Étoile FC

Not to be confused with ÉFC Fréjus Saint-Raphaël.

Étoile
Full nameÉtoile Football Club
Nickname(s)The Star
Founded2010
Dissolved2012
GroundQueenstown Stadium
Queenstown, Singapore
Capacity3,800
LeagueS.League
2011S.League, 5th of 12

Étoile Football Club was a professional football club from France based in Commonwealth, Singapore which was formed to play in Singapore's S.League in 2010. Étoile was the first team of players all born in Europe to play football in Singapore's professional league, and the first in Asia. The club was mostly made up of players of French origin.

Étoile then made history by becoming the first foreign team to win S.league title, sealing the title on a dramatic final day with a 4–2 victory over Albirex Niigata (S). Ètoile have won 1 league title, 1 Singapore League Cup and 1 Community Shield.

After pulling out of the S.League in 2012, Étoile was converted to Ètoile Football Academy based in Commonwealth, aiming to provide quality football coaching and development for individuals from all walks of life. [1]

History

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Étoile Football Cub became the eighth team defined by foreign team composition to compete in the S.League after Sinchi (2003), Albirex Niigata (S) (2004), Sporting Afrique (2006), Liaoning Guangyuan and Super Reds (both 2007), Dalian Shide Siwu (2008) and DPMM (2009). Étoile's debut season was one for the team to remember as they were not only crowned champions of the Singapore League Cup, but also the Champions of S.League and 3rd place in the Singapore Cup.

Étoile became the first foreign team to win the S.League title following a 4–2 win over Albirex Niigata (S) at the Jurong East Stadium. On that fateful night, Kazuki Kobayashi had scored twice to give the Japanese satellite team a 2–1 lead at half time. However, goals by Frédéric Mendy (2 goals) and Matthias Verschave sealed the title win for Étoile. Frédéric Mendy went on to become the 2010 S.League top scorer with 21 goals.

Étoile was the 'brainchild' of ex-Gombak United midfielder Johan Gouttefangeas. He was the chairman of Étoile since its formation in 2010. In June 2011, Johan relinquished his position as chairman and Hicham Moudden took over.[2] In 2012, Ludovic Casset stepped up as chairman.

Grassroots football

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Étoile pulled out of the S.League for the 2012 season to focus on grassroots football and youth development with the creation of Étoile Academy.[3]

Étoile Academy bases itself on three core principles: Grassroots football is football for all, play is the best means of learning – above all, youngsters should have fun and children are not just miniature adults.[4]

They were sponsored by Lufthansa Technik in 2017.[5]

Controversy

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During the 2011 S.League match between Étoile and Hougang United on 23 May 2011, several Étoile players were involved in the controversial match against Hougang United which was called off before kick-off when an all in brawl erupted during the pre-match warm up. Details of the fracas are sketchy, however it is believed the fight started when goalkeeper Hadama Bathily entered the Hougang's warm up area to retrieve a miss-kicked ball. Bathily then attacked Hougang's assistant coach Hasrin Jailani after it was claimed by Bathili that he was racially abused by Jailani. Both teams then rushed to defend their respective team members where the fight escalated. As a result of the fracas, Basit Abdul Hamid and the Hougang assistant coach were taken to hospital, whilst Étoile players Franklin Anzite and Bathily were also taken to hospital.[6]

After a week-long disciplinary hearing from the Football Association of Singapore, which took 5 sessions, a total of 18+ hours, finally reached a verdict. Both clubs were docked 5 points each, and fined $10,000, of which $5,000 is suspended until the end of the 2011 S.League season, dependent on each clubs good behaviour.[7] Three Hougang United members were charged with gross misconduct which brought the game into disrepute.[8] Assistant coach Jailani was fined $1,000, charged with using vulgar language and received a 3-match touchline ban.[8] Hougang's captain Shariff Abdul Samat was fined $1,500 and charged with committing an act of violence upon Bathily, and received a 5-match suspension.[8] Fathi Yunus was cleared of all charges by the tribunal.[8]

Bathili himself was charged with committing an act of violence upon the Hougang assistant coach, was fined $2,000 and received a 7-match ban,[8] whilst Bathili's teammate Serge Souchon-Koguia was charged with committing an assault on Hougang player Basit Abdul Hamid, fined $1,500 and received a 5-match ban.[8]

Honours

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League

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Cup

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Seasons

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Season Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Singapore Cup League Cup Top goalscorer Managers
2010 1st 33 21 7 5 54 23 70 Third Place Winners France Frédéric Mendy 21 France Patrick Vallée
2011 5th 33 21 4 8 65 36 62 Third Place Quarter-finals France Jonathan Toto 10 Italy Guglielmo Arena

Records and statistics

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Top 10 all-time appearances

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Rank Player Years Club appearances
1 France Anthony Moulin 2010–2011 46
2 Central African Republic Serge Souchon-Koguia 2010–2011 45
3 France Andréa Damiani 2010–2012 44
4 France Nordine Talhi 2010–2011 40
5 France Julien Delétraz 2010–2011 37
France Cyril Bagnost 2010–2011
Guinea-Bissau Frédéric Mendy 2010
8 Cameroon Pierre Nlaté 2011 36
9 France Antonin Trilles 2011 35
France Matthias Verschave 2010
France Maxime Belouet 2011–2012
France Sirina Camara 2011

Top 10 all-time scorers

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Rank Player Club appearances Total goals
1 Guinea-Bissau Frédéric Mendy 37 24
2 France Jonathan Toto 28 14
3 France Kamel Chaaouane 23 10
France Matthias Verschave 35
5 France Maxime Belouet 35 8
7 Guinea Aly Doumbouya 20 7
France Wilson Grosset 29
France Théo Raymond 32
France Karim Boudjema 33
France Anthony Moulin 46
  • Biggest Wins: 6–1 vs Tanjong Pagar United (On 26 September 2011)
  • Heaviest Defeats: 2–7 vs Albirex Niigata (S) (On 7 September 2011)
  • Youngest Goal scorers: Théo Raymond ~ 19 years 6 months 16 days old (On 14 April 2011 vs Home United)
  • Oldest Goal scorers: Aly Doumbouya ~ 33 years 4 months 7 days old (On 25 November 2011 vs Albirex Niigata Singapore)
  • Youngest ever debutant: Stan Fougeroud ~ 19 years 2 months 29 days old (On 17 February 2011 vs Geylang United)

References

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  1. ^ "EFC Academy – Are you ready to offer your kid an exciting sport experience?". Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  2. ^ "FAS President acknowledges Gouttefangeas' contribution to S.League". Official S-League Website. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ "S.League announces participating teams for 2012". Official S-League Website. 16 January 2012. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ "Grassroots Football – EFC Academy". Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Etoile Football Club Academy - New era, new partnership: Etoile F.C. Academy is proud to announce the new sponsorship with LUFTHANSA TECHNIK Official Asia Lufthansa Technik management at the U14 League match Etoile FCA - ESPZEN Black (4-1) | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  6. ^ Lee, David (24 May 2011). "S-League players fight before kick-off". The New Paper. Archived from the original on 28 May 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  7. ^ Min Kok, Lee (22 June 2011). "Hougang, Etoile brawlers punished". The Straits Times. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Disciplinary Committee verdict on Hougang-Etoile clash announced". S.League. 21 June 2011. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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