Montpellier 2011-12 Ligue 1 title-winning side: Where are they now?

Before “Leicester, did a Leicester in 2015-16”, it had already happened in France during the 2011-12 Ligue 1 season and the team was Montpellier HSC. 20 May 2012 will forever be engraved in Montpellier history books and it will always be remembered as the greatest day of Montpellier’s history. It was club’s first top-flight French title.

It has been six years since then, and many things have changed at the club. After 2011-12 season, the club has failed to finish in top 6. Their best finish was 7th in the 2014-15 season. The club also failed to qualify for the European football, and after 2011-12 season the club has not won a single title.

The reason for their decline in form could be credited to the departure of some big players and their title-winning manager, Rene Girard, who also left the club in 2013. Only 3 players of the 2011-12 title-winning team are still playing in the current squad.

Here’s what happened to players who were part of 2011-12 Montpellier squad.

Goalkeeper: Geoffrey Jourdren

He was the main goalkeeper for Montpellier during the 2011-12 season. After the winning the title, he stayed at the club for 5 more seasons and left the club in 2017. He made 270 appearances for Montpellier. He left the club after 11 professionals’ years. He currently plays for AS Nancy.

Right Back: Garry Bocaly

Montpellier Herault SC v Arsenal FC - UEFA Champions League

He played as a right back in 2011-12 season. His career was full of injuries and he was also known for his dirty tackles. He left the club after the 2013-14 season. He made 73 appearances for the club and scored 3 goals also. In 2014 he joined Arles-Avignon. The club was later dissolved in 2015 due to capital issues. So, Arles-Avignon was the last club he played for and he retired at the age of 27.

Centre Back: Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa

Sevilla FC v Olympique Lyonnais - UEFA Champions League

He made his professional debut in 2007 for Montpellier and played as a centre back in 2011-12 season - the title-winning season that boosted his career. He stayed at the club for one more season. He played 186 matches for the club and scored 4 goals. Later, he joined Newcastle in 2013-14 and stayed there for 1 season only despite playing 37 matches for them. Then, he joined AS Roma in 2014-15 and he finally came back to France in 2015. He joined Lyon in 2015, where he still remains. Since joining Lyon, he has made 54 appearances for them and has scored 2 goals for the club.

Centre Back: Vitorino Hilton

Montpellier Herault SC v Toulouse FC - Ligue 1

The 40-year-old Brazilian is a centre-back who plays for Montpellier. He is one of the 3 players who are still at the club after the Ligue 1 title in 2011-12 season. He joined Montpellier back in 2011 and still going strong and playing for the club. He has made 227 appearances for the club and has scored 10 goals.

Left Back: Henri Bedimo

Olympique Lyonnais v AC Milan - Preseason Friendly

After making 78 appearances and scoring 2 goals he left the club in 2013. In 2013, he joined Lyon where he stayed till 2016. And in 2016, he joined Lyon rival, Marseille, where he currently plays. He has made 34 appearances for them and has also scored 1 goal.

Midfielder: Benjamin Stambouli

FC Schalke 04 v AFC Fiorentina - Friendly Match

He played as a centre midfielder for the team. He remained till 2013-14 season with the club. During his 4 years at the club, he played 112 matches for them and scored 3 goals. Later, he joined English premier league side, Tottenham Hotspur in 2014 and made 12 appearances for them before leaving for Paris Saint Germain in 2015. At PSG, he stayed for 1 season only. In 2016, he moved to Schalke 04, where he currently plays. He has made 51 appearances for them.

Midfielder: Jamel Saihi

He joined Montpellier in 2000 when he as was 13 years old and played his first professional game in 2007. He remained there for 16 years before leaving for Angers in 2016. He made 172 appearances for Montpellier and scored 1 goal. After spending 1 season with Angers, he retired from football.

Right Wing: John Utaka

Antalyaspor v Sivasspor - Turkey Super Lig

He left the club in 2013 after making 68 appearances and scoring 12 goals. He then played in numerous clubs like Sivasspor and Aswan, etc. He currently plays for French fourth-tier club CS Sedan Ardennes.

Attacking Midfielder: Younes Belhanda

Portugal v Morocco: Group B - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia

He was one of the most important players on the team. During 2011-12 season, he was awarded Ligue 1 young player of the year, the goal of the year and was also the part of Ligue 1 team of the year.

He left the club in 2013 and moved to Dynamo Kiev where he stayed till 2017. However, he was loaned to Schalke04 during the 2015-16 season and Nice in 2016-17 season. Later, in 2017, he moved to Galatasaray, where he currently finds himself.

He was also a part of Moroccan FIFA world cup 2018 squad.

Left Wing: Remy Cabella

Us Citta di Palermo v Olympique Marseille

He played as a left winger for Montpellier during the 2011-12 season. Like Yagna-Mbiwa, he also left for Newcastle United in 2014. Despite playing 31 matches for Newcastle, he left the club after one season only. In 2015, he was loaned to Marseille, which later turned into a permanent move in 2016. He was again loaned to Saint-Etienne in 2017 and in 2018 permanently moved to the club. The 28-year-old is currently at Saint-Etienne and he has also made 4 appearances for the France national team.

Striker: Oliver Giroud

He played as a striker for the team and he was the most important player who helped Montpellier in winning the 2011-12 Ligue 1 title. Giroud scored 25 goals for Montpellier in the 2011-12 season. He moved to Arsenal in 2012, where made 180 appearances and scored 73 goals. Later, in 2018, he moved to Chelsea, where he currently plays.

Giroud was also the part of the French national team which won Fifa world cup 2018. He started in all the matches for France.

Edited by Jay M