Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire, commonly known as ASSE or simply Saint-Étienne, is a professional football club based in Saint-Étienne in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France. The club was founded in 1977 under the name Racing Club de Saint-Étienne. The current name was adopted following the 2008–09 season as RC Saint-Étienne merged with their men's side.