Meet Ligue 2 BKT's new sides: Le Mans and Nancy

Ligue 2 BKT welcomes two familiar names back into the fold for the 2025–2026 season as AS Nancy Lorraine and Le Mans FC secure long-awaited returns to the second tier. Meanwhile, Clermont secured a play-off win over third tier Boulogne to avoid a double relegation - which sees the Lanciers keep their spot in the second tier next season.

AS Nancy Lorraine

Once a Ligue 1 McDonald's mainstay and known for producing talents like Michel Platini, Nancy returns to Ligue 2 BKT after four seasons in the third tier. Relegated in 2022 after a chaotic campaign, the club has rebuilt with a clear identity under manager Pablo Correa, who returned for a third spell in charge. A passionate home support at the Stade Marcel-Picot, a reinforced squad blending youth with experience - Nancy are back after some dark times.

In the summer of 2023, the club had been relegated administratively to National 2, then briefly to National 3, before being rescued financially and reinstated due to Sedan’s own collapse. The turnaround began when Pablo Correa, a club icon, returned to the bench in November 2023 with Nancy languishing 17th.

“We thought it would be much harder, especially with a squad where most players didn’t even know each other,” said Correa to L'Équipe. Alongside sporting director and former club captain Michaël Chrétien, he rebuilt from almost nothing. But the former Ligue 1 McDonald's side will now be hoping to continue their upward momentum in the second tier next season.

Le Mans FC

It’s been a decade of rebuilding for Le Mans, who dropped as far as the fifth tier following financial collapse in 2013. The club’s return to Ligue 2 BKT is the culmination of long-term planning, academy investment, and prudent recruitment. Patrick Videira took over as coach last summer and has added the final ingredient to see the Sang & Or return to the second division.

"We all dreamed of it, we all hoped for it, and we did it together with 25,000 people, the fans, the partners, the local authorities, the club employees, the volunteers, everyone," exclaimed club president Thierry Gomez following the promotion. "So there you have it, it's extraordinary, it's going to be a bit chaotic tonight in Le Mans, we apologise for that, but hey, moments like this are exceptional!"

The former club of Gervinho, Stéphane Sessègnon, and Romaric are hoping to continue their steady progress up the leagues with a return to the second tier for the first time since 2020.

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