Olympique Lyonnais
Encyclopedia
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football
club based in Lyon
. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1
. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The club's most successful period has been the 21st century. The club won its first ever Ligue 1 championship in 2002, starting a national record-breaking streak of seven successive titles. Lyon have also won a record seven Trophée des Champions
, four Coupe de France
titles and three Ligue 2 Championships
.
Lyon have participated the UEFA Champions League
12 times, and during the 2009–10 season, reached the semi-finals of the competition for the first time after three previous quarter-final appearances. Olympique Lyonnais play its home matches at the 40,500-seat Stade de Gerland in Lyon
. In 2013, their new stadium will be ready, tentatively named OL Land
, in Décines-Charpieu
, a suburb of Lyon. The club's home colours are white, red and blue. Lyon were a member of the G14 group of leading European football clubs and are founder members of its successor, the European Club Association
.
Olympique Lyonnais is one of the most popular clubs in France. About 11% of the country's population support the club. Lyon share this number with Paris Saint-Germain and only trail Olympique de Marseille
. Lyon hold the honor of being the richest club in the country having generated an annual revenue stream
of €139.6 million for the 2008–09 season. The club's nickname, Les Gones, means "The Kids" in Lyon's regional dialect
of Arpitan. The chairman of Lyon is Jean-Michel Aulas
and club is managed by Rémi Garde
. Olympique Lyonnais also has a successful women's football team
having won its league a record nine times. The women's team has also won three Challenge de France
titles and the UEFA Women's Champions League in 2011.
and, on 26 August 1950, played its first official match defeating CA Paris-Charenton
3–0 in front of 3,000 supporters. In just the club's second year of existence, Lyon was crowned champions of the second division moving up to the first division. The club maintained their first division place for the remainder of the decade, excluding a year's stint in the second division for the 1953–1954 season.
Lyon achieved moderate success during the 1960s and 70s with the likes of Fleury Di Nallo
, Nestor Combin
, Serge Chiesa
, Bernard Lacombe
, and Jean Djorkaeff
playing major roles. Under manager Lucien Jasseron
, Lyon won their first-ever Coupe de France
title defeating Bordeaux
2–0 in the 1964 edition of the competition
. The club also performed respectably in the league under Jasseron's reign until the 1965–66 season, when Lyon finished 16th, which ultimately led to Jasseron's departure. His replacement was Louis Hon, who helped Lyon win their second Coupe de France title after defeating Sochaux
3–1 during the 1966–67 season. Lyon were managed by former Lyon legend Aimé Mignot
heading into the 70s. Under Mignot's helm, Lyon won their third Coupe de France title during the 1972–73 season, after defeating Nantes 2–1.
In June 1987, Olympique Lyonnais was purchased by Rhône businessman Jean-Michel Aulas
who took control of the club with the objective of turning Lyon into an established Ligue 1 side. His ambitious plan, titled OL – Europe, was designed to develop the club on the European level
and back into the first division within a time-frame of no more than four years. The first manager under the new hierarchy was Raymond Domenech
. The aspiring chairman gave Domenech carte blanche to recruit whichever player they saw fit to help the team reach the first division. They proceeded to accomplish this feat in Domenech's first season in charge. Lyon achieved their zenith
under Domenech when they qualified for the UEFA Cup
. Unfortunately, for the remainder of his tenure the club underachieved. Domenech was later replaced by former French international
Jean Tigana
, who led the team to an impressive 2nd place finish during the 1994–95 season.
At the start of the new millennium
, Olympique Lyonnais began to achieve success in French football. During this time, the club established themselves as the premiere club in France defeating Olympique de Marseille
and Paris Saint-Germain and also becoming the country's richest club and one of the most popular. Lyon became known for developing promising talent, who would not only achieve greatness in France, but also abroad and internationally
. Notable examples include Michael Essien
, Florent Malouda
, Juninho Pernambucano
, Cris
, Éric Abidal
, Mahamadou Diarra
, Patrick Müller
, and Karim Benzema
. Lyon won their first ever Ligue 1 championship in 2002, starting a national record-breaking streak of seven successive titles. During that span, the club also won one Coupe de France title
, their first Coupe de la Ligue title, and a record six Trophée des Champions
. The club also performed well in UEFA
competition reaching as far as the quarter-finals on three occasions in the UEFA Champions League
. Lyon's streak and consistent dominance of French football came to an end during the 2008–09 season, when they lost the title to Bordeaux.
, who acquired the club on 15 June 1987. He serves as the founder and chief operating officer of CEGID (Compagnie Européenne de Gestion par l'Informatique Décentralisée). After ridding the club of its debt, Aulas restructured the club's management and reorganized the finances and, in a span of two decades, transformed the club from a second division team into one of the richest football clubs in the world. However, Aulas has been lambasted for, according to critics, running the club as if it were a business. The club currently operates on the European Stock Exchange
under the name OL Groupe, initialed OLG.
In April 2008, business magazine Forbes
ranked Lyon as the thirteenth most valuable football team in the world. The magazine valued the club at $408 million (€275.6m), excluding debt. On February 2009, Lyon were rated in the 12th spot in the Deloitte Football Money League
, reportedly bringing in an annual revenue of €155.7 million for the 2007–08 season, which ranks among the world's best football clubs in terms of revenue.
Aulas currently serves on the board for the European Club Association
, a sports organization representing football clubs in Europe. He was also the last president of the now-defunct G-14
organization.
Olympique Lyonnais has played at the Stade de Gerland since 1950, the year of the club's foundation. In 1910, the mayor of Lyon
, Édouard Herriot
, came up with the idea to develop and build a sports stadia with an athletics track and a velodrome
in the city. In 1912, the stadium was officially mandated and local architect Tony Garnier
was given the reins to designing and constructing it. Construction began in 1914 with hopes that the stadia would be completed before the International Exhibition of 1914. However, due to World War I, construction was temporarily halted, but resumed following its conclusion in 1919. By 1920, the stadium was completely functional. In 1926, the Stade de Gerland was inaugurated by Herriot.
Olympique Lyonnais began play at the Gerland in 1950 and have remained at the stadium since. The stadia originally had a cycling track, but was removed in order to increased the seating capacity to 50,000. In 1984, minor renovations were made to the stadium by architect Rene Gagis. This included construction of the Jean Bouin
and Jean Jaurès
stands. Further renovations were needed to prepare the stadium for the 1998 FIFA World Cup
, as by that time FIFA
had mandated that all stadiums used for international matches, including the World Cup, had to be all-seated. The north and south stands, known as the Jean Jaurès
and Jean Bouin
stand, respectively, were completely knocked down and rebuilt, and the athletics track that had remained, even after the cycling track had been removed, was taken out. The renovations were done by architect Albert Constantin. The new incarnation of Gerland has a maximum capacity of 40,500.
On 1 September 2008, Olympique Lyonnais president Jean-Michel Aulas
announced plans to create a new 60,000-seat stadium
, tentatively called OL Land, to be built on 50 hectares of land located in Décines-Charpieu
, a suburb of Lyon
. The stadium, if built, will also include state-of-the-art sporting facilities, two hotels, a leisure center, and commercial and business offices.
On 13 October 2008, the project was agreed upon by the State, the General Council of Rhône
, the Grand Lyon, SYTRAL
, and the municipality of Décines for construction with approximately €180 million of public money being used and between €60–80 million coming from the Urban Community of Lyon
. However, since the announcement, the club's efforts to get the stadium off the ground has been hindered mainly due to slow administrative procedures, political interests, and various opposition groups, who view the stadium as financially, ecologically, and socially wrong for the taxpayers and community of Décines. The project is currently in limbo, but most estimate that the stadium will be completed by 2013.
On 22 September 2009, French newspaper L'Equipe reported that OL Land had been selected by the French Football Federation
as one of the twelve stadiums to be used in the country's bidding for UEFA Euro 2016
. The FFF officially made their selections on 11 November 2009 and the city of Lyon was selected as a site to host matches during the tournament.
is the training center and club headquarters of Olympique Lyonnais. It is located in the city of Lyon
, not far from the Stade de Gerland. The facility is named after Anatole Tologe, commonly called Tola Vologe, who was a Lyon
sportsmen and was murdered by the Gestapo
during World War II. The facility is known for its high-level training and several prominent players have passed through the youth training center. These include Karim Benzema
, Hatem Ben Arfa
, Sidney Govou
, and Ludovic Giuly
. The center's hosts training sessions for the senior team and also serves as the home facility for the club's reserve
, youth (both male and female), and female
sides, who both play their home matches at the Plaine des Jeux de Gerland. Former Lyon player Alain Olio is the current director of the centre.
and blue shorts to the combination. In 1961, the scapular tradition was disbanded and the two strips of red and blue were shaped horizontally. After six years, the club returned to the all-white uniforms, but kept intact the red and blue stripes, but, instead of keeping them horizontally, inserted them vertically and on the left side of the shirt. Lyon began wearing the shirt during the 1970–71 season and wore the kits up until the 1975–76 season. For the 2002–03 season, chairman Jean-Michel Aulas
announced that the club would return the kits. Lyon wore them, with several different modifications every year, for six of their seven consecutive titles.
