Monaco

The aristocrats of French football, Monaco are often criticised for benefiting from the city-state's income-tax exemption, which has allowed them to recruit and pay some of the game's biggest names.

Les Monégasques were nonetheless slow starters after the club's foundation in 1924, only becoming a stable, professional unit in 1948. Helped by a large budget, though, they finally made a breakthrough in 1960 with their first Coupe de France success, and it was in the same year that Princess Grace, the actress Grace Kelly, designed the team's now famous red and white diagonal-striped shirts. A first League crown followed the very next season and, two years after that, ASM recorded their only League and cup double.

The inauguration of the new Stade Louis II in 1985 signalled a new era, as did the appointment of Arsène Wenger as Coach two years later, and, with Glenn Hoddle and Mark Hateley both in their pomp, Monaco recorded their fifth Ligue 1 triumph in 1988. More stars were soon unpacking their bags in the principality, including Jürgen Klinsmann, George Weah and Enzo Scifo, and soon the team were making inroads in Europe. That resulted in 2004's losing Champions' League final appearance, but the club are just as keen to rediscover success on the domestic stage, having let Lyon run away with Ligue 1 since their last title win in 2000.