View source for Stade Malherbe Caen

{{Short description|Football club in Caen, France}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Stade Malherbe Caen
| current = 2024–25 Stade Malherbe Caen season
| image = SM Caen 2016 logo.svg
| upright = 0.65
| fullname = Stade Malherbe Caen
| nickname = ''Malherbe''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://footnickname.wordpress.com/2020/05/17/74-sm-caen-malherbe/|title=#73 – SM Caen : Malherbe |date=17 May 2020 | language=fr | publisher=Footnickname |access-date=31 August 2022}}</ref>
| short name = SMC
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|17 November 1913}}
| ground = [[Stade Michel d'Ornano]]
| capacity = 20,300
| chairman = Ziad Hammoud<ref>{{Cite web |title=SM Caen. Ziad Hammoud est le nouveau président du club |url=https://www.tendanceouest.com/actualite-422383-sm-caen-ziad-hammoud-est-le-nouveau-president-du-club |access-date=20 September 2024 |date=20 September 2024 |website=Tendance Ouest |lang=fr}}</ref>
| chrtitle = President
| manager = [[Gaël Clichy]]
| league = {{French football updater|Caen}}
| season = {{French football updater|Caen2}}
| position = {{French football updater|Caen3}}
| website = {{official URL}}
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| pattern_b1 = _caen2526h
| pattern_ra1 = _caen2526h
| pattern_sh1 = _caen2526h
| pattern_so1 = 
| leftarm1 = 206AEF
| body1 = 206AEF
| rightarm1 = 206AEF
| shorts1 = 206AEF
| socks1 = 206AEF
| pattern_la2 = _caen2526a
| pattern_b2 = _caen2526a
| pattern_ra2 = _caen2526a
| pattern_sh2 = _blacksides
| pattern_so2 = _blacktop
| leftarm2 = f1d9c1
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| owner = [[Kylian Mbappé|Coalition Capital]] (80%)<br>PAC-Invest (20%)
}}

'''Stade Malherbe Caen''' ({{IPA|fr|stad malɛʁb kɑ̃}}; commonly known as '''SM Caen''', '''Malherbe''', or simply '''Caen''') is a [[Football in France|French professional football]] team, based in the city of [[Caen]] in [[Normandy (administrative region)|Normandy]], that competes in the [[Championnat National]] from 2025–26 after relegation from [[Ligue 2]] in 2024–25. The club was founded on 17 November 1913 by the merger of ''Club Malherbe Caennais'' and ''Club Sportif Caennais''.

For most of its history, SM Caen has been one of the main amateur clubs in France. The late 1980s and early 1990s saw the rise of Stade Malherbe in the French football hierarchy. In 1985, Stade Malherbe adopted professional status. Three seasons later, it was promoted for the first time to first division. In 1992, a few months after being narrowly saved from bankruptcy, the club finished fifth in Division 1 and qualified for [[1992–93 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]]. However, it was relegated three years later. Despite a second division title won in 1996, SM Caen fell back into anonymity in the second division.

Under the chairmanship of [[Jean-François Fortin (chairman)|Jean-François Fortin]], from 2002, and under the sporting direction of [[Patrick Rémy (footballer)|Patrick Rémy]], [[Franck Dumas]], and then [[Patrice Garande]], the Stade Malherbe has regained sporting success. The club was promoted into [[Ligue 1]] several times, reached the [[Coupe de la Ligue]] final in 2005 and finished 7th in Ligue 1 in 2016. In 2018, during the club's fifth consecutive season in Ligue 1, a conflict erupted within the management team, causing the departure of chairman Jean-François Fortin and coach Patrice Garande. Caen was relegated to [[Ligue 2]] in 2019. Facing financial troubles, it was bought by the American fund [[Oaktree Capital Management]] in 2020, which appointed [[Olivier Pickeu]] as the new president. In 2024, Oaktree's 80% stake was acquired by investment firm Coalition Capital, a subsidiary of [[Kylian Mbappé]]'s company Interconnected Ventures.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-31 |title=Official {{!}} Kylian Mbappé completes Caen takeover - Get French Football News |url=https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2024/official-kylian-mbappe-completes-caen-takeover/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |language=en-US}}</ref> 

SM Caen has been playing since 1993 at the [[Stade Michel d'Ornano]]. Before and since its foundation, the club played at [[Stade de Venoix]], which is now used by the reserve team. It has geographical rivalries with [[Le Havre AC]] (sometimes called "''Le derby normand''") and [[Stade Rennais F.C.|Stade Rennais]], its closest neighbour when the club was in Ligue 1.