In 1976, the club endured a drastic change to their kits, ditching the all-white uniforms for an all-red style, akin to English club Liverpool
. The club wore the kits up until the 1989–90 season, with the 1977–78 and 1978–79 seasons being excluded due to the club adding navy blue vertical stripes to the shirt that was deemed unsuccessful. Following the 1989–90 season, the club returned to the all-white kits and, at the start of the 1995–96 season, the club returned the vertical stripes, but opted to insert them in the center of the shirt, instead of to the left. The club kept this style until the 2001–02 season. For the 2009–10 season
, Lyon returned the horizontal red and blue stripes.
, as well as Lyon's continued appearances in the UEFA Champions League.
Another notable supporters group is the Cosa Nostra Lyon, who occupy the Virage Sud area of the stadium. The group was created in 2007 as a result of a merger between two groups, the Lugdunums, which had existed since 1993 and Nucleo Ultra, which formed in 2000. The merger was created to achieve a sense of stability among supporters. The group is no longer recognized by the club, but continues to operate in a functional manner. Other support groups include the Hex@gones, which was formed in 2000 and sit in the Virage Sud area, the Gastrogones, who occupy the Jean Bouin
stand, and the O'Elles Club, who sit in the Jean Jaurès
stand.
The club also has support groups that are based in areas outside of the city of Lyon
. The Gones 58 supporters comes from the department of Nièvre
in Bourgogne
, while Gones 26 origins come from the department of Drôme
in nearby Valence
. Three minor support groups in Septimagones, Loups Marchois, and Dauphigones comes from the commune of Hérépian
, the department of Creuse
, and the department of Isère
, respectively.
Lyon's first competitive game was a 3–0 victory against CA Paris-Charenton
on 26 August 1950. Since the club's foundation in 1950, they have played 48 seasons in France's highest football division
, which totals 1,768 matches. Of the 1,768, they achieved 686 victories, drew 442 matches, and lost 602 contests. Of the 9 seasons the club played in Ligue 2
, they contested 310 matches, winning 160 matches, drawing 84 times, and losing only 56. Lyon achieved their 1,000th victory during the 2003–04 season after defeating Strasbourg
.
The Moroccan
-born French midfielder Serge Chiesa
holds Lyon overall appearance record having played in 541 matches over the course of 14 seasons from 1969 to 1983. Following him is former goalkeeper Grégory Coupet
who contested 518 matches over the course of 11 seasons from 1997 to 2008. Along with Sidney Govou
, Coupet also has the distinction of being the only player in Lyon's history to win all four domestic French titles having been a part of all seven Ligue 1 titles, the club's Coupe de France
triumph in 2008, the only Coupe de la Ligue
win in 2001, and six of the seven Trophée Des Champions
titles. Govou, Coupet, and Juninho
share the honor of being only Lyon players who were a part of all seven title runs.
The club's all-time leading scorer is Fleury Di Nallo
, who scored 182 goals while at the club from 1960 to 1974. Di Nallo is also third behind Chiesa and Coupet in all time appearances having played in 489 matches during his 14-year stint at the club. Despite Di Nallo's impressive goalscoring record, he doesn't hold the record for most goals scored during a league season. That distinction goes to Bourg-en-Bresse
-born André Guy
who notched 25 goals, which he attained in the 1968–69 season.
Lyon's biggest victory is 10–0, which occurred of two occasions against Ajaccio
in the 1953–54 edition of the Coupe de France
and, two seasons later, against Delle
in the 1955–56 edition of the competition. Lyon's biggest league victory is 7–0 and also occurred on two occasions. The first being during the 1966–67 season against Angers
and the second being against Marseille
during the 1997–98 season. The club's biggest victory on the European stage
occurred during the 1974–75 season. Lyon hammered Luxembourg
-based club FA Red Boys Differdange
7–0.
, whom they contest the Derby du Rhône
(Rhône derby) with. However, since the club's dominance at the start of the new millennium, they have established rivalries with Marseille
, Bordeaux
, Paris Saint-Germain, and Lille
. Lyon also share minor rivalries with fellow Rhône-Alpes
clubs Grenoble
and AS Lyon Duchère
.
The Saint-Étienne rivalry began during the 1960s when Lyon established permanent residency in the French first division. The Arpitan rivalry stems from both clubs close proximity of each other, separated by just 38 miles, as well as historical social and cultural difference between the two cities where they are based; Lyon
cited as being more upper-class, while Saint-Étienne
is cited as being more working-class. The derby
also pits "the recently most successful French club" (Lyon) against "the formerly biggest French club" (Saint-Étienne) and is often cited as one of the high-points of the Ligue 1
season.
Lyon's rivalry with Olympique de Marseille
goes back to 23 September 1945, when the clubs contested their first match. The derby, often called Choc des Olympiques
(Clash of the Olympics), is often cited as being particularly important as both clubs are of high standard in French football and the championship is regularly decided between the two. Marseille, Saint-Étienne, Lyon are the only French clubs to have won the French first division four straight times with Marseille doing it on two occasions.
, effective at the start of the 2010–11 season
with Lyon earning €5 million a year annually from the deal, plus possible royalty fees based on product sales.
Following the 2008–09 season, Lyon's long-term sponsorship agreement with the French multinational corporation
Accor
and Renault Trucks
ended. On 22 July 2009, the Paris-based online bookmaker BetClic reached an agreement with Lyon to advertise on the club's kits. However, due to French law prohibiting online gambling
, Lyon could not wear its kits displaying the BetClic logo. On 12 August 2009, just before the opening league match against Le Mans, the club was relieved of its BetClic-sponsored shirts by the Ligue de Football Professionnel
, who warned the club that it risked forfeiting points if they wore them. Lyon complied and, since the Le Mans match, has worn sponsor-less shirts while playing on French soil. Lyon is free to wear its BetClic sponsored shirts outside of France: on 25 August 2009 the club unveiled the shirts in Belgium
while taking on Anderlecht
in the UEFA Champions League
. On 15 January 2010, Lyon secured a sponsorship agreement with Japanese video game company Sony Computer Entertainment
to display the company's PlayStation
logo on their shirts. The deal lasts until the end of the 2009–10 season
. In 2010, the French ban on online gambling advertising was lifted, and Lyon began wearing its Betclic-sponsored shirts on French soil.
Minor sponsors of the club include LG
, APICIL, and MDA Électroménager. During Coupe de France
matches, the club wear kits sponsored by SFR
, Caisse d'Épargne
, and Pitch as they are main sponsors of the French Football Federation
. During Coupe de la Ligue
matches, Lyon wear shirts with the Speedy Triangle logo on the front as they are main sponsors of the LFP.
in recognition of goalkeeper Luc Borrelli
. Borrelli was killed in a road accident in February 1999.
17 –
in recognition of midfielder
Marc-Vivien Foé
. Foé died while playing for Cameroon
in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup
at Stade de Gerland, Lyon. The number was brought out of retirement in 2008 to allow Cameroon
ian player Jean Makoun
to wear it, but after his departure the number was retired again.
The following players have won the UNFP Player of the Year whilst playing for Lyon: Michael Essien
– 2005 Juninho
– 2006 Florent Malouda
– 2007 Karim Benzema
– 2008 Lisandro López
– 2010
Bravo Award
The following players have won the Bravo Award
award whilst playing for Lyon: Karim Benzema
– 2008
Olympique Lyonnais has had 22 permanent managers and two caretaker managers since the club's first appointed Oscar Heisserer
as a professional manager in 1950. Heisserer also served as the first player-coach
of the club, coming out of retirement to play during his final season at the club. The longest-serving manager in terms of time was Aimé Mignot
, who managed Lyon for 8 years from 1968 to 1976. Alain Perrin, who managed the club from 2007–2008, was the first Lyon manager to achieve the double
.
seven times, which ranks tied for 4th in French football history. Lyon has the distinction of starting a national record-breaking streak of seven successive titles beginning with the 2001–02 season. The club has also been crowned champions of Ligue 2
three times, won four Coupe de France
titles, one Coupe de la Ligue
title, and a record seven Trophée des Champions
. Though the club is a regular participant in the UEFA Champions League
, they have only reached as far as the semifinals, which was accomplished during the during the 2009–10 season. Lyon has won the UEFA Intertoto Cup
, achieving this honor in 1997.
currently play in France's top division, the Championnat de France de football féminin
. The ladies team was set up in the 1970s as part of FC Lyon
, but was attached to OL in the summer of 2004. They mostly play their home games at Plaine des Jeux de Gerland, 400 metres from Stade Gerland
, the main stadium.
