Montpellier

Montpellier HSC Féminines is one of the most historically significant clubs in French women's football, founded in 1990 as Montpellier-Le-Crès through the merger of Racing Club de Paillade and Entente Cressoise. The women's section joined Montpellier HSC in 2001 and quickly became a powerhouse, winning back-to-back Division 1 Féminine titles in 2004 and 2005 under coach Daniel Rey and adding three Challenge de France trophies in 2006, 2007, and 2009. For a period in the mid-2000s, Montpellier were the dominant force in French women's football before Lyon's sustained era of supremacy. In a significant structural change, Crux Football — a newly established women-centric multi-club investment group — acquired 100% ownership of Montpellier HSC Féminines in October 2025, separating the women's section from the parent club and making it an independent entity. This move signals a new chapter for the club, with dedicated investment and strategy focused solely on the women's programme. Montpellier play their home matches at the Stade Joseph-Blanc in Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone, a 1,000-capacity ground near the Mediterranean coast. The club has experienced more challenging seasons in recent years as the Première Ligue has become increasingly competitive, but Montpellier's pedigree as two-time champions and their new ownership structure offer hope for a return to the upper echelons of French women's football.