==History==
===Genesis (Before 1913)===
Many football clubs were constituted in [[Caen]] at the end of the 19th century : the ''Union sportive des étudiants de Caen'', founded in 1892, the ''Union Athlétique du [[Lycée Malherbe]]'' (UALM), founded in 1892<ref name="histo-off">{{Cite web | url = http://www.smcaen.fr/le-club/historique/de-1913-a-aujourd-hui | title = From birth to Division 1 | publisher = Stade Malherbe Caen | access-date = 31 May 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100912103732/http://www.smcaen.fr/le-club/historique/de-1913-a-aujourd-hui | archive-date = 12 September 2010 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> or 1895 and the ''Club Sportif Caennais'', founded in November 1899. These clubs participated in the early editions of the football championship organised by the ''[[Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques]]''.

In 1907, former members of UALM created the ''Club Malherbe Caennais'', soon the best club in [[Lower Normandy]].<ref name="rsssf-usfsa">{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablesf/fran-prewwi.html | title = Palmarès USFSA |publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]] |access-date=31 May 2012}}</ref> In 1909 and 1911, several friendlies matches were organised between a selection of players from Caen and the English club of [[St Albans City F.C.]]

===First years and first professional adventure (1913–1947)===
[[File:SM Caen 1918-19.jpg|thumb|Stade Malherbe team in 1919]]
[[File:Smcaen 1934.jpg|thumb|First professional team of Stade Malherbe, 1934–35 season]]
The ''Stade Malherbe Caennais'' was officially founded on 17 November 1913 from the merger of ''Club Sportif Caennais'' and ''Club Malherbe Caennais''. It was a multi-sport athletic club, which adopted the "Malherbe" and the striped jersey of the CMC, and the red and blue colours of CSC.<ref name="villedecaen">{{cite web |url=http://www.caen.fr/Tourisme/histoire/avant40/1891.asp |title=Caen ... before 1940 |publisher=City of Caen&nbsp;– Town Hall |access-date=31 May 2012 |archive-date=14 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514074243/http://www.caen.fr/Tourisme/histoire/avant40/1891.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> The club had its own facilities&nbsp;– the [[Stade Michel d'Ornano|S]][[stade de Venoix|tade de Venoix]]&nbsp;– inherited from the CMC.

The football team of CMC, engaged in the league in Lower Normandy, changed its name just after the start of the season. By winning this competition, Stade Malherbe recorded their first title in its first year of existence. Having qualified for the finals of the [[1914 USFSA Football Championship]], Caen was eliminated in the 1/8 final by the Union sportive Servannaise : after a draw in the first game (3–3) it had to forfeit the second. [[World War I]] stopped the competitions. Thirty-nine members of the club were killed in the fighting, including former captain Eugène Lesomptier.

In 1919, the USFSA championship was replaced by regional championships organised by the [[French Football Federation]], called ''Division d'Honneur''. Stade Malherbe, reinforced by the move to Caen of the former French international [[Eugène Maës]], won six times the championship of Lower Normandy between 1920 and 1928,<ref name="rsssf-dh">{{cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablesf/fran-regchamp.html | title = France&nbsp;– List of Regional Champions 1919–1932 : Normandie |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=31 May 2012}}</ref> but were unable to compete with the major [[Upper Normandy]] clubs, [[Le Havre AC]] and [[FC Rouen]]. Since 1919–20, Caen also participated in the [[Coupe de France]] but fell in round of 32 in 1921 and 1922. In 1929, the two ''Division d'Honneur'' leagues of Normandy were merged and Stade Malherbe was promoted the year after. Its best final standing was 5th in 1933.

In 1934, one year after FC Rouen and Le Havre AC, Stade Malherbe acquired professional status and reached the [[French Division 2]]. The club finished 11th out of 16 for the [[1934–35 French Division 2|first season]], then 6th [[1935–36 French Division 2|in 1936]] and 8th [[1936–37 French Division 2|in 1937]]. But its financial situation deteriorated and Stade Malherbe left D2 in 1938, after four professional seasons.

The club then returned to ''Division d'Honneur'' of [[Normandy]]. It won the last edition before [[World War II]] in 1938–39, and the first two after WW2 in 1946 and 1947.

===An important amateur club (1948–1985)===
In 1948, Stade Malherbe joined the newly founded ''{{Interlanguage link|Championnat de France amateur de football (1948–1970)|fr|3=Championnat de France amateur de football (1948–1970)|lt=Championnat de France amateur|vertical-align=sup}}'', the third level of French football. Soon considered as a "lord" in CFA, Caen was unable to win the championship, unlike their regional rival [[US Quevilly]], despite successive calls to former French international players as coaches: [[Jules Vandooren]], [[Jean Prouff]], [[Andre Grillon]], [[Jean Vincent]] and [[Oliver Celestin]].

Stade Malherbe made itself known essentially by repeated feats in [[Coupe de France]] in the 1950s : French champion [[Stade de Reims]] (2–1) and top teams [[Racing Club de Paris|Racing Club de France]] (3–2) and [[RC Lens]] were defeated in January 1953, [[1955–56 Coupe de France|1956]], and [[1960–61 Coupe de France|1961]]. In [[1957–58 Coupe de France|1958]], Caen pushed [[FC Nantes]] to play five games to decide: the first three games resulting in 0–0 draws, the fourth was stopped, the fifth saw Nantes win 1–0. Through its success Caen won the "Challenge France-Football" rewarding the best amateur team in Coupe de France in 1956 and 1961. Undermined by the instability of its coaches and presidents and a precarious financial health, Stade Malherbe weakened gradually and was relegated twice (in 1962 and 1965) into Division d'Honneur, but regained its place in CFA.