Football in France
Football is the most popular sport in France. The Fédération Française de Football is the national governing bodyand is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the game of association football in the country, both professional and amateur...
club based in Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The club's most successful period has been the 21st century. The club won its first ever Ligue 1 championship in 2002, starting a national record-breaking streak of seven successive titles. Lyon have also won a record seven Trophée des Champions
Trophée des champions
The Trophée des champions , is a French association football trophy contested in an annual match between the champions of Ligue 1 and the winners of the Coupe de France. It is equivalent to the Super Cups found in many countries...
, four Coupe de France
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
titles and three Ligue 2 Championships
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
.
Lyon have participated the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
12 times, and during the 2009–10 season, reached the semi-finals of the competition for the first time after three previous quarter-final appearances. Olympique Lyonnais play its home matches at the 40,500-seat Stade de Gerland in Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
. In 2013, their new stadium will be ready, tentatively named OL Land
New Olympique Lyonnais Stadium
New Olympique Lyonnais Stadium is 61,556-seat stadium that the French football club Olympique Lyonnais is building near Décines. It will replace its current stadium, Stade Gerland...
, in Décines-Charpieu
Décines-Charpieu
Décines-Charpieu is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.-People:* Cédric Bardon - footballer* Jean Djorkaeff - footballer* Youri Djorkaeff - footballer* Abdelkader Ghezzal - footballer* Kamel Ramdani - footballer...
, a suburb of Lyon. The club's home colours are white, red and blue. Lyon were a member of the G14 group of leading European football clubs and are founder members of its successor, the European Club Association
European Club Association
The European Club Association is an organization representing football clubs in Europe- History :Formed on the dissolution of the G-14 group in January 2008, the European Club Association represents 201 clubs, made up of 103 ordinary members and 98 associated members, with at least one from each...
.
Olympique Lyonnais is one of the most popular clubs in France. About 11% of the country's population support the club. Lyon share this number with Paris Saint-Germain and only trail Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
. Lyon hold the honor of being the richest club in the country having generated an annual revenue stream
Deloitte Football Money League
The Deloitte Football Money League is a ranking of football clubs by revenue generated from football operations. It is produced annually by the accountancy firm Deloitte and released in early February of each year, describing the season most recently finished....
of €139.6 million for the 2008–09 season. The club's nickname, Les Gones, means "The Kids" in Lyon's regional dialect
Dialect
The term dialect is used in two distinct ways, even by linguists. One usage refers to a variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. The term is applied most often to regional speech patterns, but a dialect may also be defined by other factors,...
of Arpitan. The chairman of Lyon is Jean-Michel Aulas
Jean-Michel Aulas
Jean-Michel Aulas is a French businessman. He is the founder and CEO of CEGID and serves as the owner and chairman of French football club Olympique Lyonnais whom he has owned since 1987. Aulas has also expanded his branch of football knowledge through Europe...
and club is managed by Rémi Garde
Rémi Garde
Rémi Garde |Rhône]]) is a French football manager, and current coach of Olympique Lyonnais.-Club career:Garde started his playing career at Lyon in 1982, helping the club achieve promotion to Ligue 1 in 1989. Playing as a defensive midfielder or sweeper, he became club captain and made his debut...
. Olympique Lyonnais also has a successful women's football team
Olympique Lyonnais (ladies)
Olympique Lyonnais Féminin is a French women's football club based in Lyon. The club has been the female section of Olympique Lyonnais since 2004. Lyon currently play in the Division 1 Féminine and are the defending champions having won the league for five straight seasons.The club was formed as...
having won its league a record nine times. The women's team has also won three Challenge de France
Challenge de France
The Coupe de France Féminine is a cup competition, exclusively for French women football clubs. The competition is open to all professional and non-professional women's teams in France. The inaugural edition of the competition was held in 2001. The final match of the competition is normally held...
titles and the UEFA Women's Champions League in 2011.
History
Olympique Lyonnais was, initially, formed under the multisports club Lyon Olympique Universitaire, who was originally formed in 1896 as Racing Club de Lyon. Following numerous internal disagreements regarding the cohabitation of amateurs and professionals within the club, then-manager of the club Félix Louot and his entourage contemplated forming their own club. On 3 August 1950, Louot's plan came to fruition when Olympique Lyonnais was officially founded by Dr. Albert Trillat and numerous others. The club's first manager was Oscar HeissererOscar Heisserer
Oscar Heisserer was a French footballer.He played for RC Strasbourg, and appeared for France in the 1938 World Cup, where he scored a goal.-References:* *...
and, on 26 August 1950, played its first official match defeating CA Paris-Charenton
CA Paris-Charenton
Cercle Athlétique de Paris Charenton is a French association football team playing in the cities of Charenton-le-Pont and Maisons-Alfort, Val-de-Marne. The team is a merge between CA Paris and SO Charentonnais . The two merged in 1964.-History:CA Paris was founded in 1891 as Nationale de...
3–0 in front of 3,000 supporters. In just the club's second year of existence, Lyon was crowned champions of the second division moving up to the first division. The club maintained their first division place for the remainder of the decade, excluding a year's stint in the second division for the 1953–1954 season.
Lyon achieved moderate success during the 1960s and 70s with the likes of Fleury Di Nallo
Fleury Di Nallo
Fleury Di Nallo is a former footballer, one of the best strikers in Division 1 in the 1960s and 70s, and a historic player of Olympique Lyonnais....
, Nestor Combin
Nestor Combin
Néstor Combin, is a former football Argentine player in France. He was striker, mainly with Olympique Lyonnais and France national team.-Clubs:*1959 - 1964 : Olympique Lyonnais...
, Serge Chiesa
Serge Chiesa
Serge Chiesa is a former professional French footballer.He is a historic player of Olympique Lyonnais, an excellent dribbler whose skill was comparable to Michel Platini. In 1975/76, he was voted 'best attacking midfielder' of the season by France Football.-External links:*...
, Bernard Lacombe
Bernard Lacombe
Bernard Lacombe is a retired French football player. He played forward, mainly with Olympique Lyonnais, Girondins Bordeaux and the French national team.-Career:...
, and Jean Djorkaeff
Jean Djorkaeff
Jean "Tchouki" Djorkaeff is a retired French football player. He was born in the French commune of Charvieu, located in the département of Isère and is ethnically Kalmyk and Polish. He made his debut as a professional footballer playing for Lyon in a match against Limoges on December 28, 1958...
playing major roles. Under manager Lucien Jasseron
Lucien Jasseron
Lucien Jasseron was a French footballer.He played for Le Havre AC and RC Paris, and was part of France in the 1938 World Cup. He then had a coaching career.-References:*...
, Lyon won their first-ever Coupe de France
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
title defeating Bordeaux
FC Girondins de Bordeaux
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....
2–0 in the 1964 edition of the competition
Coupe de France Final 1964
The Coupe de France Final 1964 was a football match held at Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes on May 10, 1964, that saw Olympique Lyonnais defeat FC Girondins de Bordeaux 2-0 thanks to goals by Nestor Combin.-Match details:...
. The club also performed respectably in the league under Jasseron's reign until the 1965–66 season, when Lyon finished 16th, which ultimately led to Jasseron's departure. His replacement was Louis Hon, who helped Lyon win their second Coupe de France title after defeating Sochaux
FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
Football Club Sochaux-Montbéliard is a French association football club based in the city of Montbéliard. The club was founded in 1928 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football. Sochaux plays its home matches at the Stade Auguste Bonal located within the city...
3–1 during the 1966–67 season. Lyon were managed by former Lyon legend Aimé Mignot
Aimé Mignot
Aimé Mignot is a French football defender who played for Aix and Lyon.He coached Lyon, Angers, Alès and the France women's national football team.-References:...
heading into the 70s. Under Mignot's helm, Lyon won their third Coupe de France title during the 1972–73 season, after defeating Nantes 2–1.
