This is one of the striking statistics for the year 2025 in Troyes (Aube): over the calendar year, that is to say the second part of the 2024–2025 season and the first part of the 2025–2026 season, Estac went from 12th place to the head of Ligue 2, a championship that it currently continues to dominate.
A hell of a performance as the Trojan club almost went down to the National at the end of spring 2024, before being miraculously picked up following the administrative relegation of Bordeaux. “We didn’t necessarily realize it too much because it’s a calendar year, straddling two seasons,” explains Trojan coach Stéphane Dumont.
“There are players who arrive and who leave, there are different dynamics, but it is certain that the year 2025 as a whole was of high quality. It was also built through hard work at the start, we must not forget that. We’re happy with that… but what matters is what’s next and we’re already focused on that. »
Alongside the Trojan coach and the professional team, the executive president of Estac, Edwin Pindi, presented his wishes this Wednesday, January 13 in front of a large audience of VIPs gathered at the Aube stadium. “We had to refuse people,” one member of the club almost rejoices. An unexpected situation as the divorce previously seemed complete between the Trojan public and the satellite club of the City Football Group (Manchester City).
Smart recruitment and sporting performance
Forgotten the haphazard recruitments made by staff and players, forgotten the disastrous performances and results… In place for a year and a half, the trio composed of Edwin Pindi, sports director Antoine Sibierski and coach Stéphane Dumont has transformed the face of the Trojan club by reconciling smart recruitment, sporting performances and highlighting the club’s young people, while making structural savings.
“In the economic context of French professional football, having a club which has a project, which has real dynamics, is not very common either,” breathes Edwin Pindi. If the face of the first team has evolved considerably, the fundamentals of the City Football Group project have not evolved around youth training.
They have even made a lot of progress, notably with the title of French Champion for the U17 team, but also the recent progress of the life center project. Expected in Rouilly-Saint-Loup (Aube), near Troyes, in 2028, it must bring together young people from the training center, the professional team and administrative staff on a single site.
Room for young players
“There will be further progress this year. We really want to get together,” says Edwin Pindi. At the same time, more and more young people are finding their place among the pros. “On a Coupe de France match in Tours (against UF Touraine, Editor’s note), half of the squad was made up of players who came from the training center… This is not nothing,” greets the president.
Advances which are increasingly attractive, even if many Estac aficionados are still wary of the sporting ambitions of the City Football Group in the longer term. At mid-season, the average attendance at the Aube stadium jumped 46% compared to the same time last year, going from 4,773 to 6,970 spectators, on the heels of successful festivities for the 125th anniversary of Trojan football.
According to the LFP, Troyes ranks 3rd on the criterion of audience progression in Ligue 2. “There were 13,500 people against Saint-Etienne and we are already at 10,000 people for the next match against Reims (this Saturday January 17, Editor’s note). So, we hope to welcome 12,000, 13,000, maybe 14,000 people,” Edwin Pindi projects.
The taboo of Ligue 1
The Trojan president would like this dynamic to accelerate to accompany the very good results of the first team. “We’re always a little disappointed sometimes, because we really want this stadium to be even better, and I’m sure we can do even better. But nevertheless, we are progressing,” he explains.
The captain of Estac, Adrien Monfray, agrees: “The fact that the stadium is full, that there is enthusiasm around the team, it is something which is important for us and which pushes us”. The second part of the season could allow the Aube stadium to be filled a little more, with a good showing in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France on February 4 against Lens (Ligue 1), and some good high-stakes matches in Ligue 2 for an attractive Trojan team.
“Beyond the sporting qualities and what we are capable of doing in terms of game plan, there is a team that fights on every ball and gives the best of itself,” indicates Trojan coach Stéphane Dumont. “Everything is focused on the collective and that is what will continue to take precedence over this second part of the season. »
Until moving up to Ligue 1? The word remains taboo, out of modesty rather than lack of ambition. “What we can hope for for 2026 is to really have fun together,” smiles President Edwin Pindi. For his part, coach Stéphane Dumont is a little more verbose: “Apart from two seriously injured people who are struggling but who are doing an incredible job to come back (Lemaitre and Gozzi), we have all our strengths. We feel that today in terms of daily energy… it’s much better to be all together. With the human and footballing qualities we have, I think we will do cool things. »
If the players necessarily have an eye on the rankings, it is not yet time to reveal themselves. “Honestly, we want to win every match. We refuse defeat. I think it’s the best way to finish as high as possible,” concludes captain Adrien Monfray simply.