In 1970, the CFA was removed and the Division 2 was enlarged to 48 teams. During the 1970s, Caen evolved between D3 and D2, where it failed to stabilise. [[Jacques Mouilleron]] became coach in 1973. In 1975, the club won its first national title: the West group of Division 3. Stade Malherbe was named best amateur club by [[France-Football]] and Jean-Paul Bouffandeau and Jean-Paul Pottier were named French amateur players of the year in 1975 and 1976. 3 years later, Caen fell back to D3.

[[Pierre Mankowski]] was hired as player-coach in 1983. He led Stade Malherbe from D3 to the top of D2 in a few seasons, and pushed it to adopt [[Professional sport|professional status]] in 1985.

===From D2 to the European Cup (1985–1993)===

SM Caen has been a professional football club since 1985. The stated objective of Mankowski was to bring Caen into the first division. He helped the team improve, first in defence then in attack. Caen finished sixth in D2 in [[1985–86 French Division 2|1986]] and second in [[1986–87 French Division 2|1987]], with notable scorers [[Philippe Prieur]] and [[Éric Pécout]]. Caen made the [[stade de Venoix]] an unbeatable place but bowed out in front of [[AS Cannes]] in the [[playoffs]]. Caen succeeded in the playoffs following season, defeating [[Olympique Lyonnais]] and [[Chamois Niortais F.C.]], relegated from D1.

In 1988 Stade Malherbe made [[Ligue 1|Division 1]]. Despite many departures, including coach Mankowski (replaced by [[Robert Nouzaret]]) and six first losses, Caen stayed up, one point ahead of [[RC Strasbourg]], with the advent of a promising striker [[Fabrice Divert]]. Stade Malherbe confirmed, not without difficulties, its performance the following season.

With a new coach, [[Daniel Jeandupeux]], the team was largely restructured. In 1990–91, Caen took its place in the first half of Division 1, thanks to the excellent results obtained in Venoix. However, the press revealed in late 1991 that the club was close to bankruptcy. Regional businesses and local government bailed out the club, which led to a brilliant 1991–92 season. Stade Malherbe finished fifth and qualified for the first (and so far only) time for the [[UEFA Cup]]. [[Stéphane Paille]] scored 15 goals during the season. For the first round of the [[1992–93 UEFA Cup]], Caen had to face up to [[Real Zaragoza]]. Caen won 3–2 in the 1st leg but lost 2–0 in Spain. Despite the goals of [[Xavier Gravelaine]], SM Caen finished the season in a relatively disappointing eleventh rank.

===Between First and Second Division until relegation to Third Division (1993–2025)===
[[File:Caen-lehavre9495.jpg|thumb | ''[[Tifo]]'' at [[Stade Michel d'Ornano]] for ''Normandy derby'' in 1995.]]
[[File:Finale Coupe de la Ligue 2005.jpg|thumb | [[Coupe de la Ligue]] Final in 2005.]]

In the 2003–04 season, Caen finished 2nd in [[Ligue 2]], gaining promotion to [[Ligue 1]]. They were relegated on the last day of the 2004–05 Ligue 1 season, finishing in 18th place despite some positive results, including a surprise 3–2 away win at [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]]. But the main highlight of their season was making it into the final of the [[Coupe de la Ligue]] for the first time in their history. Their chance at a major trophy eluded them however, as they lost 2–1 to [[RC Strasbourg|Strasbourg]] in the [[2005 Coupe de la Ligue Final|final]].

On 25 May 2007, SM Caen obtained promotion to [[Ligue 1]] after a victory in last game at [[FC Libourne-Saint-Seurin|Libourne]] (1–2). In the 2008–09 season, the team was once again relegated to [[Ligue 2]] after losing 1–0 at home to [[FC Girondins de Bordeaux|Bordeaux]], but won championship next season and thus came back to Ligue 1.

In the 2010–11 season, Caen got off to a highly impressive start by defeating defending champions [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]] 2–1 away on the first day of the season, then following it up with a 3–2 home win over the previous season's [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] semi-finalists [[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]].