In June 1987, Olympique Lyonnais was purchased by Rhône businessman Jean-Michel Aulas
Jean-Michel Aulas
Jean-Michel Aulas is a French businessman. He is the founder and CEO of CEGID and serves as the owner and chairman of French football club Olympique Lyonnais whom he has owned since 1987. Aulas has also expanded his branch of football knowledge through Europe...
who took control of the club with the objective of turning Lyon into an established Ligue 1 side. His ambitious plan, titled OL – Europe, was designed to develop the club on the European level
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
and back into the first division within a time-frame of no more than four years. The first manager under the new hierarchy was Raymond Domenech
Raymond Domenech
Raymond Domenech is a retired French footballer and the former manager of the France national team.-2006 World Cup:On 12 July 2004, Domenech was a surprise choice to succeed Jacques Santini after the country's disappointing exit from UEFA Euro 2004 by losing in the quarter-final match to the...
. The aspiring chairman gave Domenech carte blanche to recruit whichever player they saw fit to help the team reach the first division. They proceeded to accomplish this feat in Domenech's first season in charge. Lyon achieved their zenith
Zenith
The zenith is an imaginary point directly "above" a particular location, on the imaginary celestial sphere. "Above" means in the vertical direction opposite to the apparent gravitational force at that location. The opposite direction, i.e...
under Domenech when they qualified for the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
. Unfortunately, for the remainder of his tenure the club underachieved. Domenech was later replaced by former French international
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
Jean Tigana
Jean Tigana
Jean Amadou Tigana is a manager and former French international footballer, having played in midfield and managed professional football extensively throughout France, including 52 appearances and 1 goal for the France national football team during the 1980s.-Playing career:Tigana started his...
, who led the team to an impressive 2nd place finish during the 1994–95 season.
At the start of the new millennium
Millennium
A millennium is a period of time equal to one thousand years —from the Latin phrase , thousand, and , year—often but not necessarily related numerically to a particular dating system....
, Olympique Lyonnais began to achieve success in French football. During this time, the club established themselves as the premiere club in France defeating Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
and Paris Saint-Germain and also becoming the country's richest club and one of the most popular. Lyon became known for developing promising talent, who would not only achieve greatness in France, but also abroad and internationally
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
. Notable examples include Michael Essien
Michael Essien
Michael Kojo Essien is a Ghanaian footballer who plays for Chelsea and the Ghanaian national team. He is a midfielder who has often been touted as a box-to-box midfielder for his ability to exert boundless energy in supporting offensive and defensive play...
, Florent Malouda
Florent Malouda
Florent Johan Malouda is a French footballer who plays as a left winger for Chelsea and the French national team.-Châteauroux:A street footballer in his teen years, Malouda gradually developed into an interesting, new football talent, able to penetrate defenses with his technical skills and...
, Juninho Pernambucano
Juninho Pernambucano
Antônio Augusto Ribeiro Reis Jr. , commonly known as Juninho or Juninho Pernambucano, is a Brazilian footballer and dead-ball specialist, currently playing as a midfielder for Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A club CR Vasco da Gama. He is considered to be one of the greatest free kick takers of all time...
, Cris
Cristiano Marques Gomes
Cristiano Marques Gomes or simply Cris, is a Brazilian footballer. He currently plays for Olympique Lyonnais as a centre back and has also represented his country. Also nicknamed "the policeman" by way of reference to his authoritarian nature on the pitch and his four months experience in a police...
, Éric Abidal
Éric Abidal
Éric Sylvain Abidal is a French footballer who plays as a left or central defender for FC Barcelona and the France national team.-Club career:...
, Mahamadou Diarra
Mahamadou Diarra
Mahamadou Diarra is a Malian footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Mali national team. He is captain of the national team.-Early career:Diarra started his career with Greek side OFI Crete...
, Patrick Müller
Patrick Müller
Patrick Müller is a Swiss professional footballer who currently is a Free Agent after ending his contract with Monaco.-Club career:...
, and Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema is a French international footballer who currently plays for Real Madrid in the Spanish La Liga. He primarily plays as a striker whose influence can extend out to the wings and is known for his technical ability, powerful style of play, and vast goal-scoring ability...
. Lyon won their first ever Ligue 1 championship in 2002, starting a national record-breaking streak of seven successive titles. During that span, the club also won one Coupe de France title
Coupe de France Final 2008
The 2008 Coupe de France Final was a football match that was held at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France on 24 May 2008. It was the 90th final in the Coupe de France's history. The final was contested between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Olympique Lyonnais...
, their first Coupe de la Ligue title, and a record six Trophée des Champions
Trophée des champions
The Trophée des champions , is a French association football trophy contested in an annual match between the champions of Ligue 1 and the winners of the Coupe de France. It is equivalent to the Super Cups found in many countries...
. The club also performed well in UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
competition reaching as far as the quarter-finals on three occasions in the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
. Lyon's streak and consistent dominance of French football came to an end during the 2008–09 season, when they lost the title to Bordeaux.
Ownership and finances
Olympique Lyonnais is owned by Rhône businessman Jean-Michel AulasJean-Michel Aulas
Jean-Michel Aulas is a French businessman. He is the founder and CEO of CEGID and serves as the owner and chairman of French football club Olympique Lyonnais whom he has owned since 1987. Aulas has also expanded his branch of football knowledge through Europe...
, who acquired the club on 15 June 1987. He serves as the founder and chief operating officer of CEGID (Compagnie Européenne de Gestion par l'Informatique Décentralisée). After ridding the club of its debt, Aulas restructured the club's management and reorganized the finances and, in a span of two decades, transformed the club from a second division team into one of the richest football clubs in the world. However, Aulas has been lambasted for, according to critics, running the club as if it were a business. The club currently operates on the European Stock Exchange
Euronext
Euronext N.V. is a pan-European stock exchange based in Amsterdam and with subsidiaries in Belgium, France, Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom. In addition to equities and derivatives markets, the Euronext group provides clearing and information services...
under the name OL Groupe, initialed OLG.
In April 2008, business magazine Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
ranked Lyon as the thirteenth most valuable football team in the world. The magazine valued the club at $408 million (€275.6m), excluding debt. On February 2009, Lyon were rated in the 12th spot in the Deloitte Football Money League
Deloitte Football Money League
The Deloitte Football Money League is a ranking of football clubs by revenue generated from football operations. It is produced annually by the accountancy firm Deloitte and released in early February of each year, describing the season most recently finished....
, reportedly bringing in an annual revenue of €155.7 million for the 2007–08 season, which ranks among the world's best football clubs in terms of revenue.
Aulas currently serves on the board for the European Club Association
European Club Association
The European Club Association is an organization representing football clubs in Europe- History :Formed on the dissolution of the G-14 group in January 2008, the European Club Association represents 201 clubs, made up of 103 ordinary members and 98 associated members, with at least one from each...
, a sports organization representing football clubs in Europe. He was also the last president of the now-defunct G-14
G-14
The G-14 was an organisation of European football clubs that existed between 2000 and 2008. It consisted of 14 teams initially, later expanded to 18...
organization.
- As of 10 November 2009.
Club Management bgcolor="#f7f8ff" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="text-align: left;" width="100%"> President and Chairman 
Jean-Michel AulasJean-Michel AulasJean-Michel Aulas is a French businessman. He is the founder and CEO of CEGID and serves as the owner and chairman of French football club Olympique Lyonnais whom he has owned since 1987. Aulas has also expanded his branch of football knowledge through Europe...
Managing Director Thierry SauvageSporting Director Marino FaccioliDirector of Communications Olivier BlancCommercial Director Olivier BernardeauMarketing Director Didier KermarrecSecurity Director Annie SaladinDirector of Special Operations Mathieu GiraudSpecial Advisor Bernard LacombeBernard LacombeBernard Lacombe is a retired French football player. He played forward, mainly with Olympique Lyonnais, Girondins Bordeaux and the French national team.-Career:...
Stadium
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, Édouard Herriot
Édouard Herriot
Édouard Marie Herriot was a French Radical politician of the Third Republic who served three times as Prime Minister and for many years as President of the Chamber of Deputies....
, came up with the idea to develop and build a sports stadia with an athletics track and a velodrome
Velodrome
A velodrome is an arena for track cycling. Modern velodromes feature steeply banked oval tracks, consisting of two 180-degree circular bends connected by two straights...
in the city. In 1912, the stadium was officially mandated and local architect Tony Garnier
Tony Garnier (architect)
Tony Garnier was a noted architect and city planner. He was most active in his hometown of Lyon.Garnier is considered the forerunner of 20th century French architects...
was given the reins to designing and constructing it. Construction began in 1914 with hopes that the stadia would be completed before the International Exhibition of 1914. However, due to World War I, construction was temporarily halted, but resumed following its conclusion in 1919. By 1920, the stadium was completely functional. In 1926, the Stade de Gerland was inaugurated by Herriot.
