Stade Malherbe Caen (SM Caen) — 2016/17 season overview

• Club name: Stade Malherbe Caen (commonly "Caen")
• Country: France
• Head coach / Manager: Patrice Garande
• Season: 2016/17

Competition performance (2016/17)

• Ligue 1: Caen finished 17th in the 2016/17 Ligue 1 season, narrowly avoiding relegation.
• Coupe de France: Eliminated in the round of 32.
• Coupe de la Ligue: Eliminated in early rounds (did not advance to late stages).

Managerial notes

• Patrice Garande was the head coach throughout the 2016/17 season. He had taken charge of Caen in 2012 and led the club through promotion and consolidation in Ligue 1.
• Garande’s teams were typically organized defensively with emphasis on team spirit and set-pieces; the 2016/17 campaign involved a relegation battle the club ultimately survived.

Key players (not exhaustive)

• Fouad Chafik (defender)
• Junior Tallo (forward) — joined on loan during the season
• Ivan Santini (forward) — important attacking option
• Rudy Mater (midfielder/defender) and other squad members contributed across the season

Stadium

• Stade Michel d’Ornano — home ground of SM Caen

Summary

Under Patrice Garande, Caen’s 2016/17 season was a difficult campaign in Ligue 1, with the team finishing 17th and retaining their top-flight status. Cup runs were short, and the season was characterized by defensive work and battling to avoid relegation.