In the 2013–14 season, Caen were in Ligue 2, but won promotion to Ligue 1 for the 2014–15 season. As part of their promotion battle, they drew a crucial match with [[Nîmes Olympique|Nîmes]] in May 2014. This 1–1 result was also very favourable to Nîmes who were battling to avoid relegation. This result raised suspicions, and in November 2014, Caen chairman Fortin was arrested, amongst several others, on suspicion of match fixing.<ref>{{cite web|title=Marseille arrests and match-fixing probe rock French football|date=18 November 2014|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20141118-marseille-president-custody-day-scandal-french-football-match-fixing-gignac/|publisher=France 24|access-date=1 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Presidents of two French clubs arrested on match-fixing suspicions|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/nov/18/presidents-of-two-french-clubs-arrested-on-match-fixing-suspicions|work=The Guardian|access-date=1 December 2014}}</ref> Finally, he was cleared in March 2015.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pretot|first1=Julien|title=Nimes to be relegated for attempted match fixing|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/03/17/soccer-france-nimes-idUKL3N0WJ54920150317|access-date=1 December 2015|work=Reuters|date=17 March 2015}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> For the 2016–17 and 2017–18 seasons, Caen avoided relegation to Ligue 2 on both occasions by securing a draw on the final day of the season against Paris Saint-Germain.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/french-ligue-1/story/3504434/ligue-1-memphis-depays-hat-trick-puts-lyon-in-champions-league-troyes-relegated|title=Ligue 1: Depay hat trick sees Lyon into UCL|date=19 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ligue1.com/ligue1/article/rodelin-masterminds-caen-escape.htm |title=Ligue1.com - Rodelin masterminds Caen escape |website=www.ligue1.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523105254/http://www.ligue1.com/ligue1/article/rodelin-masterminds-caen-escape.htm |archive-date=2017-05-23}}</ref>

In the 2018–19 season, Caen were relegated on the final day of the campaign after losing to Bordeaux 1–0. Caen needed to win the match and hope that results elsewhere would go in their favour. The relegation ended Caen's five-year stay in the top division.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ligue1.com/ligue1/article/caen-relegated-after-bordeaux-defeat.htm/|title=Caen relegated after bordeaux defeat|website=Ligue 1|access-date=29 May 2019|archive-date=26 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526165744/https://www.ligue1.com/ligue1/article/caen-relegated-after-bordeaux-defeat.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In September 2024, French star [[Kylian Mbappé]] became the majority owner of the club.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kylian Mbappé Officially Becomes Football Team Owner |url=https://www.beinsports.com/en-us/soccer/ligue-2/articles-video/kylian-mbapp%C3%A9-officially-becomes-football-team-owner-2024-07-31 |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=beIN SPORTS |language=en-us}}</ref>

In December 2024, Josselin Flamand is appointed as a new Managing Director.<ref>{{Cite web |last=afinel@smcaen.fr |date=2024-12-12 |title=Josselin Flamand nouveau Directeur Général du Stade Malherbe |url=https://www.smcaen.fr/2024-2025/actualites/infos-club/josselin-flamand-nouveau-directeur-general-du-stade-malherbe |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=Stade Malherbe Caen |language=fr}}</ref>

On 19 April 2025, Caen suffered relegation to [[Championnat National]] for the next season after defeat to [[FC Martigues]] 0-3 at home, and ended 41 consecutive years in the top 2 divisions.

==Honours==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto;"
!style="color:#ffffff; background:#16529c;"|National
!style="color:#ffffff; background:#16529c;"|Regional, youth, and international
|-valign="top"
|
*'''[[Ligue 1|Championnat de France/Ligue 1]]:'''
::''Best performance:'' 5th ([[1991–92 French Division 1|1991–92]])
*'''[[Ligue 2|Championnat de France de Division 2/Ligue 2]] (2):'''
::''Champion:'' [[1995–96 French Division 2|1995–96]], [[2009–10 Ligue 2|2009–10]]
::''Runners-up:'' 1986–87* (group A), 1987–88* (group B), [[2003–04 Ligue 2|2003–04]]*, [[2006–07 Ligue 2|2006–07]]*
*'''[[Coupe de France]]:'''
::''Best performance:'' Semi-finals ([[2017–18 Coupe de France|2017–18]])
*'''[[Coupe de la Ligue]]:'''
::''Final:'' [[2005 Coupe de la Ligue Final|2004–05]]
*'''Division 3 (2):'''
::''Champion :'' 1975, 1980 (groupe Ouest)
|
*'''[[Normandy]] championship:'''
::''Champion:'' 1939, 1947, 1948, 1963, 1966
*'''[[Lower Normandy]] championship:'''
::''Champion:'' 1914, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1928
*'''[[Coupe Gambardella]]:'''
::''Final:'' 1959, 1994, 2001, 2022
*'''Coupe des Cadets:'''
::''Winner:'' 1973
*'''[[UEFA Intertoto Cup]]:'''
::''Final:'' 1992 (group 6)
|}

''* denotes promotion without winning the championship.''

