5) Montpellier – Ligue 1 champions 2011/12
Olivier Giroud might be struggling this season, but 4 years ago he was considered a hero in France. Montpellier were promoted to Ligue 1 in 2009 and their budget was not a very lavish one.
They still managed to finish 5th in their debut season. The club only went from strength to strength building steadily, by grooming youngsters and making smart signings. Paris Saint-Germain on the other hand, were acquired by a billionaire owner and spent huge amounts of money to buy the world’s best.
So in 2011, everyone expected PSG to stroll to the Ligue 1 title, but it wasn’t to be. The small club from the south of France finished top of the French Ligue with 82 points, just 3 ahead of PSG, winning the title on the final day of the season.
The club’s triumph was unexpected, leaving cash-rich PSG frustrated. It was a night their manager Rene Girard would never forget. It was one of the first signs in the modern game that proved you don’t need financial power to succeed when hard work and determination can serve as a perfect replacement.