Olympique Lyonnais began play at the Gerland in 1950 and have remained at the stadium since. The stadia originally had a cycling track, but was removed in order to increased the seating capacity to 50,000. In 1984, minor renovations were made to the stadium by architect Rene Gagis. This included construction of the Jean Bouin
Jean Bouin
Jean Bouin was a French athlete and rugby union footballer. He competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London and at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm....
and Jean Jaurès
Jean Jaurès
Jean Léon Jaurès was a French Socialist leader. Initially an Opportunist Republican, he evolved into one of the first social democrats, becoming the leader, in 1902, of the French Socialist Party, which opposed Jules Guesde's revolutionary Socialist Party of France. Both parties merged in 1905 in...
stands. Further renovations were needed to prepare the stadium for the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
, as by that time FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
had mandated that all stadiums used for international matches, including the World Cup, had to be all-seated. The north and south stands, known as the Jean Jaurès
Jean Jaurès
Jean Léon Jaurès was a French Socialist leader. Initially an Opportunist Republican, he evolved into one of the first social democrats, becoming the leader, in 1902, of the French Socialist Party, which opposed Jules Guesde's revolutionary Socialist Party of France. Both parties merged in 1905 in...
and Jean Bouin
Jean Bouin
Jean Bouin was a French athlete and rugby union footballer. He competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London and at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm....
stand, respectively, were completely knocked down and rebuilt, and the athletics track that had remained, even after the cycling track had been removed, was taken out. The renovations were done by architect Albert Constantin. The new incarnation of Gerland has a maximum capacity of 40,500.
On 1 September 2008, Olympique Lyonnais president Jean-Michel Aulas
Jean-Michel Aulas
Jean-Michel Aulas is a French businessman. He is the founder and CEO of CEGID and serves as the owner and chairman of French football club Olympique Lyonnais whom he has owned since 1987. Aulas has also expanded his branch of football knowledge through Europe...
announced plans to create a new 60,000-seat stadium
New Olympique Lyonnais Stadium
New Olympique Lyonnais Stadium is 61,556-seat stadium that the French football club Olympique Lyonnais is building near Décines. It will replace its current stadium, Stade Gerland...
, tentatively called OL Land, to be built on 50 hectares of land located in Décines-Charpieu
Décines-Charpieu
Décines-Charpieu is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.-People:* Cédric Bardon - footballer* Jean Djorkaeff - footballer* Youri Djorkaeff - footballer* Abdelkader Ghezzal - footballer* Kamel Ramdani - footballer...
, a suburb of Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
. The stadium, if built, will also include state-of-the-art sporting facilities, two hotels, a leisure center, and commercial and business offices.
On 13 October 2008, the project was agreed upon by the State, the General Council of Rhône
General councils (France)
The General councils are assemblies of the French departments. They are elected by universal suffrage.-List of the Presidents of the General councils:-External links:*...
, the Grand Lyon, SYTRAL
Lyon Metro
The Lyon metro, in Lyon, France, first opened in 1978 and now consists of four lines. It is part of the Transports en Commun Lyonnais system of public transport, and is supported by a network of tramways....
, and the municipality of Décines for construction with approximately €180 million of public money being used and between €60–80 million coming from the Urban Community of Lyon
Urban Community of Lyon
The Urban Community of Lyon , also known as Grand Lyon or by its former acronym COURLY, is the intercommunal structure gathering the city of Lyon and some of its suburbs....
. However, since the announcement, the club's efforts to get the stadium off the ground has been hindered mainly due to slow administrative procedures, political interests, and various opposition groups, who view the stadium as financially, ecologically, and socially wrong for the taxpayers and community of Décines. The project is currently in limbo, but most estimate that the stadium will be completed by 2013.
On 22 September 2009, French newspaper L'Equipe reported that OL Land had been selected by the French Football Federation
French Football Federation
The French Football Federation is the governing body of association football in France, as well as the overseas departments and territories . It was formed in 1919 and is based in the capital Paris...
as one of the twelve stadiums to be used in the country's bidding for UEFA Euro 2016
UEFA Euro 2016
The 2016 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as Euro 2016, will be the 15th European Championship for national football teams sanctioned by UEFA. It will be held in the summer of 2016. The host nation was announced to be France on 28 May 2010...
. The FFF officially made their selections on 11 November 2009 and the city of Lyon was selected as a site to host matches during the tournament.
Training center
The Centre Tola VologeCentre Tola Vologe
The Centre Tola Vologe is the training center and club headquarters of French football club Olympique Lyonnais. It is located in the city of Lyon, not far from the club's home stadium, the Stade de Gerland. The facility is named after Anatole Tologe, commonly called Tola Vologe, who was a Lyon...
is the training center and club headquarters of Olympique Lyonnais. It is located in the city of Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, not far from the Stade de Gerland. The facility is named after Anatole Tologe, commonly called Tola Vologe, who was a Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
sportsmen and was murdered by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
during World War II. The facility is known for its high-level training and several prominent players have passed through the youth training center. These include Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema is a French international footballer who currently plays for Real Madrid in the Spanish La Liga. He primarily plays as a striker whose influence can extend out to the wings and is known for his technical ability, powerful style of play, and vast goal-scoring ability...
, Hatem Ben Arfa
Hatem Ben Arfa
Hatem Ben Arfa is a French association football player who plays for English club Newcastle United in the Premier League. He plays as a winger, preferably on the left side, and an attacking midfielder...
, Sidney Govou
Sidney Govou
Sidney Rodrigue Noukpo Govou is a French international footballer of Beninese descent who currently plays for Évian Thonon Gaillard FC. Govou is a naturally attacking player but rarely plays as a striker, he is more commonly deployed as a winger. His main attribute is his pace...
, and Ludovic Giuly
Ludovic Giuly
Ludovic Giuly is a French footballer who plays for Monaco as an attacking midfielder and winger. He represented France at international level, gaining 17 caps over a five-year period, and was a member of their 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup winning squad.-Early career:After starting his career with...
. The center's hosts training sessions for the senior team and also serves as the home facility for the club's reserve
Olympique Lyonnais Reserves and Academy
The Olympique Lyonnais Reserves & Academy are the reserve team and academy of French club Olympique Lyonnais. The reserves squad play in the Championnat de France amateur division, the fourth division of French football and the highest division the team is allowed to participate in. Lyon have won...
, youth (both male and female), and female
Olympique Lyonnais (ladies)
Olympique Lyonnais Féminin is a French women's football club based in Lyon. The club has been the female section of Olympique Lyonnais since 2004. Lyon currently play in the Division 1 Féminine and are the defending champions having won the league for five straight seasons.The club was formed as...
sides, who both play their home matches at the Plaine des Jeux de Gerland. Former Lyon player Alain Olio is the current director of the centre.
Colours and kits
Since the club's foundation, the primary colors have been red, blue, and white, with the latter being the most predominant of the three. During the early years of the club's existence, Olympique Lyonnais primarily played in all-white uniforms. In 1955, Lyon officials decided to add a red and blue scapularScapular
The term scapular as used today refers to two specific, yet related, Christian Sacramentals, namely the monastic and devotional scapulars, although both forms may simply be referred to as "scapular"....
and blue shorts to the combination. In 1961, the scapular tradition was disbanded and the two strips of red and blue were shaped horizontally. After six years, the club returned to the all-white uniforms, but kept intact the red and blue stripes, but, instead of keeping them horizontally, inserted them vertically and on the left side of the shirt. Lyon began wearing the shirt during the 1970–71 season and wore the kits up until the 1975–76 season. For the 2002–03 season, chairman Jean-Michel Aulas
Jean-Michel Aulas
Jean-Michel Aulas is a French businessman. He is the founder and CEO of CEGID and serves as the owner and chairman of French football club Olympique Lyonnais whom he has owned since 1987. Aulas has also expanded his branch of football knowledge through Europe...
announced that the club would return the kits. Lyon wore them, with several different modifications every year, for six of their seven consecutive titles.
In 1976, the club endured a drastic change to their kits, ditching the all-white uniforms for an all-red style, akin to English club Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
. The club wore the kits up until the 1989–90 season, with the 1977–78 and 1978–79 seasons being excluded due to the club adding navy blue vertical stripes to the shirt that was deemed unsuccessful. Following the 1989–90 season, the club returned to the all-white kits and, at the start of the 1995–96 season, the club returned the vertical stripes, but opted to insert them in the center of the shirt, instead of to the left. The club kept this style until the 2001–02 season. For the 2009–10 season
2009–10 Ligue 1
The 2009–10 Ligue 1 season was the 72nd since its establishment. Bordeaux were the defending champions. The fixtures were announced on 5 June 2009, and play commenced on 8 August and ended on 15 May 2010. There were three promoted teams from Ligue 2, replacing the three teams that were relegated...