{{hidden begin
|title = Domestic record
|titlestyle = text-align:center; background:#ccccff;
}}
{| class="wikitable center" style="margin:auto;"
!Year !! Division !! Place !! Played !! Won !! Drawn !! Lost !! G.F. !! G.A. !! G.D. !! Points
|-
! 1934–35
| Second League || 11th || 26 || 9 || 3 || 14 || 61 || 57 || +4 || 21
|-
! 1935–36
| Second League || 6th || 34 || 17 || 5 || 12 || 68 || 57 || +11 || 39
|-
! 1936–37
| Second League || 8th || 32 || 12 || 7 || 13 || 44 || 53 || −9 || 31
|-
! 1937–38
| Second League || 14th || 30 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 23
|-
! 1970–71
| Division 2&nbsp;– B || 15th || 30 || 8 || 6 || 16 || 29 || 46 || −17 || 22
|-
! 1971–72
| Division 2&nbsp;– A || 6th || 30 || 12 || 9 || 9 || 32 || 36 || −4 || 33
|-
! 1972–73
| Division 2&nbsp;– A || 17th || 34 || 8 || 7 || 19 || 37 || 65 || −28 || 23
|-
! 1975–76
| Division 2&nbsp;– A || 6th || 34 || 16 || 8 || 10 || 54 || 48 || +6 || 43
|-
! 1976–77
| Division 2&nbsp;– B || 15th || 34 || 11 || 8 || 15 || 43 || 51 || −8 || 30
|-
! 1977–78
| Division 2&nbsp;– B || 18th || 34 || 6 || 8 || 20 || 29 || 66 || −37 || 20
|-
! 1980–81
| Division 2&nbsp;– B || 18th || 34 || 6 || 10 || 18 || 25 || 58 || −33 || 22
|-
! 1984–85
| Division 2&nbsp;– A || 11th || 34 || 11 || 11 || 12 || 33 || 40 || −7 || 33
|-
! 1985–86
| Division 2&nbsp;– B || 6th || 34 || 14 || 9 || 11 || 33 || 31 || +2 || 37
|-
! 1986–87
| Division 2&nbsp;– A || 2nd || 34 || 21 || 6 || 7 || 62 || 30 || +32 || 48
|-
! 1987–88
| Division 2&nbsp;– B || 2nd || 34 || 20 || 9 || 5 || 54 || 22 || +32 || 49
|-
! 1988–89
| First League || 16th || 38 || 10 || 10 || 18 || 39 || 60 || −21 || 40
|-
! 1989–90
| First League || 16th || 38 || 12 || 10 || 16 || 34 || 48 || −14 || 34
|-
! 1990–91
| First League || 8th || 38 || 13 || 12 || 13 || 38 || 36 || +2 || 38
|-
! 1991–92
| First League || 5th || 38 || 17 || 10 || 11 || 46 || 45 || +1 || 44
|-
! 1992–93
| First League || 11th || 38 || 13 || 9 || 16 || 55 || 54 || +1 || 35
|-
! 1993–94
| First League || 16th || 38 || 12 || 7 || 19 || 29 || 54 || −25 || 31
|-
! 1994–95
| First League || 19th || 38 || 10 || 6 || 22 || 38 || 58 || −20 || 36
|-
! 1995–96
| Second League || 1st || 42 || 24 || 9 || 9 || 59 || 34 || +25 || 81
|-
! 1996–97
| First League || 17th || 38 || 7 || 16 || 15 || 35 || 46 || −11 || 37
|-
! 1997–98
| Second League || 9th || 42 || 15 || 11 || 16 || 61 || 55 || +6 || 56
|-
! 1998–99
| Second League || 5th || 38 || 16 || 11 || 11 || 47 || 39 || +8 || 59
|-
! 1999–00
| Second League || 6th || 38 || 12 || 17 || 9 || 50 || 37 || +13 || 53
|-
! 2000–01
| Second League || 17th || 38 || 11 || 10 || 17 || 38 || 53 || −15 || 43
|-
! 2001–02
| Second League || 6th || 38 || 16 || 10 || 12 || 59 || 55 || +4 || 58
|-
! 2002–03
| Second League || 7th || 38 || 12 || 16 || 10 || 45 || 40 || +5 || 52
|-
! 2003–04
| Second League || 2nd || 38 || 20 || 11 || 7 || 56 || 31 || +25 || 71
|-
! 2004–05
| First League || 18th || 38 || 10 || 12 || 16 || 36 || 60 || −24 || 42
|-
! 2005–06
| Second League || 4th || 38 || 18 || 12 || 8 || 56 || 35 || +21 || 66
|-
! 2006–07
| Second League || 2nd || 38 || 19 || 14 || 5 || 65 || 40 || +25 || 71
|-
! 2007–08
| First League || 11th || 38 || 13 || 12 || 13 || 48 || 53 || −5 || 51
|-
! 2008–09
| First League || 18th || 38 || 8 || 13 || 17 || 42 || 49 || −7 || 37
|-
! 2009–10
| Second League || 1st || 38 || 18 || 15 || 5 || 52 || 30 || +22 || 69
|-
! 2010–11
| First League || 15th || 38 || 11 || 13 || 14 || 46 || 51 || −5 || 46
|-
! 2011–12
| First League || 18th || 38 || 9 || 11 || 18 || 39 || 59 || −20 || 38
|-
! 2012–13
| Second League || 4th || 38 || 17 || 12 || 9 || 48 || 28 || +20 || 63
|-
! 2013–14
| Second League || 3rd || 38 || 18 || 10 || 10 || 65 || 44 || +21 || 64
|-
! [[2014–15 Stade Malherbe Caen season|2014–15]]
| First League || 13th || 38 || 12 || 10 || 16 || 54 || 55 || −1 || 46
|-
! [[2015–16 Stade Malherbe Caen season|2015–16]]
| First League || 7th || 38 || 16 || 6 || 16 || 39 || 52 || −13 || 54
|-
! [[2016–17 Stade Malherbe Caen season|2016–17]]
| First League || 17th || 38 || 10 || 7 || 21 || 36 || 65 || −29 || 37
|-
! [[2017–18 Stade Malherbe Caen season|2017–18]]
| First League || 16th || 38 || 10 || 8 || 20 || 27 || 52 || −25 ||38
|}
{{hidden end}}

