Last modified: 2024-04-27 by olivier touzeau
Keywords: stade malherbe caen |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
See also:
Flag of MNK 96 - Image by Ivan Sache, 20 February 2016
SM Caen (website) was established in Caen on 17 November 1913, as the merger of the Club Malherbe Caennais (originally established in 1892, as Club Malherbe, in the secondary school named for the classical poet Franois Malherbe [c. 1555-1628]) and of the Club Sportif Caennais (originally established in 1899). The new club adopted the the epithet of the Club Malherbe Caennais and the colours of the Club Sportif Caennais, red and blue.
SM Caennais adopted the professional status in 1933, soon dropped in 1938. Captained by Claude Mercier (d. 2014), the SM Caen contributed to the legend of the French Cup, defeating Stade de Reims in 1953 (last 64, 2-1) and the Racing Club de Paris in 1956 (last 64, 3-2). In 1957-1958 (last 64), a series of five games was required decide between SM Caen and FC Nantes: 15 December 1957, 1-1; 22 December 1957, 0-0; 29 December 1957, 0-0; 5 January 1958, game stopped by a thunderstorm; 12 January 1958, Nantes winning 1-0. The "accursed game" totally disorganized the regular championships and prompted the adoption of the penalty shoot-out system to decide matches still level after extra-time.
Back to the Second League in 1983, SM Caen readopted the professional status in 1985. The club was promoted to the First League in 1988, starting the season with a row of six defeats and eventually escaping relegation on the last day. SM Caen finished 5th in 1992, its best result ever and lost in the first round of the UEFA Cup against Real Zaragoza (3-2; 0-2).
SM Caen contributed three players to the French national team, Xavier Gravelaine (4 caps in 1992 & 1993; elected SM Caen's Player of the Century in 2013), Fabrice Divert (3; 1990 & 1992), and Steve Savidan (1, 2008).
The flag used by the supporter's club of SM Caen (MNK 96 - Malherbe Normandy Kop 96) is vertically divided red-blue with the club's emblem in the middle (photo).
The emblem of SM Caen, adopted on 5 January 2013, is vertically divided blue-red, with the foundation's year, "1913", in white [in golden yellow on the self-standing emblem], and a blue scroll inscribed with the club's name, in white letters.
Ivan Sache, 20 February 2016
More supporters' flags
Suppoters' flags of Stade Malherbe Caen - Images by Ivan Sache, 21 May 2022
More supporters' flags have benn observed: blue with a red cross (photo), vertically divided red-blue (photo), horizontally divided red-blue-red-blue (photo), blue with an horizontal red stripe in the center charged with two yellow leopards (photo).
Ivan Sache, 21 May 2022