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Bordeaux Ultras: A guide to the Ultramarines

Bordeaux ultras group Ultramarines have now been active for around 37 years having been originally formed in 1987.

The passionate fan group, who are one of the most active current ultras groups at the club, have always had their say on current issues at the club, and with the downfall of Bordeaux intensifying in the last few years, they have grown even more vocal against the ownership.

But who are the Bordeaux Ultramarines and what do they stand for? This article will serve as your full guide to the Ultras group.

A guide to Bordeaux ultras group Ultramarines

A guide to Bordeaux Ultras: Ultramarines
Photo by Imago Images

Who are the Bordeaux Ultramarines?

Like virtually every other ultras group in the world, the Bordeaux Ultramarines are a fan group dedicated to supporting their team in the most passionate way possible.

Many fanbases in France are known for producing incredible tifos that impress as well as intimidate – the Ultramarines are no different. In fact, they have a whole page on their website specifically showcasing various images of the group at Bordeaux games.

Core ideology of the Bordeaux Ultramarines

While views of an entire fan group are near-impossible to identify, however, on the whole, the Ultramarines tend share political views that lean to the right – as do most ultras groups.

However, in recent years, their main focus has been trying to save their club, which by all accounts, has suffered one of the most drastic falls from grace ever witnessed in French football.

Given the club's two fierce rivalries, the Ultramarines also have a deep-rooted hatred of both Toulouse and Nantes.

Key Bordeaux Ultramarines incident

Bordeaux ultras call for action

Ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, supporters of the club would have been aiming to, at the very least, challenge for a play-off spot in the league.

However, after 13 defeats that dream was well and truly out of the question, leaving many fans frustrated and angry with how the Girondins were being run, and currently still are.

In response to a 2-1 defeat away to St-Etienne, Ultramarines Bordeaux, an ultras fan group, released a statement, via X, publicly blasting officials of the French club.

Alarmingly, the press release claimed that “The staff and management have abandoned their supporters” and highlighted that fans have been “humiliated” by the team's performances this term.

Finally, the ultras group called for fans to take action on the Scapulars, calling on all fans “who will attend the meeting against Dunkirk not to attend the first 15 minutes of the match Tuesday evening [April 23].”

With the club currently languishing in midtable of the French fourth tier, it appears as though Ultramarine's efforts are currently failing to put an end to the drastic fall of Bordeaux.

The shocking fall of Bordeaux

Despite the current underwhelming position the club finds themselves in, it is worth remembering that the Girondins were once a European force to be reckoned with.

In fact, they have been crowned champions of France as recently as 2009, and have also made a habit of toppling giants in the Champions League, including a famous comeback victory against Bayern Munich in the 2009/10 season.

Many an exciting player have called the city of Bordeaux home during their careers, including French attacking midfielder Yoann Gourcuff who produced an array of special moments throughout his time at the club.

However, that all changed very quickly.

An end-of-season collapse during the 2009/10 campaign resulted in many of the side's key players being sold, and from that point onwards, the Scapulars have been in a downward spiral.

The Scapulars are now in deep financial trouble, narrowly avoided relegation to the third tier of French football in 2022 and now, two years later, are playing their football in the fourth tier.

Despite that, the Ultramarines have continued to support their team home and away every week in the hope that their club will one day return to greatness.

It is truly a sad sight to see. Bordeaux are an iconic club, enriched with plenty of history, and undoubtedly deserve to be among the European elite once more.

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Harry Dowsett

Freelance football writer with experience writing for multiple digital platforms, such as GIVEMESPORT. Recently graduated from Portsmouth University with a media studies degree - completing a dissertation on the evolution of sports journalism in the process. He has a love for Arsenal Football Club and a passion for football as a whole.

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