==Club crest and colours==
[[Image:Maillots SM Caen.JPG|right|thumb|SM Caen Shirts (1992, 2002 and 2005).]]
Club Malherbe Caennais wore a black and white vertical stripes jersey, while Club Sportif Caennais used blue and red horizontal stripes. Following the merger of two clubs in 1913, the officials decided to mix colours and symbols by adopting the CMC vertical stripes and CSC colours.

Stade Malherbe used the same diamond shaped logo for almost fifty years, designed for its first professional period in 1934.

In 1989, a new logo was designed, with a [[longship]] floating on the waves, a nod to the [[Viking]] origin of [[Normandy]], and three arrows of the city of [[Caen]]. It was used in various versions for eighteen seasons, including within a shield in the 2006–07 season. In 2007, officials presented a new logo.
The new logo reflects the identity of the club, closely linked to the Norman period of [[William the Conqueror]]: the flag of Normandy, which is actually the historical Norman flag of the Two Lions, can be often seen in the Kop Normandy.
In 2013, the official anthem of SM Caen "Normands, fiers et conquérants!" was made with a marked reference to the Norman identity:

:"Représenter la Normandie est un honneur
:Derrière nos léopards nous chanterons en cœur!
:Décrire cette belle région
:Doit se faire à l'unisson
:Nous sommes Normands, fiers et conquérant!
:Portons les couleurs du Stade Malherbe de Caen,
:et c'est à d'Ornano que nous allons chantant
:Nous sommes de la même famille,
:Tous unis à domicile,
:Nous sommes Normands fiers et conquérants!"

:English:
:"Representing Normandy is an honour,
:Backing our leopards, we sing our hearts out!
:Describing this beautiful region
:must be done together
:We are Normans, proud and conquerors!
:We wear the colours of SM Caen
:And we go singing to d'Ornano
:We are from the same family,
:All united at home,
:We are Normans, proud and conquerors!"

{{Gallery
|width=120
|height=120
|title=SM Caen crests
|File:Logo13-30.png|alt1=1913–1930|1913–1930
|File:SM Caen (1980er).svg|alt2=1934–1988|1934–1988
|File:SM Caen.svg|alt5=|2013–2016
}}

==Stadiums==
{{multiple image
 | width     = 120
 | footer    = Caen stadium pictures
 | image1    = Stade venoix.jpg
 | alt1      = Stade Venoix
 | caption1  = Venoix
 | image2    = Vue densemble dornano.JPG
 | alt2      = Stade Michel d'Ornano
 | caption2  = d'Ornano
}}

[[Stade de Venoix]] was the club's home from 1913, although the first stand was built only in 1925, until 1993. Venoix could hold over 15,000 spectators at its peak, and now has a capacity of 5,000.

In 1993 a new 21,500-capacity stadium was built, named [[Stade Michel d'Ornano]]. The new stadium is around 500&nbsp;meters away from the Stade de Venoix.

==Players==
===Current squad===
''As of 7 September 2025.<ref>[https://www.smcaen.fr/effectif/2025-2026/premiere Effectif Caen&nbsp;– Equipe Pro]</ref>''

{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=1|nat=ALG|name=[[Anthony Mandrea]]|pos=GK}}
{{Fs player|no=2|nat=BRA|name=Vinicius Gomes|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=3|nat=FRA|name=[[Diabé Bolumbu]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=5|nat=FRA|name=Belkacem Dali-Amar|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=6|nat=FRA|name=[[Yann M'Vila]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=7|nat=FRA|name=Adama Diakité|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=8|nat=MAD|name=[[Samuel Noireau-Dauriat]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=11|nat=CIV|name=[[Armand Gnanduillet]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=12|nat=CIV|name=Williams Mazié|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=14|nat=FRA|name=[[Lorenzo Rajot]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=16|nat=MTQ|name=[[Yannis Clementia]]|pos=GK}}
{{Fs player|no=17|nat=MTQ|name=[[Ronny Labonne]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=18|nat=FRA|name=[[Valentin Henry]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=19|nat=FRA|name=[[Ivann Botella]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=21|nat=FRA|name=Gabin Tomé|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=22|nat=MAR|name=[[Mohamed Hafid]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=23|nat=FRA|name=[[Leandro Morante]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=24|nat=FRA|name=Léo Milliner|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=25|nat=FRA|name=Zoumana Bagbema|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=26|nat=FRA|name=[[Maxime Etuin]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=27|nat=CIV|name=[[Dieudonné Gaucho Debohi]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=28|nat=MLI|name=Souleymane Sagnan|pos=DF|other=in loan from [[RC Lens|Lens]]}}
{{Fs player|no=30|nat=COD|name=[[Parfait Mandanda]]|pos=GK}}
{{Fs end}}

