Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace begins a six‑week pre‑season for its women’s side

On Thursday, July 9, Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace kicked off the first training session of the season for the Racingwomen, overseen by Sylvain Carric. The squad already includes ten retained players and ten new signings, ready for five friendly matches before the League Cup. Meanwhile, the men’s side sits 8th in Ligue 1 with 53 points, 15 wins, 8 draws and 11 losses, scoring 58 goals and conceding 47 (+11 goal difference).

Who makes up the squad this season?

Familiar faces include Manon Wahl, Mégane Hoeltzel, Laurine Hannequin, Elise Bonet, Grace Kazadi, Bruna Lourenço, Amber Barrett, Célia Bensalem, Ana‑Maria Crnogorcevic and Manssita Traoré. They are joined by ten newcomers, among them German midfielder Kristin Kögel (from Bayer Leverkusen) announced on May 14, as well as Laëtitia Philippe, Marion Haelewynd, Léa Declercq, Luisa Guttenberger, Emmi Siren, Marion Martins, Natalia Wrobel, Viktoria Pinther and Emilie Byrnak. Four of them already have international caps, adding depth to the bench.

Why is this preparation crucial for the season?

Six weeks of intensive work, punctuated by five friendly fixtures, allow the coaching staff to test Vincent Nogueira’s tactical setups – he has held a BEPF licence since late June. The schedule includes a first official test against Bourges (Division 2) on August 22 in the League Cup. This phase gives the team a chance to build chemistry between old and new players before the league campaign begins.

What are the next challenges?

After the Bourges match, the program lines up further games against National 2 and Division 1 Féminine sides to gauge the squad’s level. Sylvain Carric, the new manager of the women’s section, will closely monitor each player’s progress, especially the internationals who must adapt quickly to French play. The ultimate aim remains a top‑table finish in Division 1 Féminine and a solid run in the League Cup.

How does this affect Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace overall?

Success of the women’s team boosts the club’s profile in the Grand Est region and attracts more local sponsors. At the same time, the men’s first team continues to chase European spots, sitting 23 points behind leaders Paris Saint‑Germain. A strong women’s performance can create a positive ripple effect on fan engagement and club revenues.