Freyming-Merlebach. The Merlebach Olympic Stadium (SOM) is celebrating its centenary in two stages.

This weekend of June 28th and 29th, the Stade Olympique de Merlebach (SOM) will be celebrating its centenary. One hundred years ago, what would become, over the years, one of the leading football clubs in the coalfield, in Moselle-Est, and even in Moselle, was born. In this anniversary year, this entire history will be highlighted, from the youth training to the veterans who made the club famous. With several surprises…

The event has been in the planning stages for a long time by club president Emmanuel Levier and his staff, working closely with the city. "Major work has been done, redoing the facades, replacing the windows, and renovating the refreshment bar," the president lists, not forgetting the work carried out on the grounds in previous years. "The grandstand is still in the planning stages, ready for the next century," he adds.

However, there's plenty to celebrate this weekend, with several events planned. One of which is sure to be memorable: the stadium's name change. It's called the Philippe-Schuth stadium, after the goalkeeper who started out at SOM, before playing for Strasbourg, FC Metz, and Nancy, and who died in an accident in 2002. While the name will remain, the club and the city have decided to add the first names of his father, Johnny, who also played for Strasbourg, and his grandfather, Herbert, who played for Metz, Valenciennes, and Dunkirk. Three generations of goalkeepers who have shone beyond their own territory, and who will be honored this Sunday, in the presence of the Schuth family.

The festivities will begin on Saturday with the second edition of the Euro-benjamins, "which will bring together 32 teams from France, Germany, Luxembourg, and Belgium," explains Emmanuel Levier. "We're doing it over one day, but the goal next year is to do it over a weekend, with 64 clubs represented," he announces. On the same day, Robert Szepaniak, a former international player who also plays for Metz and Strasbourg, will offer his vision of what is called the "magic quadrant," recalling the legends, Platini-Tigana-Giresse-Fernandez, also featuring Genghini. The evening will be more than festive, with "a small village set up near the stadium, with musical entertainment, food, fireworks, etc."

On Sunday, starting at 2 p.m., in addition to the inauguration of the stadium's new name, the SOM will host matches between beginners, others related to unified football, with people with disabilities. And for the retro side, a meeting between former SOM players and those from the Chanter le foot association, founded by Jean-Marc Zilli . The president also launches an appeal "to all former players, but also supporters, to participate in the celebration." And even record a short one-minute video to tell their story.

Information on the SOM Facebook page.