===Notable former players===
{{For|all SM Caen players with a Wikipedia article|Category:Stade Malherbe Caen players}}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; margin-right:1em; float:left;"
|-
!colspan=3 style="color:#ffffff; background:#16529c;"| Most capped players
|-
!Name
!Matches
!(D1/L1)
|-
![[Nicolas Seube]]
| 477
| 232
|-
![[Anthony Deroin]]
| 395
| 93
|-
![[Yvan Lebourgeois]]
| 391
| 200
|-
![[Jimmy Hebert]]
| 321
| 38
|-
![[Christophe Point]]
| 301
| 172
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; margin-right:1em; float:left;"
|-
!colspan=3 style="color:#ffffff; background:#16529c;"| Top scorers
|-
!Name
!Goals
!(D1/L1)
|-
![[Cyrille Watier]]
| 69
| 9
|-
![[Xavier Gravelaine]]
| 45
| 26
|-
![[Fabrice Divert]]
| 44
| 40
|-
![[Sébastien Mazure]]
| 43
| 13
|-
![[Anthony Deroin]]
| 38
| 9
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; margin-right:1em; float:left;"
|-
!colspan=2 style="color:#ffffff; background:#16529c;"| French internationals
|-
!Name
!Caps
|-
![[Xavier Gravelaine]]
| 3 (1992–93)
|-
![[Fabrice Divert]]
| 1 (1990)
|-
![[Steve Savidan]]
| 1 (2008)
|}{{clear left}}

last update : summer 2010<br />(only D2, D1 and cups matches)

==Coaching & technical staff==

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; float:left; margin-right:1em;"
|-
!  style="color:#ffffff; background:#16529c;"|Position
!  style="color:#ffffff; background:#16529c;"| Name
|-
| Manager ||{{flagicon|ARM}} [[Michel Der Zakarian]]
|-
| Assistant Manager ||{{flagicon|FRA}} David Bechkoura
|-
| Goalkeeping Coach ||{{flagicon|FRA}} Eddy Costil
|-
| Fitness Coach ||{{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Marc Branger
|}{{clear left}}