, Lyon returned the horizontal red and blue stripes.
Supporters
Olympique Lyonnais has a highly-active and loyal fanbase composed of many groups of supporters. One of the club's most notable supporters group is Bad Gones (Bad Kids). The Bad Gones were established in 1987 around the time of Jean-Michel Aulas's purchase of the team and occupy the Virage Nord area of the Stade de Gerland. During the 2007–08 season, the group celebrated its 20th anniversary. The Bad Gones have a very strong reputation in Europe, due to the club's control of Ligue 1Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
, as well as Lyon's continued appearances in the UEFA Champions League.
Another notable supporters group is the Cosa Nostra Lyon, who occupy the Virage Sud area of the stadium. The group was created in 2007 as a result of a merger between two groups, the Lugdunums, which had existed since 1993 and Nucleo Ultra, which formed in 2000. The merger was created to achieve a sense of stability among supporters. The group is no longer recognized by the club, but continues to operate in a functional manner. Other support groups include the Hex@gones, which was formed in 2000 and sit in the Virage Sud area, the Gastrogones, who occupy the Jean Bouin
Jean Bouin
Jean Bouin was a French athlete and rugby union footballer. He competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London and at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm....
stand, and the O'Elles Club, who sit in the Jean Jaurès
Jean Jaurès
Jean Léon Jaurès was a French Socialist leader. Initially an Opportunist Republican, he evolved into one of the first social democrats, becoming the leader, in 1902, of the French Socialist Party, which opposed Jules Guesde's revolutionary Socialist Party of France. Both parties merged in 1905 in...
stand.
The club also has support groups that are based in areas outside of the city of Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
. The Gones 58 supporters comes from the department of Nièvre
Nièvre
Nièvre is a department in the centre of France named after the Nièvre River.-History:Nièvre is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
in Bourgogne
Bourgogne
Burgundy is one of the 27 regions of France.The name comes from the Burgundians, an ancient Germanic people who settled in the area in early Middle-age. The region of Burgundy is both larger than the old Duchy of Burgundy and smaller than the area ruled by the Dukes of Burgundy, from the modern...
, while Gones 26 origins come from the department of Drôme
Drôme
Drôme , a department in southeastern France, takes its name from the Drôme River.-History:The French National Constituent Assembly set up Drôme as one of the original 83 departments of France on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution...
in nearby Valence
Valence, Drôme
Valence is a commune in southeastern France, the capital of the Drôme department, situated on the left bank of the Rhône, south of Lyon on the railway to Marseilles.Its inhabitants are called Valentinois...
. Three minor support groups in Septimagones, Loups Marchois, and Dauphigones comes from the commune of Hérépian
Hérépian
Hérépian is a commune in the Hérault département in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.-See also:*Communes of the Hérault department...
, the department of Creuse
Creuse
Creuse is a department in central France named after the Creuse River.-History:Creuse is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from the former province of La Marche....
, and the department of Isère
Isère
Isère is a department in the Rhône-Alpes region in the east of France named after the river Isère.- History :Isère is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Dauphiné...
, respectively.
Statistics and records
EWLINE
|
CA Paris-Charenton
Cercle Athlétique de Paris Charenton is a French association football team playing in the cities of Charenton-le-Pont and Maisons-Alfort, Val-de-Marne. The team is a merge between CA Paris and SO Charentonnais . The two merged in 1964.-History:CA Paris was founded in 1891 as Nationale de...
on 26 August 1950. Since the club's foundation in 1950, they have played 48 seasons in France's highest football division
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
, which totals 1,768 matches. Of the 1,768, they achieved 686 victories, drew 442 matches, and lost 602 contests. Of the 9 seasons the club played in Ligue 2
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
, they contested 310 matches, winning 160 matches, drawing 84 times, and losing only 56. Lyon achieved their 1,000th victory during the 2003–04 season after defeating Strasbourg
RC Strasbourg
Racing Club de Strasbourg is a French association football club founded in 1906 and professional since 1933, based in the city of Strasbourg, in Alsace...
.
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
-born French midfielder Serge Chiesa
Serge Chiesa
Serge Chiesa is a former professional French footballer.He is a historic player of Olympique Lyonnais, an excellent dribbler whose skill was comparable to Michel Platini. In 1975/76, he was voted 'best attacking midfielder' of the season by France Football.-External links:*...
holds Lyon overall appearance record having played in 541 matches over the course of 14 seasons from 1969 to 1983. Following him is former goalkeeper Grégory Coupet
Grégory Coupet
Grégory Coupet is a retired French association football goalkeeper who last played for Paris Saint-Germain. He has played for clubs such as Saint-Étienne, Lyon, Atlético Madrid. He has also played for the France national team....
who contested 518 matches over the course of 11 seasons from 1997 to 2008. Along with Sidney Govou
Sidney Govou
Sidney Rodrigue Noukpo Govou is a French international footballer of Beninese descent who currently plays for Évian Thonon Gaillard FC. Govou is a naturally attacking player but rarely plays as a striker, he is more commonly deployed as a winger. His main attribute is his pace...
, Coupet also has the distinction of being the only player in Lyon's history to win all four domestic French titles having been a part of all seven Ligue 1 titles, the club's Coupe de France
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
triumph in 2008, the only Coupe de la Ligue
Coupe de la Ligue
The Coupe de la Ligue , known outside of France as the French League Cup, is a knockout cup competition in French football organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel...
win in 2001, and six of the seven Trophée Des Champions
Trophée des champions
The Trophée des champions , is a French association football trophy contested in an annual match between the champions of Ligue 1 and the winners of the Coupe de France. It is equivalent to the Super Cups found in many countries...
titles. Govou, Coupet, and Juninho
Juninho Pernambucano
Antônio Augusto Ribeiro Reis Jr. , commonly known as Juninho or Juninho Pernambucano, is a Brazilian footballer and dead-ball specialist, currently playing as a midfielder for Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A club CR Vasco da Gama. He is considered to be one of the greatest free kick takers of all time...
share the honor of being only Lyon players who were a part of all seven title runs.
The club's all-time leading scorer is Fleury Di Nallo
Fleury Di Nallo
Fleury Di Nallo is a former footballer, one of the best strikers in Division 1 in the 1960s and 70s, and a historic player of Olympique Lyonnais....
, who scored 182 goals while at the club from 1960 to 1974. Di Nallo is also third behind Chiesa and Coupet in all time appearances having played in 489 matches during his 14-year stint at the club. Despite Di Nallo's impressive goalscoring record, he doesn't hold the record for most goals scored during a league season. That distinction goes to Bourg-en-Bresse
Bourg-en-Bresse
Bourg-en-Bresse is a commune in eastern France, capital of the Ain department, and was capital of the former province of Bresse . It is located north-northeast of Lyon.The inhabitants of Bourg-en-Bresse are known as Burgiens.-Geography:...
-born André Guy
André Guy
André Guy is a French former professional football player.-External links:**...
who notched 25 goals, which he attained in the 1968–69 season.
Lyon's biggest victory is 10–0, which occurred of two occasions against Ajaccio
AC Ajaccio
Athletic Club Ajaccio is a French association football club based in the city of Ajaccio on the island of Corsica. The club was founded in 1910 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, having finished 2nd in the 2010–11 campaign in Ligue 2. The club president is Alain...
in the 1953–54 edition of the Coupe de France
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
and, two seasons later, against Delle
Delle
Delle is a commune in the Territoire de Belfort department in Franche-Comté in northeastern France.Delle is the last French town on the railway line from Belfort to Berne, in Switzerland....
in the 1955–56 edition of the competition. Lyon's biggest league victory is 7–0 and also occurred on two occasions. The first being during the 1966–67 season against Angers
Angers SCO
Angers Sporting Club de l'Ouest is a French association football club based in Angers. The club was founded in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second division of French football having achieved promotion to the league in 2007. Angers play its home matches at the Stade Jean Bouin located...
and the second being against Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
during the 1997–98 season. The club's biggest victory on the European stage
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
occurred during the 1974–75 season. Lyon hammered Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
-based club FA Red Boys Differdange
FA Red Boys Differdange
Football Association Red Boys Differdange was a football club, based in Differdange, in south-western Luxembourg. It is now a part of FC Differdange 03.-History:...
7–0.
