Esperance De Tunis team guide: History, trophies won and notable former players of 2025 FIFA Club World Cup club

Out of Africa comes one of the continent's most decorated sides in Esperance de Tunis, who make their fourth appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup. 

The Tunisians have won a record 33 league titles in their home country but the club have yet to taste success outside of their domestic dominance and will to take advantage of an unpredictable group. 

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DAZN News has everything you need to know about Esperance de Tunis.

Esperance De Tunis team guide

Location

Esperance de Tunis are located in Tunis, the capital city of Tunisia.

Their Hammadi Agrebi Stadium is situated in Rades, in the southern suburb of the city Tunis. 

Origin

Esperance were founded in 1919 in a cafe in the Bab Souika neighbourhood nestled in the medina of Tunis. Mohamed Zouaoui and Hedi Kallel, ardent football fans with no professional experience in the game, established a sports club, but as Tunisia was still under French rule they called on Louis Montassier, secretary to the Tunisian central government, who became the first president of a club.

In 1956, Tunisia declared independence from France, and Espérance established themselves as the force of Tunisian football.

Nicknames

• The Smiling One
• The Red and Yellow
• The Blood and Gold
• The Beast of Africa 
• The Elder of Tunisian Clubs

Trophies won

• Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 (33)
• Tunisian Cup (15)
• Tunisian Super Cup (7) 
• CAF Champions League (4) 

Esperance de Tunis have dominated Tunisian football and hold the record for the most league titles, with their last triumph coming in 2024.

Notable former players

• Tarak Dhiab (1972-1978 and 1980-1990) 
• Khaled Ben Yahia (1979-1994) 
• Radhi Jaidi (1993-2004) 
• Michael Eneramo (2004-2010 and 2018)  
• Oussama Darragi (2007-2012 and 2013-2015) 
• Youssef Msakni (2008-2013) 
• Taha Yassine Khenissi (2009-2012 and 2015-2021) 

Some of the best players to ever represent Tunisia have worn the shirt of Esperance de Tunis over the years, including former Tunisian Player of the Year Youseef Msakni and a Rahdi Jaidi - who Premier League fans will remember from his time at Bolton Wanderers. 

Top scorer (Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 2024/25) - Yan Sasse (10 goals)

The Brazilian midfielder trails teammate Youcef Belaïli in goals scored in all competitions this season, but he tops the club's charts in the league.

Manager - Maher Kanzari (TUN)  

A former Tunisia international with 31 caps to his name, the 52-year-old is a well-travelled manager at both the club and international levels.

Kanzari took over from Laurențiu Reghecampf in March, starting his third stint in charge of the club.

How Esperance de Tunis qualified for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

Espérance de Tunis are one of four CAF teams competing in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and qualify as the best-ranked eligible team in the four-year ranking.

Though they have not won the CAF Champions League in the interim period of qualification, the club's strong performances there have earned them their berth here.

Esperance de Tunis group, schedule at 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

Esperance de Tunis have been drawn into Group D with Chelsea, Flamengo and one team TBD (winner of LAFC vs. Club America).

Watch all 63 matches of the 2025 Club World Cup live on DAZN. More information and to sign up for a free account here