Toulouse

Toulouse Football Club is a French professional football club based in Toulouse that currently plays in the top flight of France football, Ligue 1.

The club was founded in 1937 and currently plays in Ligue 2, the second division of French football.

Toulouse plays its home matches at the Stadium de Toulouse located within the city, the stadium has a capacity of 33,150, the stadium was used as a venue for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, 2007 Rugby Union World Cup, and UEFA Euro 2016.

Les Pitchouns as they are called in France, has won Ligue 2 on three occasions. Toulouse has participated in European competitions five times, including in 2007 when they qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time.

Toulouse is presided over by the French businessman Olivier Sadran, who took over the club following its bankruptcy in 2001 which resulted in it being relegated to the Championnat National. The club has served as a springboard for several players, most notably the World Cup-winning goalkeeper Fabien Barthez and international striker André-Pierre Gignac.

Names Changed

• Union Sportive Toulouse (1970–79)
• Toulouse Football Club (1977–current)

The Derby de la Garonne is a derby match between Girondins de Bordeaux and Toulouse. The derby derives from the fact that Bordeaux and Toulouse are the two major clubs that play in cities that situate themselves along the Garonne River. The consistency and competitiveness of the rivalry developed following Toulouse's return to Ligue 1 after being administratively relegated to the Championnat National in 2001