"Cannes is Not PSG": How the Ligue 3 Promoted Side, Backed by Everton and Roma Owners, Plans Its Professional Football Return
Published on: August 1, 2026
Two years after being acquired by the Friedkin Group—the American owners behind Serie A giants AS Roma and Premier League side Everton—AS Cannes is officially making its long-awaited return to professional football. Competing this summer in the National division, newly rebranded as Ligue 3, the club is embarking on a highly anticipated campaign. While maintaining their position remains the only official objective, a meticulous, long-term project is silently taking shape in the background.
Tempering Expectations: A Measured Approach to Growth
With heavy financial backing and high-profile ownership, outside observers might expect AS Cannes to splash cash in the manner of top-tier giants. However, the club’s leadership is determined to keep feet firmly on the ground. The guiding mantra surrounding their return is clear: "Il ne faut pas croire que Cannes c'est le PSG" (We must not think Cannes is PSG).
Instead of chasing headline-grabbing, expensive transfers, the management is focusing on structural stability and sustainable recruitment. For a club that has spent years fighting its way back to the professional ranks, survival in Ligue 3 is the essential foundation upon which everything else must be built.
AS Cannes Project Profile
- Ownership: The Friedkin Group (also owners of Everton & AS Roma)
- Sporting Director: Djamal Mohamed
- Head Coach: Mathieu Chabert
- Current Division: Ligue 3 (National)
- Primary Target: Secure safety in Ligue 3 with long-term eyes on Ligue 2
The Architects of the Return: Chabert and Mohamed
The sporting direction of this ambitious project lies in the capable hands of Sporting Director Djamal Mohamed and Head Coach Mathieu Chabert. Together, they have forged a synergy that led the club to promotion in May, triggering passionate celebrations on the French Riviera.
Chabert, who brings valuable experience in navigating the demanding landscapes of French lower-tier football, is working closely with Mohamed to ensure the squad is built for the physical and tactical rigors of Ligue 3. While avoiding reckless spending, the duo has spent the summer window identifying profiles that offer both resilience and room for growth, aligning perfectly with the Friedkin Group’s broader sporting philosophy.
Looking to the Horizon: The Road to Ligue 2
While staying up is the undisputed priority for the upcoming campaign, nobody inside the club is hiding the ultimate ambition. Behind the scenes, the blueprints are already being drawn to eventually guide AS Cannes back to Ligue 2 and re-establish the club as a mainstay of French professional football.
By prioritizing patience, structural integrity, and clever sporting decisions over ostentatious spending, AS Cannes is proving that even under billionaire ownership, the smartest way to climb the ladder is one solid step at a time.
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