SHIRT STORIES

Notable kits remembered

Few managers are as inextricably linked to a single club as Guy Roux. Taking over at Auxerre in 1961, he oversaw a rise from the regional fourth tier to the upper reaches of Ligue 1, and by the start of the 1995-96 season had built a side ready for a title tilt. Despite a slow start, a run of seven wins in eight games propelled Auxerre into the top four.

The Uhlsport home shirt featured intricate blue detailing to the collar and sleeves and the manufacturer’s logo tapering down the shoulders, but it was the sponsor that really grabbed the attention. The Duc de Bourgogne was a poultry and food processing brand owned by club president Gérard Bourgoin.

Oversized branding was par for the course in Ligue 1. French football lacked the lucrative TV rights of other European major leagues, so shirt real estate was auctioned to the highest bidder.

Despite the goals of Corentin Martins and Lilian Laslandes, Auxerre trailed leaders PSG for much of the season, but with the end in sight, the Parisians started to wobble. After a 3-0 home victory over their rivals in late March, momentum swung back the way of Les Ajaïstes.

The Coupe de France provided welcome respite from the relentless nature of the league, and things had been a little more straightforward. Victories over Lyon, PSG and Marseille set up an improbable final against third-tier Nîmes. After falling behind, a shock was averted with Laurent Blanc’s second-half equaliser and a Laslandes 88th-minute winner, a minute after Christophe Cocard (left) had come on. With one domestic title secure, Auxerre picked up the necessary four points from their final two games to secure a historic double. From regional football to the pinnacle of Ligue 1, Guy Roux had achieved the seemingly impossible. Chris Sergeant

No 99 Auxerre (home) 1995-96