The team from the Principality, experiencing a financial crisis, was still looking for solutions when it was not allowed to compete in the top French league (Betclic Elite) and the second-tier league (Elite 2).
In 2025, they took second place in the Euroleague.
The Monaco club qualified for the Euroleague playoffs for five consecutive years.
From 2021 to 2026, Donatas Motiejūnas represented the Monaco team.
Earlier, “Monaco” wanted to move from the Euroleague to the European Cup tournament but ultimately did not qualify for these competitions, and at the last moment tried to join the Adriatic League tournament.
However, on Tuesday, the club issued a statement that it chose to play in the third French league.
“Starting this week, the club will submit an application to play in NM1 (third division). The goal is clear: to return. To return through sport and to do it on the court.
To reclaim our place at the top of French basketball, and in the long term to experience the great European games again, which mark the current ‘Roca Team’ history,” the Monaco club statement reads.
The decline of the Monaco club began last year when the businesses and financial support of the club president of Russian origin, Aleksey Fedorychev, shrank, and the club, which had gathered many basketball stars, began to sink into debt.
The club finished the season by winning the French championship title, but all the main players left in the summer. Initially, it was reported in France that the “Monaco” budget would be reduced several times and shrink to 11-12 million euros per year, then even half that amount was reported.
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When French sports officials rejected the club’s requests to play in the top and second-tier leagues, the European Cup tournament participant license was also reviewed and revoked for this reason.
During the chaotic summer for the club, only one player, Juhannas Begarinas, remained under contract with the Monaco team, but now it is hard to imagine that he would stay to play in the third league.
