Top 10 Strasbourg FC best players of all time

RC Strasbourg Alsace is not only a long-standing football team in France, but also a symbol of the spirit and pride of the Alsace region for more than a century. Through many ups and downs – from the post-war period to the financial crisis or modern renaissance – the club has always maintained its identity thanks to the people who have been attached, dedicated and left an indelible mark in the hearts of fans. It is they, the players with rare talent, leadership qualities and loyalty, who have contributed to shaping the history and soul of the team. The list of 10 Strasbourg FC best players below shared by Premiumsoccertips.net not only reflects personal achievements but also is a vivid portrait of Strasbourg’s proud journey through each period.

Top 10 Strasbourg FC best players

Strasbourg FC has produced and owned many talented players. Let’s take a look at the top 10 best stars in the history of this team.

10. Kévin Gameiro

Kévin Gameiro began his professional career at RC Strasbourg in 2005, at the age of just 18. In only three seasons, he impressed with his explosive speed, sharp finishing, and high-energy playing style. Despite the club’s struggles at the time, Gameiro stood out and earned moves to Lorient, Paris Saint-Germain, Sevilla, Atlético Madrid, and Valencia winning multiple trophies, including three Europa League titles.

What sets Gameiro apart is his heartfelt return to Strasbourg in 2021 at the age of 34, turning down more prominent clubs to come “home.” He brought with him elite experience and helped reignite local pride in every match he played. Though no longer at his physical peak, Gameiro continued to make decisive contributions through goals, assists, and leadership. He stands as a testament to sincere love for one’s roots a prodigal son who returned to inspire future generations.

9. Dimitri Liénard

Dimitri Liénard personifies resilience, loyalty, and ambition the core values of modern-day RC Strasbourg. Joining the club in 2013, when it was struggling in France’s third tier (National), Liénard played a vital role in Strasbourg’s meteoric rise through the ranks, achieving promotion from CFA to Ligue 1 within just four years. Over a decade of service (2013–2023), he made more than 330 appearances and scored dozens of goals, many of them spectacular strikes from free-kicks or dramatic late winners at Stade de la Meinau.

An exceptional left-sided winger with a magical left foot, Liénard was also the team’s spiritual leader always giving his all as if each match were his last. With his distinctive hairstyle, fiery passion, and unwavering love for the club, he became the face of Strasbourg’s miraculous revival from financial collapse to Ligue 1 stability and a 2019 Coupe de la Ligue victory. He was the voice of the fans on the pitch and the only truly modern player worthy of a place in Strasbourg’s pantheon of legends.

8. Raymond Kaelbel

Raymond Kaelbel was one of the finest defenders to have worn the RC Strasbourg jersey and a quintessential figure in 1950s French football. Born in Colmar, Alsace, he had two playing spells with Strasbourg: from 1950 to 1956 and again from 1964 to 1968. During his early years, he reached such heights that he was called up to the French national team, featuring in the 1954 and 1958 World Cups the latter being France’s best performance at the time.

Kaelbel was known as a true defensive wall strong, tactically aware, and fearless during an era when forwards played with great physicality. Although he also played for Sochaux and Monaco, his emotional bond with Strasbourg never faded, as evidenced by his return to the club in the twilight of his career. With a distinguished international résumé, exemplary playing style, and deep loyalty, Kaelbel is rightfully remembered as one of the greatest defensive icons in RC Strasbourg history.

7. Marc Keller

Marc Keller holds a unique place in French football history: a key player and the most successful president in RC Strasbourg’s modern era. As a technically gifted central midfielder, Keller played for the club from 1991 to 1996, serving as the “brain” of the team with his intelligent ball distribution and sharp shooting from distance. Scoring 26 goals in 149 appearances, he played a pivotal role in the club’s return to the top division.

After retirement, Keller chose a different path eschewing media or coaching roles to quietly rebuild the club from ruins. In 2012, when Strasbourg had fallen to the fifth tier (CFA 2), he purchased the club, restructured its finances, invested heavily in the youth academy, and guided Strasbourg back to Ligue 1 within just five years. Under his leadership, the club won the 2019 Coupe de la Ligue their first major trophy in over two decades. A leader on the field and a visionary off it, Marc Keller is the heart and soul of 21st-century RC Strasbourg.

6. Frank Lebœuf

Frank Lebœuf became synonymous with the resurgence of RC Strasbourg in the early 1990s, a period during which the club returned to Ligue 1 after years of instability. Joining in 1991, Lebœuf proved himself a rock in defense and a model captain, known for his ball distribution and exceptional free-kick abilities. He made 128 appearances and scored 25 goals an outstanding tally for a defender. These attributes led to his transfer to Chelsea in 1996, where he would embark on a remarkable European journey.

