The French team, owned by Mbappé since September, is in the ropes in the second division.
Kylian Mbappé's first venture as a football club owner falls far short of expectations. On September 25, 2024, the Real Madrid star became the majority shareholder of SM Caen, a team that plays in France's second division.
However, just five months later, the situation has become dire, with the ultras resisting new ownership and the club teetering on the brink of relegation to the third division.
The team has suffered six consecutive defeats under their new coach, Baltazar, whose strategies have not yielded results. Fans are becoming increasingly frustrated with Mbappé, and SM Caen is embroiled in a crisis that has not yet been resolved.
This weekend the team lost 0-1 to Grenoble, a direct competitor in the battle for survival, which led to outrage among the club's loyal supporters. Earlier this year, the ultras displayed a banner criticizing Mbappé, declaring that “Caen is not a toy” and demanding investments in line with their expectations.
Mbappé the youngest football club owner ever
Mbappé, who owns 80% of the club's shares, made history as the youngest ever football club owner. He appointed Hammoud, a former Prime Minister Padel president and long-time associate of Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, as president of SM Caen. However, Hammoud's management has yielded little success so far.
The controversy started early with the dismissal of Nicolas Seube, a club legend with more than 17 years of service in French football. The decision, announced with minimal recognition or tribute, sparked widespread criticism in northwestern France.
After Seube's departure, Mbappé and the board appointed Baltazar, a coach with little experience in French football. Baltazar had recently left Polish football after failing to live up to expectations there. Under his leadership, SM Caen continued to struggle, losing his first two games as head coach.
The expected turnaround has yet to take place, further increasing tensions within the club. As the situation worsens, Mbappé, a prominent figure in the football world, has found himself at the center of mounting criticism.
Currently, SM Caen are in 16th place in Ligue 2 and occupy a relegation play-off spot. With just one win in the last two and a half months, the team faces an urgent need to change course to avoid catastrophic relegation in Mbappe's first year as owner. Backed by Hammoud and his mother, Fayza Lamari, Mbappe is reportedly analyzing the reasons for the club's problems.
The Real Madrid striker plans to take decisive steps during the winter transfer window to revive the team and prevent further decline.
Comments