Montpellier Hérault Sport Club (MHSC), the French football club based in Montpellier, has used a circular crest since 2000. The badge features the club’s name surrounding blue diagonal stripes, with an orange outer ring completing the design. The club considers 1974, the year Louis Nicollin took over, as its founding date, and it adopted the Montpellier Hérault Sport Club name in 1989. [1]
Design and History
The current circular crest was introduced in 2000, replacing a previous design built around a large letter “M.” The change coincided with Laurent Nicollin taking over management of the club, and the new logo was inspired by the badge of Espanyol Barcelona. [2] [3] The club’s official website confirms that the 2000 season saw the team wear a new logo, replacing the previous “massive M” emblem with a round, more sober but colorful crest. [4]
For the 2014-15 season, the club celebrated its 40th anniversary by adding the number “40” to the center of the badge. The logo was also remastered at that time, adopting a darker blue. [5] [3]
A similar anniversary treatment was applied for the 2024-25 season, when the club marked its 50th anniversary. The traditional blue stripes in the center of the crest were replaced by a large “50,” with the years 1974-2024 accompanying the commemorative design. [1] [6] The club returned to its standard circular crest after that commemorative season. [7]
Meaning and Symbolism
The blue and white elements on the logo represent the colors of the city of Montpellier, as well as the waves of the sea. The orange has long represented the colors of the Hérault department, and also evokes the setting sun. [3] The club adopted blue and orange in 1989 under the impetus of the departmental council of the Hérault. [8]
Typography and Design
The club’s official brand guidelines specify that the logo may be reproduced in monochrome versions in white, blue, or orange only, as these are the club’s colors. [9] The full club name encircles the central emblem, with the “MHSC” acronym providing a compact alternative for applications where space is limited.
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