Having returned to Ligue 2 in the 2021-2022 season, AS Saint-Étienne is playing well with its former glory. It must be said that since the early 2000s, the Greens have made a number of casting mistakes in their recruitment. Here are the five worst signings in the history of the Saint-Etienne club in the 21st century.
After two seasons at Empoli, Assane Dioussé signed for AS Saint-Étienne in the summer of 2017 with the ambition of confirming the promise he saw in Italy. The challenge is that the Senegalese foreigner arrived at a confusing time in Les Verts’ history. Historic Indeed, coach Christophe Galtier has left, leaving his position to the unknown Oscar García. Despite a promising start, Dioussé’s lead collapsed like that of his teammates. Some time after the arrival of Jean-Louis Gasset, he even disappeared from the Saint-Etienne group. Loaned inconclusively to Chievo but also to MKE Ankaragücü, he signed for OFI Creta at the end of his contract. A Greek adventure that will allow him to relaunch before signing for AJ Auxerre this summer.
Fourth in this ranking, Javier Garrido Ramírez did not leave a lasting memory for ASSE fans. With a stellar CV with a Spanish league name and a UEFA Cup won with Valencia, the Spanish full-back arrived at Etrat in the summer of 2004 to strengthen himself. The squad was controlled at the time through Élie Baup. Faced with his catastrophic performances of the Spaniard, the veteran coach temporarily made the decision not to accept more with him after only 10 games. To make matters worse, Garrido Ramirez found a way to tear his cruciate ligaments during an attack with a Spanish regional team when Saint-Étienne had strictly banned him from participating. Back in Valencia, he was unable to regain track in Albacete and ended his career at the age of 27.
It seemed like a smart idea. In the summer of 2007, AS Saint-Étienne put €3 million on the table to secure the facilities of Swedish foreigner Lars Nilsson. Praised for his goalscoring ability in the Eredivisie with Heerenveen, the striker will see his adventure at Forez temporarily soured. . At odds with then-Saint-Etienne coach Laurent Roussey, the Scandinavian dragged his spleen to the bench (four games in six months). After several unconvincing loan spells and a disappointing return to the Eredivisie with Vitesse Arnhem, Nilsson would nevertheless end his career on home soil.
A primary recruit. In the middle of a maintenance operation in the winter of 2022, AS Saint-Étienne tried to bet on Joris Gnagnon to try to maintain his place in the elite of French football. Away from the World Cup since September 21, 2021, the day after terminating his contract with Sevilla FC for “not having the appropriate physical and disciplinary conditions for a high-level athlete”, the Rennes-trained defender went to Forez to get back on track. The challenge he hasn’t made with his physical challenges. Out of shape, he left the Greens just 4 months after his arrival. All this, without having worn the tunic of Saint-Etienne for a single moment in official competition.
His appeal continues to irritate ASSE supporters. From one failure to the next, Gonzalo Bergessio has built a reputation in the bays of Geoffroy-Guichard. Arriving in the summer of 2009 from San Lorenzo (Argentina) to receive a payment valued at 6. 5 million euros, the Argentine striker arrived at Forez with the aim of convincing the club’s aspirant, Bafétimbi Gomis, of his signing for Olympique Lyonnais. After a promising start to the season (five goals in their first six games), the goal-scoring team from Cordoba (Argentina) temporarily lost steam and their clumsiness in front of goal temporarily annoyed the green fans. He left ASSE in August 2011 to sign for Catania, a club he had joined on loan six months earlier.
Staunch fan of the Coupe de France and Football Manager. Having worked for WebGirondins, Daily Sports, BeIN Sports and Quinze Mondial, I am embarking on this new adventure with the concept of staying in this as long as Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.