Rivalries
Historically, Lyon has had a healthy rivalry with fellow Ligue 1 club Saint-ÉtienneAS Saint-Étienne
Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire is a French association football club based in Saint-Étienne. The club was founded in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Saint-Étienne plays its home matches at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard located within the city...
, whom they contest the Derby du Rhône
Derby du Rhône
The Derby du Rhône is a football match contested between French clubs Olympique Lyonnais and AS Saint-Étienne. Both clubs situate themselves in the region of Rhône-Alpes along the Rhône river, which is where the rivalry's name is derived from....
(Rhône derby) with. However, since the club's dominance at the start of the new millennium, they have established rivalries with Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
, Bordeaux
FC Girondins de Bordeaux
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....
, Paris Saint-Germain, and Lille
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...
. Lyon also share minor rivalries with fellow Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes is one of the 27 regions of France, located on the eastern border of the country, towards the south. The region was named after the Rhône River and the Alps mountain range. Its capital, Lyon, is the second-largest metropolitan area in France after Paris...
clubs Grenoble
Grenoble Foot 38
Grenoble Foot 38, commonly referred to as simply Grenoble, is a French association football club based in Grenoble, a city situated at the foot of the French Alps. The original incarnation of the club was founded in 1892 and, in 1997, was formed into the club that exists today as a result of a merger...
and AS Lyon Duchère
AS Lyon Duchère
L'Association Sportive Lyon la Duchère is a French association football team founded in 1964. They are based in Lyon, France and are currently playing in the Championnat de France Amateurs Group B, the fourth tier in the French football league system...
.
The Saint-Étienne rivalry began during the 1960s when Lyon established permanent residency in the French first division. The Arpitan rivalry stems from both clubs close proximity of each other, separated by just 38 miles, as well as historical social and cultural difference between the two cities where they are based; Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
cited as being more upper-class, while Saint-Étienne
Saint-Étienne
Saint-Étienne is a city in eastern central France. It is located in the Massif Central, southwest of Lyon in the Rhône-Alpes region, along the trunk road that connects Toulouse with Lyon...
is cited as being more working-class. The derby
Local derby
In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
also pits "the recently most successful French club" (Lyon) against "the formerly biggest French club" (Saint-Étienne) and is often cited as one of the high-points of the Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
season.
Lyon's rivalry with Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
goes back to 23 September 1945, when the clubs contested their first match. The derby, often called Choc des Olympiques
Choc des Olympiques
The Choc des Olympiques is the name of the football local derby between two major teams in French football with "Olympique" in its names – Olympique Lyonnais and Olympique de Marseille. The French major football broadcaster Canal+ calls this game "Olympico" referring also to El Clasico. It...
(Clash of the Olympics), is often cited as being particularly important as both clubs are of high standard in French football and the championship is regularly decided between the two. Marseille, Saint-Étienne, Lyon are the only French clubs to have won the French first division four straight times with Marseille doing it on two occasions.
Sponsors
On 7 August 2009, Lyon announced that it would sign a ten-year deal with the German sportswear brand AdidasAdidas
Adidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
, effective at the start of the 2010–11 season
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
with Lyon earning €5 million a year annually from the deal, plus possible royalty fees based on product sales.
Following the 2008–09 season, Lyon's long-term sponsorship agreement with the French multinational corporation
Multinational corporation
A multi national corporation or enterprise , is a corporation or an enterprise that manages production or delivers services in more than one country. It can also be referred to as an international corporation...
Accor
Accor
Accor is Europe's leading hotel group , part of the CAC 40 index , and operates in over 90 countries. Headquartered in Courcouronnes, Essonne, France, near Évry, France, the group owns, operates and franchises 4,229 hotels ranging from economy to luxury on five continents .Previously, the group...
and Renault Trucks
Renault Trucks
Renault Trucks is a French truck manufacturer with its corporate headquarters at Saint-Priest near Lyon. Originally part of Renault, it has been owned by Volvo Group since 2001....
ended. On 22 July 2009, the Paris-based online bookmaker BetClic reached an agreement with Lyon to advertise on the club's kits. However, due to French law prohibiting online gambling
Online gambling
Online gambling, also known as Internet gambling and iGambling, is a general term for gambling using the Internet.-Online poker:Online poker tables commonly offer Texas hold 'em, Omaha, Seven-card stud, razz, HORSE and other game types in both tournament and ring game structures...
, Lyon could not wear its kits displaying the BetClic logo. On 12 August 2009, just before the opening league match against Le Mans, the club was relieved of its BetClic-sponsored shirts by the Ligue de Football Professionnel
Ligue de Football Professionnel
The Ligue de Football Professionnel , commonly known as the LFP, is a French governing body that runs the major professional football leagues in France. It was founded in 1944 and serves under the authority of the French Football Federation...
, who warned the club that it risked forfeiting points if they wore them. Lyon complied and, since the Le Mans match, has worn sponsor-less shirts while playing on French soil. Lyon is free to wear its BetClic sponsored shirts outside of France: on 25 August 2009 the club unveiled the shirts in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
while taking on Anderlecht
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
in the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
. On 15 January 2010, Lyon secured a sponsorship agreement with Japanese video game company Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
to display the company's PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
logo on their shirts. The deal lasts until the end of the 2009–10 season
2009–10 Ligue 1
The 2009–10 Ligue 1 season was the 72nd since its establishment. Bordeaux were the defending champions. The fixtures were announced on 5 June 2009, and play commenced on 8 August and ended on 15 May 2010. There were three promoted teams from Ligue 2, replacing the three teams that were relegated...
. In 2010, the French ban on online gambling advertising was lifted, and Lyon began wearing its Betclic-sponsored shirts on French soil.
Minor sponsors of the club include LG
LG Group
LG Corp. is the second-largest South Korean conglomerate company following Samsung, and it is headquartered in the LG Twin Towers in Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. LG produces electronics, chemicals, and telecommunications products and operates subsidiaries like LG Electronics, LG Display,...
, APICIL, and MDA Électroménager. During Coupe de France
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
matches, the club wear kits sponsored by SFR
SFR
SFR is a French mobile phone company. It has over 20 million customers, and provides over 4.6 million households with high-speed internet access...
, Caisse d'Épargne
Groupe Caisse d'Epargne
Groupe Caisse d'Epargne is a French semi-cooperative banking group, founded in 1818, with around 4700 branches in the country. The group is active in retail and private banking, as well as holding a significant stake in the publicly traded investment bank Natixis.-Operations:The group's most...
, and Pitch as they are main sponsors of the French Football Federation
French Football Federation
The French Football Federation is the governing body of association football in France, as well as the overseas departments and territories . It was formed in 1919 and is based in the capital Paris...
. During Coupe de la Ligue
Coupe de la Ligue
The Coupe de la Ligue , known outside of France as the French League Cup, is a knockout cup competition in French football organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel...
matches, Lyon wear shirts with the Speedy Triangle logo on the front as they are main sponsors of the LFP.
First-team squad
- As of 31 October 2011
Out on loan
Reserve squad
Former players
For a complete list of former Olympique Lyonnais players with a Wikipedia article, see here.Retired numbers
16 – in recognition of goalkeeper Luc BorrelliLuc Borrelli
Luc Borrelli was a French football goalkeeper.-Career:Borrelli was born in Marseille and began his career with ASPTT Marseille. In 1986 he moved to Toulon, where he played almost 150 times...
. Borrelli was killed in a road accident in February 1999.
17 –
in recognition of midfielderMidfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
Marc-Vivien Foé
Marc-Vivien Foé
Marc-Vivien Foé was a Cameroonian international footballer, who played in midfield for both club and country. With success in the French League, and stints in the English Premier League, his sudden death, while in the middle of an international competitive fixture, came as a shock to the worldwide...
. Foé died while playing for Cameroon
Cameroon national football team
The Cameroon national football team, nicknamed Les Lions Indomptables , is controlled by the Fédération Camerounaise de Football and is Africa's most successful side in FIFA world cup; having qualified for the FIFA World Cup six times – in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010– more than any...
in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup
2003 FIFA Confederations Cup
The 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup football tournament was the sixth FIFA Confederations Cup, held in France in June 2003. France retained the title they had won in 2001, but the tournament was overshadowed by the death of Cameroon player Marc-Vivien Foé, who died of heart failure in his side's...
at Stade de Gerland, Lyon. The number was brought out of retirement in 2008 to allow Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
ian player Jean Makoun
Jean Makoun
Jean II Makoun is a Cameroonian footballer who plays for Greek Superleague club Olympiacos on loan from Aston Villa. He also plays in the Cameroon national football team.-Early career:...
to wear it, but after his departure the number was retired again.
