46 years ago to the day, the Principality club became champion of France for the third time in its history by winning against Bastia (2-1). Looking back at this historic season.
Unexpected and yet they did it! At the dawn of the 1977-1978 season, AS Monaco validated its rise to the elite after a year spent in the antechamber of French football and no one could predict that the Rocher club would be a troublemaker while top of the ranking… Except a certain Delio Onnis!
Guys, I dreamed that we were champions and that we won the first five games of the season and then we would lose the sixth…
Delio OnnisTo his teammates
The premonitory dream of Delio Onnis
Indeed, all this starts from a dream had by the Italian-Argentinian striker, where he announces to his teammates that they will be champions at the end of the season even before the championship begins. “Guys, I dreamed that we were champions and that we had won the first five games of the season then we would lose the sixth…” he said.
A premonitory dream since the Club won its first five matches and lost the next. But far from being a fleeting sensation, AS Monaco will remain on the podium for five months, fighting with Nice, Nantes and Marseille.
The title ? A credible option
It was after a 2-2 draw against the latter on the 24th day that the Principality club became a credible option for the title. Then fourth, one point behind the leader, the Rouge et Blanc regained control of the championship one match later following a victory against Valenciennes (3-2). It is also the moment chosen for them to shine in the Coupe de France by successively eliminating Alès, Fontainebleau, Lille and Bastia, even if this adventure ends in the semi-final against Nice.
A few games into the season, we said to ourselves “If we win the last five games, we will be champions”, because we were in the fight with Nantes. And if I remember correctly, in the last match, they hung on and we won, which allowed us to be champions.
Jean PetitAt the end of the season
A merciless fight with Nantes
In the championship, AS Monaco is in a duel against FC Nantes who have regained the leadership position. A distance struggle sets in and where the The slightest mistake can be costly. LThe two teams then have 49 points, while Strasbourg remains in ambush with 47 points with two games remaining.
Building on a convincing success against PSG (1-2) then against FC Metz (4-0), the Monegasques moved to the top of the elite following the draw between Rouen and Nantes! AS Monaco therefore has its destiny in its hands before facing Bastia on the final day.
A match for history
A day that the Club supporters present at the stadium that day will not soon forget. Under the orders of Lucien Leduc as during the double in 1963, the Rouge et Blanc will find the fault before the half hour of play (1-0, 26th) through the inevitable Delio Onnis. Taking the lead, they did not hesitate to double the lead after returning from the locker room thanks to Bernard Gardon (2-0, 48th).
For me, it’s the one from 1978. I remember that the parade was extraordinary in the streets of Monaco. There were so many people. I was in a car and I started to take the road which goes up to the Palace, from the Marché de la Condamine. I met people coming down from the Palace, and we passed each other. There was a crazy crowd.
Jean PetitOn the 1978 title celebrations
A feat still unheard of today
The end of the match, for its part, was more tense following the reduction of the score by Johnny Rep (2-1, 63rd) and the missed penalty by Delio Onnis ten minutes from the end. But without breaking in the face of the incessant attacks from the Corsican club, it was AS Monaco who won this match and the title of champion of France.
The pitch is invaded by the 9,000 spectators present and Jean Petit, captain of the team, is able to lift the trophy, the third in the history of the Club. A feat since to date, no promoted player has managed to be champion during the year of their rise to the elite.
