AS Monaco has been one of the most successful clubs in French football history. They have won the French league championship eight times and are one of only a handful of European clubs to have reached the final of the UEFA Champions League — the biggest club competition in European football. For such a tiny country to produce a team that competes at the very top of European football is an extraordinary achievement.
Stade Louis II, AS Monaco's stadium, has a capacity of about 18,500 supporters. What makes it unusual is that part of it is actually built over the sea — the stands on one side are constructed on a platform above the Mediterranean. It has hosted matches for the European competition, where the noise of supporters echoes around a compact, atmospheric ground.
AS Monaco has a strong tradition of developing young players in their academy. Some of the biggest names in world football have started their careers at Monaco before moving to bigger clubs. The youth academy trains players from a young age, and many of Monaco's youth players come from across Europe and Africa, reflecting how international the tiny principality is.