US Mondorf-les-Bains

RTL Today has for some reason decided to assign the new intern (me) the task of outlining the accomplishments of every club playing in Luxembourg's top football league. It is a journey that will take us through 16 clubs and to every corner of this little country.

Today we venture deep into southeastern Luxembourg to cover another team in the thick of a tight relegation playoff race in US Mondorf-les-Bains.

History

US Mondorf-les-Bains was founded in 1915 and have existed unchanged since then. The club were promoted to the National Division for the first time in 1966, and recorded a solid 6th-placed finish in their debut season, which remains their best-ever finish in the top flight. They remained in the league for three more seasons until a dreadful campaign in 1969-70 saw them relegated in last place with just 5 points.

Mondorf largely fell off the map following this relegation, spending decades playing second, third, and even fourth tier football before they finally got their shot at returning to the big time in 2014. After finishing 3rd in the Division of Honour, Mondorf qualified for a promotion/relegation playoff with 12th-placed National Division side Hamm Benfica, which they won on penalties following a 0-0 draw.

After gaining promotion, Mondorf have turned themselves into a solid National Division side, as this season is their eighth consecutive in the top flight. They matched their record finish of 6th in 2017-18 and have generally avoided relegation danger, though their 12th-placed finish in 2019-20 would have sent them to the relegation playoffs had there been any relegation that season.

Accomplishments

Mondorf have never won a top-level title, and their only second-tier trophy is gathering dust, as they last won the Division of Honour back in 1966.

The closest Mondorf have come to winning a national title came in 2016, when they reached the final of the Coupe du Luxembourg only to lose 1-0 to F91 Dudelange.

Stadium

Mondorf play at the Stade John Grün, which houses 3,500 spectators. The main stand is the home of the "Angry Goats" fan club, and there is ample standing space next to it. Surrounded by an open green field in the countryside, the stadium is one of the more picturesque in Luxembourg.

This Season

Mondorf started this season in good form, but have slowly descended into dangerous territory. They sit 11th in the table, with a loss to Differdange 03 on Sunday keeping them from escaping the possibility of a relegation playoff for now. They sit just two points above 13th with two games to play. Mondorf's game at home against Victoria Rosport on May 15 should be their most important of the season, as Rosport are level on points with them and will be looking to move ahead.

The team have largely spread out the goalscoring burden among each other, as French top scorer Smail Morabit has just 6 goals. Fellow Frenchman Yassine Mohammed and Luxembourger Ricardo Couto Pinto have 4 goals each, and several players have either one or two.

Mondorf have been competitive in just about every game they have played this season, with all but three of their losses being by just a one-goal margin. They will likely feel they deserve to stay in the division for a ninth year, but they must keep their focus to remove any doubts.

For more information, visit the club's website.