FC Rouen

FC Rouen
FC Rouen logo
Full nameFootball Club de Rouen 1899
Nickname(s)Les Diables Rouges (The Red Devils)
Founded1899; 125 years ago (1899)
GroundStade Robert Diochon,
Rouen
Capacity12,018
PresidentIwan Postel
Head CoachMaxime D'Ornano
LeagueChampionnat National
2023–24Championnat National, 7th of 20
Websitehttp://www.fcrouen.fr/

Football Club de Rouen 1899 (French pronunciation: [ʁwɑ̃]; commonly referred to as simply FC Rouen) is a French association football club based in Rouen, Normandy. The club was formed in 1899 and currently plays in Championnat National, the third level of French football. Rouen played its home matches at the Stade Robert Diochon; named after Robert Diochon, a historic player who was influential during the club's infancy. Rouen is known as Les Diables Rouges (The Red Devils) and have been since 1903.

Rouen's football division was founded in 1899, but the club itself was founded in 1896 as a rugby club. The club achieved professional status in 1933 and have spent 19 seasons in the first division of French football and 36 in the second division. Rouen's highest honour to date was winning the second division in 1936. In 1940 and 1945, the club won the league championship of France, however, due to the league being run during World War II and not under French Football Federation authority, the titles are unofficial. Rouen have also reached European level, competing in the 1969–70 edition of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, where the team was defeated by the eventual champions Arsenal 1–0 on aggregate in the third round.

In addition to Robert Diochon, Rouen have produced a host of players who contributed to the France national team during the team's early years. Edmond Delfour made 41 appearances with the national team from 1929 to 1938 and participated in three FIFA World Cups 1930, 1934 and 1938. He is one of five players to have appeared in all three of the pre-war World Cups. Delfour later went on to manage Rouen from 1940 to 1945 during the unofficial wartime championships. Jean Nicolas spent his entire career with Rouen and appeared in 25 matches, scoring 21 goals with the national team from 1933 to 1938. In the present day, Nicolas' goal output with the team ranks for tenth all-time and his average places him in a tie for third.