There are likely no clubs across Europe with a current situation as unique as RC Strasbourg. Few clubs are quite as exciting on the pitch across the continent, but perhaps none as uneasy off of it. The club qualified for Europe for the first time in 19 years last season, so why is there so much unrest? Once content with Ligue 1 survival, Les Alsaciens now sit at the core of one of the most controversial matters in football: multi-club ownership.
Before BlueCo
Strasbourg has always been a club that has struggled with instability, originally tied to the political issues surrounding the region in which it is located. Strasbourg are from the French region of Alsace, which sits on the west bank of the Rhine, next to Germany and Switzerland. When the club was originally founded, the region was part of the German Empire, meaning for the first forty years of its existence, Strasbourg alternated between playing in the German and French leagues.
At the end of World War One, the Alsace region was annexed to France, meaning Strasbourg made their debut in the French divisions. A brief period of success followed, as the club battled for both the Ligue 1 and Coupe de France titles before the Third Reich took control of the region, leading Strasbourg to relinquish their professional status.
After World War 2 concluded, Alsace was returned to the control of France, with Strasbourg reintegrated into its football pyramid. The club had its most successful period in the late 1970’s, as they won their sole Ligue 1 title, before reaching the quarter-finals of the European Cup a season later.
Since the turn of the century, financial difficulties plagued the club and after being relegated all the way to the third tier in the 2009/10 season, they went bankrupt, meaning two further relegations to the fifth tier were in order.
Miraculously, Strasbourg found themselves back in Ligue 1 within 7 years, establishing themselves as a mid-table side, as well as winning the French League Cup in 2017/18. On 22nd June 2023, BlueCo, a consortium headed by Chelsea owner Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, announced they had reached an agreement to become shareholders of the club.
The BlueCo Takeover and Multi-Club Ownership
When Roman Abramovich was forced to put Chelsea up for sale in March 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, American businessman Todd Boehly saw an opportunity. Just two months later, it was announced that BlueCo had acquired the London club for £4.25 billion. They paid much less for Strasbourg, with an almost 100% stake in the club coming in at around £75 million.
The purchase of the club was a long-term idea of Boehly’s, with the American looking for a way to get Chelsea’s young stars regular game time away from the Premier League, before bringing them back to Stamford Bridge.
Similar models are present throughout Europe’s biggest sides, with the two most famous examples being the City Football Group and the Red Bull ownership group. The City Football Group own Manchester City, as well as European clubs Girona, Palermo and Troyes.
Strasbourg are a club built on working-class roots and as the only professional club in the Alsace region, attracts around 20,000 fans each week to Stade de la Meinau. When BlueCo took over, they said they were committed to “preserving the heritage” of Strasbourg and to further the club’s presence in European football.
Just two years after the takeover, Strasbourg found itself in Europe’s tertiary competition, the UEFA Conference League. Similarly, in the 2023/24 season, Girona qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history. Brazilian teenager Savinho was a big reason for the Spanish side’s success, and as a result he moved to Manchester City for a cut deal worth £31 million. Savinho had been part of the City Football Group for two years before his big move, having previously played for Troyes before joining Girona.
Despite a historic season, it all came crashing down for Girona, as they finished 16th in LaLiga and only recorded one win in the Champions League. Strasbourg fans share this concern, seeing European qualification as the peak, rather than something sustainable.
On the Pitch
In mid-October, Strasbourg sat just one point off leaders PSG in Ligue 1, having made their best start to a season since their title win in 1978/79. Since, form has become a bit more stagnant, but plaudits are still being sent the way of English boss Liam Rosenior.
Rosenior joined the club before the 2024/25 season, having been dismissed by Hull City. He guided Le Racing to their highest points per game tally since 1979, finishing in 7th, where they find themselves again at the time of writing. They have also topped the Conference League group phase, beating favourites Crystal Palace and finishing unbeaten.
Strasbourg’s average starting age sits at 21 years and 180 days, the youngest in Europe. When playing rivals Metz on the opening day, the club made history by becoming the first side to field a full team of players born after 2000.
Strasbourg are at their best off the ball with Rosenior’s side pressing high, looking to suffocate their opponents and force mistakes. Similarly, when on the ball, Strasbourg look to build up with short passes, inviting their opponent to press so they can exploit gaps.
The side is captained by 22-year-old striker Emmanuel Emegha, who has signed for the club in 2023 for €13 million. The Dutchman scored 14 goals in 27 Ligue 1 appearances last season and has four this campaign. This has resulted in Chelsea pouncing and agreeing to sign Emegha in the summer of 2026.
Despite success on the pitch, Emegha’s time at Strasbourg hasn’t been all sunshine and roses. The striker was suspended by the club at the start of December after suggesting that the reason Strasbourg lost to PSG, Marseille and Monaco was because “he wasn’t playing.” Emegha also suggested to a Dutch newspaper that he believed Strasbourg was in Germany prior to joining, something which has not sat well with reporters.
Emegha is not the only player on Chelsea’s radar, with Julio Enciso set to sign for the Blues in the summer, before it was decided he would benefit from some time at Strasbourg. Mamadou Sarr, Mike Penders and Kendry Paez were also all loaned in from Chelsea for the season.
Off the Pitch
Due to the history of Alsace, locals have a strong sense of regional pride and are very invested in their local club. Since their bankruptcy in 2011, president Marc Keller had built a strong supporter-centric core as they travelled from the fifth tier to the top flight.
Keller remains in his role as president, but many supporters see the sale of the club to BlueCo as a betrayal. Despite this being the most successful period in Strasbourg’s recent history, the club has never found itself more divided from its fans, who suggest they are irrelevant in the sport and just ‘Chelsea’s B team.’
Ultras and die-hard supporters of the club organise protests at every game, with the fanbase completely divided. On the pitch, Strasbourg are chasing European glory in the UEFA Conference League and a spot in next season’s Champions League. Off it, fans are concerned that there is a limit to the highs they’re experiencing and worry they will never be able to truly compete at the top.
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