Sport
The greatest Monaco XI of all time
It’s almost unheard for an entire nation to play in another domestic league yet this is what AS Monaco has done for an entire century. Since they were founded in 1918, Monaco have been a top side in French football showcasing that the Principality aren’t there to make up the numbers. They have proven this by winning the Ligue 1 title on 8 occasions during several different eras. Alongside their numerous domestic titles, they have come close to success in Europe too reaching the 2004 Champions League final where they lost 3-0 to Porto. No matter what era they have shone in, players from across the world have shone at the Stade Louis II in the bright lines of the Principality. So just who makes the greatest Monaco XI of all time?
GK: Jean-Luc Ettori
For Monaco fans, few players have served the club quite like Jean-Luc Ettori. The perennial goalkeeper was their no.1 goalkeeper for over twenty years debuting in 1974 and retiring in 1994. During this time, he stuck with Monaco and was a pillar of consistency no matter who they came up against. This presence was a crucial part in Monaco winning three Ligue 1 trophies in 1978, 1982 and 1988 as well as 3 French Cup victories. His long career was almost unparalleled at the time setting a record for most Ligue 1 appearances with 602 games in the top flight. The record was eventually toppled in 2013 by Mickael Landreau but no-one has come close to matching that in a Monaco shift. His efforts were recognised further in 1994 where he was awarded the French National Order of Merit for his contributions to the game.
RB: Manuel Amoros
A surging and powerful full back, Manuel Amoros was a defensive star that could be placed on either side of the defence. However, most of his best form came in the right-back role where he was unmatched by almost any other player in Europe. He underlined these credentials with Monaco throughout the 1980s where he was an ever-present squad member in both the 1982 and 1988 Ligue 1 title wins. He was also a star for France in both the 1982 and 1986 World Cup where he was named in the FIFA XI for the latter tournament. It was a combination of form for both club and country where he was named French Footballer of the Year in 1986. Amoros remained with Monaco until 1989 when he left to join rivals Marseille where he remained until retiring in 1996.
LB: Patrice Evra
Patrice Evra might have become a star in England with Manchester United but it was with Monaco where he really burst into life. After showcasing his potential with Nice in the early 2000s, Evra moved to Monaco in 2002 and quickly took the league by storm, Evra’s pace and creative eye added an extra edge to his game that most other defenders lacked at the time. It was these skills that made Evra a key member of the squad that reached the 2004 Champions League final and also win the 2003 French League Cup. Evra’s consistent performances saw him win plenty of accolades in France including 2004 Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year and also earn a Ligue 1 Team of the Year nomination. After 163 games for the club, Evra left to join Manchester United in 2005 and add more trophies to his then-rising career.
CB: Kamil Glik
When it comes to influence and control, few defenders could manage a backline quite like Kamil Glik. The Pole not only had deceptive pace but was almost unbeatable in the air neutralising any crosses that came his way. Glik moved to Monaco in 2016 from Torino and settled into the squad straight away. His composure and understanding made him a leader in the backline and a key component in the Monaco squad that won the 2016-17 Ligue 1 title. It was during this season that Glik was also named in the 2016-17 Ligue 1 Team of the Year showcasing his contributions to the squad. Glik would remain a key part of the Monaco team for several years to come making 167 appearances for the side before leaving to join Italian side Benevento in 2020.
CB: Francois Ludo
During the earlier days of Monaco’s existence, they gained a reputation for becoming a difficult side to breakdown. Much of this was down to the efforts of stalwarts such as Francois Ludo. Playing for Monaco from 1951-1962, Ludo was the anchor for the squad that was pushing to finally win their first major trophy. They would achieve these feats during Ludo’s time at the club winning their first trophy by securing the 1960 French Cup trophy. More success followed shortly after as Monaco won the 1960-61 Ligue 1 title underlining their place at the top of French football. Ludo would end things at the top retiring from the club in 1962 after 326 appearances for the side in all competitions.
CM: Claude Puel
Before going on to be a top manager in the modern game, Claude Puel was a man who spent his life competing for everything in the middle of the park. Staying as the anchor midfielder, Puel spent his entire career at Monaco debuting in 1979 and retiring in 1996. Whilst playing with Monaco, he would be part of a squad that won two Ligue 1 titles as well as 3 French Cup trophies during his time with the club. After making over 500 appearances for Monaco, he would retire in 1996 from the game completely. Puel would go on to enjoy more success with Monaco as he would guide them to the 1999/2000 Ligue 1 title as their manager before going on to manage sides in both France and England.
CM: Jean Petit
There are few players for Monaco who gave as much effort to the club as what Jean Petit has. Able to make dashing runs from midfield, Jean Petit was able to drive play forward as well as score chances when the opportunity presented itself. Petit spent 14 years with the side and was a perennial part that won the 1978 and 1982 Ligue 1 titles. Petit’s figures still impress to this day having scored 78 goals in 428 games for the club. Petit went to go on and several spells behind the scenes at the club including two roles as a caretaker manager and being a long-time assistant coach at the club.
CM: Emmanuel Petit
With his iconic ponytail, Emmanuel Petit may not have been taken serious but he was a deadly footballer with the ball at his feet. From the middle of the park, Petit could play exquisite passes from any angle and also whip in deadly set-pieces. He showcased all of these skills when rising through the ranks at Monaco throughout the early 1990s. His skills were a big part of what helped Monaco win the 1996-97 Ligue 1 title and put him on the radar of big teams across Europe. This indeed happened in 1997 when Petit left Monaco to join English side Arsenal. Having plated over 200 games for the club, Petit remains a beloved part of the club to this very day.
FW: Wissam Ben Yedder
When it comes to modern day strikers, few have been as potent and lethal for Monaco than Wissam Ben Yedder. With excellent touch and the ability to lash home from any part of the pitch, Ben Yedder was already an established star when he joined from Sevilla in 2019. Since then, he has been scoring for fun when leading the line for Monaco. This has included back-to-back 20 goal seasons for the club with a career-best 25 goals in 37 games. In just 4 seasons with the club, he has notched over 80 goals and already in their top 5 league scorers of all time. A true sign of an apex predator in the box.
FW: Lucien Cossou
When it came to securing early successes for Monaco, they would always rely on Lucien Cossou to get the key goals when it mattered. Starring for the side between 1959 and 1965, Cossou was one of the top strikers in French football. He proved this during the 1962-63 season where he scored 28 goals to help Monaco secure the title that season. Cossou won two league titles with Monaco as well as 2 French Cup titles before leaving the club to join Toulon in 1965.
FW: Dello Onnis
There have been few strikers in French football that have the scoring record quite like Dello Onnis. The Argentine striker had a strong record for Reims before he joined Monaco but it was with Monaco where he took the league by storm. During seven seasons with the club, Onnis average over 25 goals a season and his 29 goals in the 1977-78 season helped Moanco win the Ligue 1 title that year. He would also bag a goal in the 1980 French Cup win scoring the final goal in the 3-1 win over Orleans. Onnis would leave in 1980 to join Tours and go on to score 299 goals in Ligue 1 – a record that stands to this day. A true legend of French football.