What made Lebœuf special was his enduring connection to Strasbourg. Even after winning the 1998 World Cup with France, he never forgot the club that believed in him when others had not. Lebœuf embodies the type of player who rebuilt his career in Strasbourg and flourished, proving the club to be fertile ground for overlooked talent.

5. Albert Gemmrich

Albert Gemmrich, a proud son of Alsace, was the leading goal scorer during the historic 1978–79 season, when RC Strasbourg clinched its one and only Ligue 1 title. With 21 goals that campaign, he spearheaded the attack, terrorizing defenses with intelligent movement, sharp positioning, and clinical finishing. Alongside Dropsy and Specht, he formed the backbone of a team that made history in French football.

More than just a prolific scorer, Gemmrich represented the deep bond between the club and the local community. He turned down offers from bigger clubs to continue fighting for Strasbourg until 1979. Although his international career was modest, Gemmrich remains a beloved figure among RC Strasbourg fans his name still proudly echoed whenever the 1979 triumph is remembered.

Learn about new betting site to help you choose a reputable, safe platform that suits your betting needs.

4. Léonard Specht

Léonard Specht is considered one of the most complete players to have emerged from RC Strasbourg’s youth academy. Born in Mommenheim, near Strasbourg, Specht joined the club at a young age and played for Strasbourg in two spells between 1972 and 1982, and again in 1987. He was the central defender in the 1979 championship-winning squad, known not only for his defensive solidity but also for his leadership in the dressing room, where he inspired his teammates with unwavering determination.

After retiring, Specht served as the club’s president in the early 1990s, a period marked by financial difficulties. Despite these challenges, his legacy endured: a local warrior loyal to his roots, always prioritizing Strasbourg above all else. Few players have remained so deeply connected to the club in both sporting and administrative roles making Specht a true emblem of RC Strasbourg on and off the pitch.

3. Oskar Rohr

Oskar Rohr was one of Europe’s most prolific goal scorers before World War II and remains RC Strasbourg’s all-time top scorer with 118 goals in just 136 appearances an extraordinary average of 0.87 goals per game. The German forward arrived at Strasbourg in 1934 and instantly triggered a goal-scoring frenzy. With remarkable pace, clinical finishing, and killer instinct, Rohr drew admiration throughout France, earning comparisons to a “pre-war Gerd Müller.”

However, his career was tragically interrupted during the war. Arrested by German authorities for desertion and playing football illegally in France, Rohr’s reputation was buried for decades. It was not until the early 2000s, when French sports historians uncovered his legacy, that he was rightfully acknowledged as one of Strasbourg’s greatest ever players. Though history once forgot him, the love of the Alsatian people has never wavered.

2. Dominique Dropsy

Dominique Dropsy is a name that is inseparable from the most glorious era in RC Strasbourg’s history. He joined the club in 1973 and quickly established himself as the undisputed number one goalkeeper, maintaining that position for over a decade. Playing 406 consecutive matches a phenomenal achievement, especially for a goalkeeper Dropsy embodied endurance, consistency, and absolute reliability. He was a key figure in Strasbourg’s historic 1978–79 season when the club secured its only Ligue 1 title to date.

His excellence extended beyond the club level, earning him a call-up to the French national team, with appearances in the 1978 World Cup. He was awarded the Étoile d’Or by France Football as France’s best goalkeeper in the 1980–81 season. On the pitch, Dropsy was known for his spectacular saves and warrior spirit; off the pitch, he was a mentor and respected elder to younger players. Strasbourg may have evolved over the decades, but the image of this iconic goalkeeper remains deeply etched in the memory of Alsatian football fans.

1. René Hauss

René Hauss was not merely a player; he was a cornerstone of RC Strasbourg’s identity. Having joined the club in 1949, Hauss dedicated nearly two decades to the Alsace-based team, making an unprecedented 516 appearances a record that remains unbroken in the club’s history. As a central defender, he was known for his solid, composed, and tactically astute style of play. With Strasbourg, Hauss won the French Cup in 1951 and 1966, bearing witness to two golden generations during the post-war period.

Following his retirement as a player, he continued to serve Strasbourg as both manager and technical director. It was Hauss who laid the foundation for the club’s long-term youth development strategy. In Alsace, he is remembered not merely as an outstanding player but as a model of loyalty, dedication, and leadership a timeless legend in the hearts of RC Strasbourg supporters.

In Summary

Looking back at RC Strasbourg’s journey through legendary faces, we see a team built not only on tactics or titles, but also on love, loyalty and a lasting attachment to the land of Alsace. Each name on this list of Strasbourg FC best players carries a piece of history, a piece of the collective memory of fans from the winning moves, to the sacred moments that unite an entire community. In an era where football is increasingly dominated by commerce and fame, RC Strasbourg still retains something precious: the inseparable connection between the team, the players and the local people. And it is these legends, whether retired or still playing, who are the bridge between the past, present and future of one of the most emotional clubs in France.

See more: Top 10 Olympique Lyonnais best players in club history