JustFocus is now interested in the Estac football club which means Espérance Sportive Troyes Aube Champagne. This focus on this team is not a coincidence, several elements attract our curiosity. First of all, it is an important club in professional French football, with only one relegation to National 1 since the 1996-1997 season. In addition, it is a team that has been breathing football for many years, with a game very focused on the passing game, hence one of the slogans of the club "go before the best". Finally, Estac is talking about him at the moment with its purchase by the group owner of Manchester City, but also by its excellent season in Ligue 2, with a first place after 32 days.
The history of the club
According to the facts, the "Blues" are one of the oldest clubs in France. In the 1900s, Troyes had the idea to name the club "Union Sportive Troyenne". For 31 years, the team existed without professional status. In 1935, the team was credited to Ligue 2. In 1956, ASTS was runner-up in the France Cup. And, in 1965, the club ceased operations. For two years, the club no longer had a football team. Then, the "Troyes Aube Football" called the TAF is created in 1970. The club was able to hold a place among the elite from 1973 until 1978. Nevertheless, it was not until 1986 that the Estac club (formerly ATAC), was founded by Maurice Cacciaguerra. It is therefore the third professional football club in Trojan. Its iconic stadium is the Stadium of Dawn built in 1924, with a capacity of 20,400 spectators. It should be noted that this is the first stadium to adopt AirFibr hybrid lawn technology. A technology particularly present at the Stade Vélédrome, the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard and the Real Madrid training stadium. 
Estac: a team that breathes football
When we think of Estac, we inevitably think of its tactical approach based on the passing game. The Trojan club never refuses football, and always tries, regardless of the team in front of it, to set up its game, like the "tiki-taka" of Pep Guardiola. And this is not new! Indeed, it is the emblematic coach of the club Alain Perrin who is at the initiative of this system of play in the 2000s. This also corresponds to the great hours of the club between 1999 and 2002. It was also at this time that the club changed its name to Estac. And, 21 years later, Troyes found a football club among the elite during the 1999-2000 season. The stars of the club at the time were Rafik Saïfi, Mohamed Bradja, Sladjan Djukic, Jérôme Rothen or the prodigious Mamadou Niang that we all know. The 2000-2001 season is a great success for the club which aimed to maintain at the time and which finishes 7th in Division 1 and thus qualifies for the first European Cup in its history. At the beginning of the 2001-2002 season, Estac won the Intertoto Cup after a double confrontation full of emotions against the mythical English club Newcastle. This allowed them to play in the UEFA Cup that season. In the second round, the Trojans faced Leeds United, recent Champions League semi-finalists and Premier League leaders at this point in the season. After a 4-2 defeat at the English, Estac will achieve the most significant match in the history of the club. Despite a 3-2 victory with an impressive level of play, the Trojans are eliminated and came very close to an incredible feat. At the end of this season, with once again a seventh place in the first division, Alain Perrin decided to leave the club. This season is also marked by the arrival at the club of Benjamin Nivet, considered the greatest legend of the club. The latter is the most capped player with 430 games and the top scorer with 84 goals.
A club with ambitions for the future
Since September, the City Football Group, owner of Manchester City has bought the Trojan club. ESTAC is thus the group's 10thacquisition. This acquisition turns the page of 11 years under the Daniel Masoni era. The new president is Simon Cliff. Estac will now have financial resources that are probably greater than before. This is beneficial for the club, which wants to move up to Ligue 1 and thus maintain itself over several seasons. Indeed, one of the objectives of this acquisition is to allow the club to develop in the elite of French football. Currently, Laurent Batlles' players are first in the Ligue 2 ranking ahead of Toulouse and Grenoble. There are therefore 6 days left at the Aube club to validate its rise in Ligue 1. The Trojans also have in mind to win the Ligue 2 championship, like the 2015 season. It would reward their fabulous season from a football point of view and also in terms of points. Estac dominated this championship and undoubtedly produced the most enjoyable game. 
