[Chronicles]

Rebuilding a Legacy: Over two seasons, strategic brilliance shines in playoffs.

After a tumultuous decade filled with challenges and hard-fought battles, AJ Auxerre Football Club has triumphantly returned to Ligue 1, the elite stage where the club has historically excelled. This promotion serves as a fitting testament to the club's unwavering commitment to adhering to its football training principles and youth development traditions, reflecting years of meticulous effort and continuous investment. As Auxerre returns to this familiar stage, a new chapter begins, heralding a promising future. At this pivotal moment of promotion, it's an opportune time to reflect on the club’s recent revival. With a storied 116-year history, Auxerre is poised to march towards new heights of glory. This part chronicles the rise of the club after its relegation.

Master Strategist at Play: A formidable comeback propelled by experts.

Following its relegation from Ligue 1 in 2012, Auxerre consistently set its sights on returning to France's top football league. However, the team’s performance in the initial post-relegation seasons was marked by instability and a persistent gap from achieving promotion. A significant turnaround occurred in May 2019 when Jean-Marc Furlan, fresh off leading Brest to promotion, took charge of the first team, initiating a period of comprehensive recovery and competitive success for Auxerre.

Furlan brings a rich background of propelling teams to higher divisions. In the 2004-05 season, during his first professional coaching stint, he guided Troyes to promotion, earning the recognition as Ligue 2’s best coach by the professional footballers' association. Furlan’s successful stints at Troyes were followed by fruitful tenures at Brest, where he repeated his promotion achievements. With Auxerre’s ascent to Ligue 1, the seasoned 64-year-old coach has now impressively led teams to promotion five times. Notably, Furlan also has a keen eye for talent, having mentored 2018 World Cup champions Blaise Matuidi and Djibril Sidibé during their formative years.

Starting from the 2016-17 season, the promotion format in Ligue 2 was modified from three automatic spots to 2.5 spots. The third-placed team in Ligue 2 faced the 18th-placed team in Ligue 1 in a two-legged playoff to battle for the final slot in Ligue 1. The rules were further tweaked from the 2017-18 season onward; in addition to the two direct promotions, teams placed third to fifth entered a more intense two-round playoff to vie for the 0.5 slot against a team from Ligue 1, significantly ramping up the competition. Against this backdrop, Auxerre began its defiant rise.

When Furlan took the helm, Auxerre was navigating a transitional phase. The 2019-20 season was abruptly curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which stalled the team's progress. However, the following season, Furlan's first full season in charge, marked a turning point with strategic enhancements in the squad. Players like Léon, Autret, Hein, Jubal, and Lloris formed the core of the team over these two seasons, bolstering Auxerre's capabilities.

Thanks to the synergistic efforts of a distinguished coach and robust new signings, Auxerre's performance in the last Ligue 2 season was commendable. The team adopted an aggressive style, leading the league in ball possession and chances created. Under Furlan’s guidance, Auxerre enjoyed a 13-game unbeaten run mid-season, matching the club’s record. With thirteen players contributing to the score sheet, Auxerre boasted the second most formidable attack in Ligue 2. Although they narrowly missed the promotion playoffs, Auxerre's trajectory of growth proved unstoppable.

Unstoppable: Triumphing in the Toughest Promotion Battle.

This season, Auxerre set its sights once again on ascending to Ligue 1. Despite losing Le Bihan, the second-highest scorer in Ligue 2 last season, the team welcomed new talents like Sabaly, Pellenard, Perrin, and Trouillet, significantly bolstering the squad. With the upcoming reduction of promotion slots in Ligue 2 from 2.5 to 2 starting next season, this year presented a critical window for contenders.

Auxerre approached this season with greater maturity compared to its slower start last year. Accumulating 18 points in the first nine rounds, the team established a strong foundation, consistently ranking in the top five. Although performance wavered slightly during the Christmas period, Auxerre held the fourth spot at the season's midpoint.

Entering 2022, Auxerre unleashed its full potential, securing 12 wins in the latter half of the season and leading the league in both points gained and away game records. Sabaly and Hein emerged as formidable attacking forces, while Léon’s defense secured multiple clean sheets. In the crucial final nine rounds, Auxerre maintained an impressive unbeaten streak with seven wins and two draws. If not for Ajaccio’s stellar performance in the last two months, Auxerre might have clinched direct promotion earlier.

By the end of the 38-round regular season, Auxerre had amassed 74 points, the highest in the last decade. Historically in Ligue 2, such a point total would typically guarantee direct promotion, highlighting the unprecedented level of competition this season. Besides Toulouse, the early qualifier, Auxerre found itself embroiled in a fierce battle with Ajaccio, Paris FC, and Sochaux, all vying for promotion.

In the critical second round of the playoffs, Auxerre capitalized on its distinct advantage to eliminate Sochaux through a tense penalty shootout, setting the stage for a climactic two-legged playoff against Saint-Étienne, the 18th-ranked team in Ligue 1. Historically, Ligue 2 teams face hurdles in these playoffs, and despite Saint-Étienne's slightly stronger squad, Auxerre's robust foundation, honed resilience, and intense ambition to ascend to Ligue 1 fueled their drive. After 210 minutes of intense gameplay followed by a penalty shootout, Auxerre triumphed over their formidable rivals in what became the fiercest promotion battle in Ligue 2 history.

With Ligue 1 set to reduce its league size to 18 teams from the 2023-24 season, which will see the relegation of teams from 17th to 20th place next season, Auxerre is poised to confront even greater challenges. However, this transition also offers Auxerre a chance to demonstrate its mettle on a grander stage.

In the upcoming Ligue 1 season, Auxerre is prepared to embark on a new journey, aiming to enrich its storied history with yet another impressive chapter.