infrastructure

Attentive to its overall development, AS Monaco has always made the development of its infrastructure one of its key mandates. The first team has indeed benefited from a state-of-the-art Performance Center since last summer, which will be completed next summer.

This project is the fruit of the President’s vision, who, upon the team’s return to Ligue 1 in 2013, wanted to provide the club with new tools to build solid foundations for the long term.

The building, located at the historic site of La Turbie, houses essentials for the very high level – a data center, medical center, specialized equipment for recovery and rehabilitation, etc. – at the heart of a 7-story, 1200 square meter building.

It’s more than enough to allow the first team to develope on a daily basis in an environment entirely dedicated to performance.

Training more than ever at the heart of the project

On the Academy side, the change is also noticeable.

La Diagonale, the complex dedicated to training whose windows overlook the arches of the Stade Louis-II, became a reality in the fall of 2020. Now together at a single site, AS Monaco’s youngsters benefit from all the resources necessary: technical, medical, nutrition, accommodation, education…

Following a victory in the Coupe Gambardella in 2016 with the 97-98 generation (Mbappé, Cardona, I. Diallo …), the Monegasque team continues to do well, as exemplified by Benoît Badiashile and Eliot Matazo, who are flourishing today within the first team.

The many players trained at the club in recent years who play today in the top European leagues (*) and the quality of their training, and the education provided as well as its infrastructure allows the Monegasque training center to be part of the “prestige” category, the highest appearing in the classifications established by the French Football Federation.

A growing community

A cosmopolitan club like the Principality of which it is an ambassador, AS Monaco enjoys growing international recognition, as the 19 million followers on social networks who remind us as a sign of the development of its brand .

Resolutely looking towards the future, the Club cultivates this propensity to reach out to younger generations, exemplified by its commitment to Esport which made it a pioneer five years ago.

This is also behind of the many actions organized at the local level, focusing on education or playing football, such as the Club’s support for amateur football.

Indeed, these efforts are ones that AS Monaco and President Dmitry Rybolovlev are determined to intensify in the years to come.