A 3-0 success over Toulouse on 19 May 2024 sealed the historic feat: Stade Brestois 29, or Stade Brest to you and me, took third place on the final matchday of the 2023/24 Ligue 1 season and secured their spot in the UEFA Champions League! Club mascot Zef le Pirate and his crew were delirious - as it wasn't only the club's first time in the UEFA Champions League, it was the first time they had qualified for any form of European competition. How did the side more used to battling relegation from the most western city in France suddenly surge into the domestic elite?

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The most straightforward answer: Eric Roy! The French figurehead began his coaching career in 2010/11 at OGC Nice, but things quickly turned sour there. The 57-year-old was incredibly without a job for over ten years – until Brest came calling in January 2023, and it proved to be a perfect fit! He set his side up to press high in a 4-3-3 that showed their collective might - and the rest is history!

Brest's current wave of success cannot be attributed to one particular coach though, rather the entire philosophy of the club. It all started with the absolute low point, as the club was declared insolvent in 1991. They would play in the amateur leagues before returning to Ligue 2 in 2004 - with a certain Franck Ribery in the squad. The move to the big time began in 2016, when vegetable trader Denis Le Saint was voted club president. Stade Brest followed a strict financial plan under him to post a profit.

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One big aim has been positing a positive transfer balance - which has been duly achieved lately. Les Ti'Zefs have a proud record of developing major talents. Other big names along with Ribery like Claude Makelele, David Ginola and Julio Cesar have kick-started their careers on the Brittany coast. Their most promising current prospects are Romain Faivre, Bradley Locko (injured currently) and Brendan Chardonnet. Brest had a brilliant first UEFA Champions League home match, taking a 2-1 win against SK Sturm Graz.

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On the subject of Sturm: just like the Graz outfit, Brest are unable to contest their European home matches at their own stadium. The Stade Francis-Le Ble - with its close to 15,000 capacity - is not permitted for use by UEFA, leading to the team moving home to Guingamp, over 100 kilometres away. This Tuesday there will be no home advantage for the French side in any case when they visit us in Salzburg. They will be determined to show they are not a one-hit-wonder in the Champions League either, though.

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Stade Brest: the points-hungry pirates from Brittany