The 2004-05 campaign delivered a nerve-shredding, last-gasp survival for FC Metz as Les Grenats finished a crucial 16th in Ligue 1, narrowly avoiding relegation in a fiercely contested bottom half of the table. Leading the line with his characteristic grit was the Cameroonian striker Hervé Tum, whose 9 goals proved absolutely decisive in the desperate battle for safety under manager Jean Fernandez. The season, which also featured the explosive, breakout talent of a young Franck Ribéry, was built on solid home form at the Stade Saint-Symphorien to offset difficult struggles on the road. It was a turbulent year that showcased the club's enduring fighting spirit and remains a defining chapter in their hard-fought history in the French top flight.