Football: From the Palme d'Or to National 2, how Hollywood producers are bringing AS Cannes back to life

No need for a red carpet for a gala evening, even in Cannes. It's party night on the Croisette, Tuesday, February 25, but nothing to do with the cinema. The red carpet is at the Pierre-de-Coubertin stadium, where AS Cannes (N2) hosts En Avant Guingamp (L2) in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France.

An event for this historic French football club, finalist of the first French championship in 1933, winner of the Cup in 1932, but disappeared from the radar for twenty years after 69 years of professionalism, including 22 seasons in Ligue 1.

"It warms my heart to see them there," appreciates Luis Fernandez, who spent five years at the club as a player and then as a coach. "I am sad that they have fallen so low. They are far from their glorious past. Cannes' place is in the professional world," adds the man who notably wore this jersey alongside the young Zinédine Zidane, before launching another 1998 world champion as a professional, Patrick Vieira.

Because AS Cannes was also a reference training center, which notably shaped another former renowned playmaker: Johan Micoud. A whole legacy that an American family, from Hollywood, wants to bring back to the forefront.

On the Croisette, the magic of cinema is never far away. For two years, it has even befallen the city's football club, which lost its professional status in 2004, before going into receivership in 2014. A slow agony, before the beginning of a fairy tale. Because, in June 2023, after having discussed with 80 potential buyers, the city of Cannes left the club in the hands of the Friedkin group, owned by Dan Friedkin, 391st richest person in the world according to Forbes .

A magnate in automobile distribution and luxury hotels, but also in aviation, this American billionaire fell in love with the city of Cannes through another of his sectors of activity: cinema. Since 2017, this Hollywood producer has participated in the production of five Palmes d'Or: The Square (2017), Parasite (2019), Titane (2021), Triangle of Sadness (2022) and Anatomie d'une chute (2023).

"Cannes and this part of France have always held a special place in our hearts," assured Ryan Friedkin, son of Dan, when the American family took over AS Cannes in June 2023. "For the fans, know that our ambitions are very serious. If you followed what we did in Rome, we have high ambitions," he added. Because before taking over the Côte d'Azur club, the Friedkin Group bought AS Roma in 2020, before getting its hands on Everton, in the Premier League, in December 2024.

"The Friedkins are extremely professional and have succeeded in the world of sport with AS Roma. They are in love with Cannes in different ways, and the purchase of the football club proves their attachment to the city," summarizes Nicolas Gorjux, first deputy mayor, who oversaw the sale of the club with one objective: to find ambitious but serious buyers. Which seems to be the Friedkin Group, very discreet since its arrival on the Croisette.

As discreet as the Friedkin Group may be, AS Cannes finds itself in the spotlight for its quarter-final of the Coupe de France against Guingamp. A spotlight that the new leaders hope to regain sustainably in the long term, with a return to the professional world targeted within four years, but without rushing things.

"Ryan and Corbin, the two sons, took over the club in the summer of 2023. This was followed by an observation and operation of the club which had just moved up from N3 to N2. Then, they began a recruitment process", recalls Félicien Laborde, appointed general manager of the club in January 2024, after having held the same position at Le Mans and especially at AS Monaco.

"It's a five-year project with promotion to Ligue 2 as the objective. Corbin and Ryan Friedkin know football. They choose local people in whom they believe to structure the club stone by stone, before talking about performance."

Félicien Laborde, general manager of AS Cannes

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Despite Dan Friedkin's thick wallet, AS Cannes wants to be cautious and realistic: "Moving back to Ligue 2 by 2029 first requires moving back up to N1 as quickly as possible ," says Félicien Laborde. "This first step is the most difficult. Then, we will launch a new three-year cycle to try to go even higher, but that takes time."

The town hall is following the project closely. "We have less financial commitment, but we are working hand in hand with the club owners, particularly for the development of infrastructure. We remain very active with young people, the women's section, and we hope for the reopening of the training center," explains Nicolas Gorjux.