ASM and its supporters are a long love story. A legendary match, a historic European epic… We don’t really decide or remember when or how we fall in love with our club. However, many of them remember a player, a match, a season that made them fall into red and white drunkenness.
It’s been a century since AS Monaco played its first official minutes in a competition and this Saturday evening was a (rare) opportunity to look in the rearview mirror.
A Louis-II stadium transformed into a place of celebration where many supporters, from the end of the afternoon, joined the festivities. To celebrate some Asemist legends who came especially for the occasion. Including one, Emmanuel Petit, who revived some memories among the hundred or so supporters gathered around the Kids Tour caravan.
“Courbis, Petit… I had their poster in my room”
But it was not the name of the former Gunner that was on the lips of the Rouge et Blanc, who were cheered up before kick-off. “My first memory is the 1977-1978 season when Monaco finished champion of France with Rolland Courbis and Jean Petit, remembers Bruno. I had their poster in my room and I had my parents buy a jersey.” “For me, the strongest ball at the foot was Omar Pastorizaoutbid Denis with a jersey flocked with his first name. Omar had hands instead of feet, it was something extraordinary.” “Later there was Manuel AmorosBruno continues. I wore my hair like him! has At the time I didn’t want to be like everyone else who was for Saint-ANDhere. [rires] I wanted to stand out and I chose AS Monaco, among other things, for its iconic jersey.”
It’s difficult to make a choice as the list is so long. “When you look at the biggest European teams, there is always a player who came through Monaco,” says Frédéric to close the debate.
“This club has a soul”
Its iconic players, its historic moments… ASM has a rich past that has capsized more than one person. As andric who lives in Metz but who regularly drives 9 hours to come see ”his” club play. “I don’t know how to explain it, this club has a soul, says the 58-year-old supporter. When I drive down from Moselle to watch a match, I vibrate thinking of AS Monaco. However, I have a club close to home, FC Metz. But when Monaco comes to play up there, I always support Monaco. [rires]”
2003-2004, 2016-2017… Everyone has their own memory. But no matter the era, the season or the team, AS Monaco has crossed the generations. “It’s a passion, continues andric. Not a day goes by without me thinking about AS Monaco. I passed this flame on to my son with whom I spend my time talking about the club.” Same thing for Frédéric, a supporter of the ASM for over forty years. “Today I live in ANDEgypt and I came specially from Cairo to attend the match with my sons who come from Barcelona and Brussels. It’s an opportunity to get together as a family.”
“AS Monaco is the beautiful game”
A true philosophy of the club that has been for many years and still is, ASM’s attractive style of play has also been a major asset in its popularity. “My greatest memory is the 2003-2004 season when they made us dream by taking out Chelsea, Real Madrid, traces Fabrice, supporter since the 1997-1998 season. Monaco is a team that always plays enticing football. Every decade we have the right to a title with each time a generation that plays football that is very pleasant to watch.”
Pleasant football which ended yesterday with a suspenseful victory to the delight of the 13,065 spectators.
