Angers SCOIn 2017, two events in the history of Angers SCO captured the character of the club better than any others. In the spring, Raymond Kopa, the most famous player to emerge from the club, died, and the stadium that had been called Jean-Bouin since 1968 was renamed in his honour that year. In May, the team from Anjou played in only its second Coupe de France final, at the Stade de France. A club that for most of its history had been a solid provincial side, rarely counted among the favourites, was suddenly at the centre of French football.
The club was founded in 1919 on the initiative of the Fortin brothers, directors of the Crédit de l'Ouest bank. It first played as Sporting Club du Crédit de l'Ouest, and when the name was shortened the words Sporting Club de l'Ouest remained. One of the team's older nicknames, Les Banquiers, grew out of these banking roots and has since given way to Les Scoïstes. Black and white have long been the club's colours. Angers developed slowly towards professionalism, and the club turned professional in 1945 after absorbing key players from the Club sportif Julien Bessonneau.
The stadium on rue Saint-Léonard has an unusual history. Built by the industrialist Julien Bessonneau, it was first known as the Stade Bessonneau, then as the Stade Jean-Bouin from 1968, and since 2017 as the Stade Raymond-Kopa. Few top-flight grounds have more than a century of history and carry the name of a player who began his career there. Raymond Kopa, born Raymond Kopaszewski, arrived at Angers in 1949, when hiring young players was an economic decision because the club could no longer afford established stars. Kopa later joined Real Madrid and starred for France, winning the Ballon d'Or in 1958. After retiring he returned to Angers.
In the 1950s the club came close to the national summit for the first time. In 1957 Angers reached the Coupe de France final, losing 6–3 to Toulouse at Colombes. Twelve years later, although playing in the second division, the team reached the semi-finals of the same competition. In 1972 Angers qualified for European competition for the first time, playing in the UEFA Cup. The club has never won the French championship, and its tradition rests on repeated returns to Ligue 1 and occasional cup runs.
The 2017 final remains its greatest success. In the quarter-final against Bordeaux, goalkeeper Alexandre Letellier made a spectacular save near the end of the match, which opened the way to the Stade de France. In the final on 28 May 2017, Angers lost 1–0 to Paris Saint-Germain, the decisive goal being an own goal in the 91st minute after a corner taken by Ángel Di María. Letellier had earlier denied, among others, Edinson Cavani and Di María. Paris won the hundredth edition of the Coupe de France, but Angers resisted until the very end of normal time.
That run came during a period of stability. The club returned to Ligue 1 in 2015, and in autumn 2019, the centenary of its foundation, it began a fifth consecutive season in the top flight. Angers remains a club built on local identity, black-and-white colours and a consistent commitment to young players, with Kopa still its most important point of reference.