===Coaching history===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; float:left; margin-right:1em;"
|-
! style="color:#ffffff; background:#16529c;"|Years
! style="color:#ffffff; background:#16529c;"|Coach
|-
|nowrap|1934–35 || [[François Konya]]
|-style="background:#EEE"
|1935–36 || Jean Gast
|-
|1936–38 || [[Maurice Cottenet]]
|-style="background:#EEE"
|1938–44 || Jean Gast
|-
|1944–46 || [[Karoly Mayer]]
|-style="background:#EEE"
|1946–47 || Armand Deruaz
|-
|1947–49 || Charles Carville
|-style="background:#EEE"
|1949–52 || [[Jules Vandooren]]
|-
|1952–53 || [[Jean Prouff]]
|-style="background:#EEE"
|1953–55 || [[Eugène Proust]]
|-
|1955–58 || [[André Grillon]]
|-style="background:#EEE"
|1958–59 || Marcel Leperlier
|-
|1959–61 || Louis Require
|-style="background:#EEE"
|1961–62 || [[Albert Eloy (footballer, born 1927)|Albert Eloy]]
|-
|nowrap|1962–64 || [[Marcel Mouchel]]
|-
|-style="background:#EEE"
|1964–67 || [[Jean Vincent]]
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; float:left; margin-right:1em;"
|-
! style="color:#ffffff; background:#16529c;"|Years
! style="color:#ffffff; background:#16529c;"|Coach
|-
|1967–72 || [[Célestin Oliver]]
|-style="background:#EEE"
|1972–72 || Bernard Lelong
|-
|1972 || Guy Lunel <small>''(interim)''</small>
|-style="background:#EEE"
|1972–73 || [[Émile Rummelhardt]]
|-
|1973–79 || [[Jacques Mouilleron]]
|-style="background:#EEE"
|1979–83 || [[Alain Laurier]]
|-
|1983–88 || [[Pierre Mankowski]]
|-style="background:#EEE"
|1988–89 || [[Robert Nouzaret]]
|-
|1989–94 || [[Daniel Jeandupeux]]
|-style="background:#EEE"
|1994–96 || [[Pierre Mankowski]]
|-
|1996–97 || [[Guy David (footballer)|Guy David]]
|-style="background:#EEE"
|nowrap|1997 || [[Gabriel Calderon]]
|-
|1997 || [[Daniel Jeandupeux]] <small>''(interim)''</small>
|-style="background:#EEE"
|1997–2000 || [[Pascal Théault]]
|-
|2000 || [[Christophe Desbouillons]] <small>''(interim)''</small>
|-style="background:#EEE"
|2000–01 || [[Jean-Louis Gasset]]
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; float:left; margin-right:1em;"
|-
! style="color:#ffffff; background:#16529c;"|Years
! style="color:#ffffff; background:#16529c;"|Coach
|-
|2001–02 || [[Hervé Gauthier]]
|-style="background:#EEE"
|2002–05 || [[Patrick Remy (footballer)|Patrick Remy]]
|-
|2005 || [[Franck Dumas]] <small>''(interim)''</small>
|-style="background:#EEE"
|2005–09 || {{nowrap|[[Franck Dumas]] & [[Patrick Parizon]]}}
|-
|2009–12 || {{nowrap|[[Franck Dumas]] & [[Patrice Garande]]}}
|-style="background:#EEE"
|2012–18 || [[Patrice Garande]]
|-
|2018–19 || [[Fabien Mercadal]]
|-style="background:#EEE"
|2019 || [[Rui Almeida]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foot-national.com/foot-caen-le-nouveau-coach-nomme-off-118932.html|title=Caen : Le nouveau coach nommé (off)|publisher=foot-national.com|language=fr|date=9 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foot-national.com/foot-caen-rui-almeida-suspendu-de-ses-fonctions-123133.html|title=Caen : Rui Almeida suspendu de ses fonctions|publisher=foot-national.com|language=fr|date=28 September 2019}}</ref>
|-
|2019–21 || [[Pascal Dupraz]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foot-national.com/foot-caen-pascal-dupraz-nouvel-entraineur-off-123225.html|title=Caen : Pascal Dupraz nouvel entraîneur (off)|publisher=foot-national.com|language=fr|date=1 October 2019}}</ref>
|-style="background:#EEE"
|2021
|[[Fabrice Vandeputte]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=|date=2021-03-23|title=Départ de Pascal Dupraz du Stade Malherbe Caen|url=https://www.smcaen.fr/2020-2021/actualites/infos-club/depart-de-pascal-dupraz-du-stade-malherbe-caen|access-date=2021-03-23|website=Stade Malherbe Caen|language=fr}}</ref>
|-
|2021–23
|[[Stéphane Moulin]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foot-national.com/ligue-2/caen-stephane-moulin-nouvel-entraineur-off-634565|title=Caen : Stéphane Moulin nouvel entraîneur (off)|publisher=foot-national.com|language=fr|date=4 June 2021}}</ref>
|-style="background:#EEE"
|2023
|[[Jean-Marc Furlan]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2023/official-jean-marc-furlan-appointed-caen-manager/|title=Official {{!}} Jean-Marc Furlan Appointed Caen Manager |publisher=getfootballnewsfrance.com|language=en|date=14 June 2023}}</ref>
|-
|2023–24
|[[Nicolas Seube]]
|-style="background:#EEE"
|2024–25
|[[Bruno Baltazar]]
|-
|2025–''present''
|[[Michel Der Zakarian]]
|}
{{clear left}}

== European record ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
!Season
!Competition
!Round
!Club
!Home
!Away
!Aggregate
!
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[1992 Intertoto Cup|1992]]
| rowspan="3" |[[1992 Intertoto Cup|UEFA Intertoto Cup]]
| rowspan="3" |[[1992 Intertoto Cup#Group 6|Group stage]]
|{{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Lyngby Boldklub|Lyngby BK]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;" |1–0
| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;" |1–2
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |'''2nd'''
| rowspan="3" |
|-
|{{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[RKC Waalwijk]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;" |2–0
| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;" |0–1
|-
|{{flagicon|Germany}} [[FC Schalke 04|Schalke 04]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffd;" |1–1
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffd;" |1–1
|-
| [[1992–93 UEFA Cup|1992–93]]
| [[UEFA Cup]]
| [[1992–93 UEFA Cup#First Round|First Round]]
| {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Real Zaragoza]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;"| 3–2
| style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"| 0–2
| style="text-align:center;"| '''3–4'''
| [[File:Symbol delete vote.svg|17px]]
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{commons category}}

{{Stade Malherbe Caen}}
{{Ligue 2 teamlist}}
{{Championnat National 3 Group F}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Stade Malherbe Caen| ]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1913]]
[[Category:Sport in Caen]]
[[Category:1913 establishments in France]]
[[Category:Football clubs in France|Caen]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Normandy|Caen]]
[[Category:Ligue 1 clubs]]
[[Category:2024 mergers and acquisitions]]