The 1999-00 campaign was a season of devastating contrast for Montpellier. While the Pailladins clinched the UEFA Intertoto Cup, earning a run to the UEFA Cup Second Round, they spectacularly burned out domestically, finishing a crushing 18th in Division 1 which resulted in relegation. Leading the attack was the star forward Patrice Loko, whose 8 league goals (14 overall) were vital but ultimately could not save the side from the drop. It was a turbulent, unforgettable year defined by a glorious European success immediately followed by a painful league collapse, marking a complex and dark chapter in the club's history.