Award winners
UNFP Player of the YearThe following players have won the UNFP Player of the Year whilst playing for Lyon: Michael Essien
Michael Essien
Michael Kojo Essien is a Ghanaian footballer who plays for Chelsea and the Ghanaian national team. He is a midfielder who has often been touted as a box-to-box midfielder for his ability to exert boundless energy in supporting offensive and defensive play...
– 2005 Juninho
Juninho Pernambucano
Antônio Augusto Ribeiro Reis Jr. , commonly known as Juninho or Juninho Pernambucano, is a Brazilian footballer and dead-ball specialist, currently playing as a midfielder for Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A club CR Vasco da Gama. He is considered to be one of the greatest free kick takers of all time...
– 2006 Florent Malouda
Florent Malouda
Florent Johan Malouda is a French footballer who plays as a left winger for Chelsea and the French national team.-Châteauroux:A street footballer in his teen years, Malouda gradually developed into an interesting, new football talent, able to penetrate defenses with his technical skills and...
– 2007 Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema is a French international footballer who currently plays for Real Madrid in the Spanish La Liga. He primarily plays as a striker whose influence can extend out to the wings and is known for his technical ability, powerful style of play, and vast goal-scoring ability...
– 2008 Lisandro López
Lisandro López
Lisandro López , sometimes known as Lisandro, is an Argentine footballer who plays for Olympique Lyonnais in France.Primarily a striker, he is also capable of playing on the wings....
– 2010
Bravo Award
The following players have won the Bravo Award
Bravo Award
The Bravo Award is an annual award which is handed out by the Italian magazine Guerin Sportivo to the most outstanding young European footballer. The first winner of the award was English Jimmy Case. Until 1992 only under-23 players participating in one of the three European club cups were eligible...
award whilst playing for Lyon: Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema is a French international footballer who currently plays for Real Madrid in the Spanish La Liga. He primarily plays as a striker whose influence can extend out to the wings and is known for his technical ability, powerful style of play, and vast goal-scoring ability...
– 2008
Managers
Oscar Heisserer
Oscar Heisserer was a French footballer.He played for RC Strasbourg, and appeared for France in the 1938 World Cup, where he scored a goal.-References:* *...
as a professional manager in 1950. Heisserer also served as the first player-coach
Player-coach
A player-coach, in sports, is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties. The term can be used to refer to both players who serve as head coaches, or as assistant coaches....
of the club, coming out of retirement to play during his final season at the club. The longest-serving manager in terms of time was Aimé Mignot
Aimé Mignot
Aimé Mignot is a French football defender who played for Aix and Lyon.He coached Lyon, Angers, Alès and the France women's national football team.-References:...
, who managed Lyon for 8 years from 1968 to 1976. Alain Perrin, who managed the club from 2007–2008, was the first Lyon manager to achieve the double
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
.
Current coaching staff
- As of 20 June 2011.
Position Name Nationality Manager Rémi Garde Rémi GardeRémi Garde |Rhône]]) is a French football manager, and current coach of Olympique Lyonnais.-Club career:Garde started his playing career at Lyon in 1982, helping the club achieve promotion to Ligue 1 in 1989. Playing as a defensive midfielder or sweeper, he became club captain and made his debut...Assistant manager Bruno Génésio Goalkeeping coach Joël Bats Joël BatsJoël Bats is a retired goalkeeper and French international footballer.-Goalkeeper:Bats began his professional career with FC Sochaux-Montbéliard in 1974, moving on to newly promoted AJ Auxerre the following year...Fitness coach Alexandre Dellal Fitness coach Nicolas Quinault Reserve team Olympique Lyonnais Reserves and AcademyThe Olympique Lyonnais Reserves & Academy are the reserve team and academy of French club Olympique Lyonnais. The reserves squad play in the Championnat de France amateur division, the fourth division of French football and the highest division the team is allowed to participate in. Lyon have won...
coachRobert Valette Team doctor Emmanuel Orhant Kinesiotherapy Patrick Perret Kinesiotherapy Abdeljelil Redissi Kinesiotherapy Sylvain Rousseau Special advisor Bernard Lacombe Bernard LacombeBernard Lacombe is a retired French football player. He played forward, mainly with Olympique Lyonnais, Girondins Bordeaux and the French national team.-Career:...
Honours
Lyon has won Ligue 1Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
seven times, which ranks tied for 4th in French football history. Lyon has the distinction of starting a national record-breaking streak of seven successive titles beginning with the 2001–02 season. The club has also been crowned champions of Ligue 2
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
three times, won four Coupe de France
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
titles, one Coupe de la Ligue
Coupe de la Ligue
The Coupe de la Ligue , known outside of France as the French League Cup, is a knockout cup competition in French football organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel...
title, and a record seven Trophée des Champions
Trophée des champions
The Trophée des champions , is a French association football trophy contested in an annual match between the champions of Ligue 1 and the winners of the Coupe de France. It is equivalent to the Super Cups found in many countries...
. Though the club is a regular participant in the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
, they have only reached as far as the semifinals, which was accomplished during the during the 2009–10 season. Lyon has won the UEFA Intertoto Cup
UEFA Intertoto Cup
The UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
, achieving this honor in 1997.
League
- Ligue 1Ligue 1Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
(Champions of France) (level 1)
- Winners (7): 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08
- Ligue 2Ligue 2Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
(level 2)
- Winners (3): 1950–51French football Division 2 1950-51-League standings:-References:*...
, 1953–54French football Division 2 1953-54-League standings:-References:*...
, 1988–89French football Division 2 1988-89-Overview:It was contested by 36 teams, and Mulhouse and Olympique Lyonnais won the championship.-Group A:-Group B:-References:*...
- USFSAUnion des Sociétés Françaises de Sports AthlétiquesUnion des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques is a former French sports governing body. During the 1890s and early 1900s it organised numerous sports including athletics, cycling, field hockey, fencing, croquet and swimming...
Lyonnaise French ChampionshipFootball in FranceFootball is the most popular sport in France. The Fédération Française de Football is the national governing bodyand is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the game of association football in the country, both professional and amateur...
- Winners (4): 1906, 1907, 1910, 1913
- French ChampionshipFootball in FranceFootball is the most popular sport in France. The Fédération Française de Football is the national governing bodyand is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the game of association football in the country, both professional and amateur...
(Southern Pool)
- Winners (1): 1944–45
Cups
- Coupe de FranceCoupe de FranceThe Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
- Winners (4): 1964Coupe de France Final 1964The Coupe de France Final 1964 was a football match held at Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes on May 10, 1964, that saw Olympique Lyonnais defeat FC Girondins de Bordeaux 2-0 thanks to goals by Nestor Combin.-Match details:...
, 1967Coupe de France Final 1967The Coupe de France Final 1967 was a football match held at Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes on May 21, 1967, that saw Olympique Lyonnais defeat FC Sochaux-Montbéliard 3-1 thanks to goals by Angel Rambert, André Perrin and Fleury Di Nallo....
, 1973Coupe de France Final 1973The Coupe de France Final 1973 was a football match held at Parc des Princes, Paris on June 17, 1973, that saw Olympique Lyonnais defeat FC Nantes 2-1 thanks to goals by Dobrivoje Tribic and Bernard Lacombe.-Match details:...
, 2008Coupe de France Final 2008The 2008 Coupe de France Final was a football match that was held at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France on 24 May 2008. It was the 90th final in the Coupe de France's history. The final was contested between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Olympique Lyonnais...
- Coupe de la LigueCoupe de la LigueThe Coupe de la Ligue , known outside of France as the French League Cup, is a knockout cup competition in French football organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel...
- Winners (1): 2001Coupe de la Ligue Final 2001The Coupe de la Ligue Final 2001 was a football match held at Stade de France, Saint-Denis on May 5, 2001, that saw Olympique Lyonnais defeat AS Monaco FC 2-1 thanks to goals by Caçapa and Patrick Müller.-Match details:...
- Trophée des ChampionsTrophée des championsThe Trophée des champions , is a French association football trophy contested in an annual match between the champions of Ligue 1 and the winners of the Coupe de France. It is equivalent to the Super Cups found in many countries...
- Winners (7): 1973, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 20062006 Trophée des ChampionsThe 2006 Trophée des Champions was a football match held at Stade Gerland, Lyon on July 30, 2006, that saw 2005-06 Ligue 1 champions Olympique Lyonnais defeat 2006 Coupe de France champions Paris Saint-Germain FC 5-4 on penalty kicks after a draw of 1-1....
, 20072007 Trophée des ChampionsThe 2007 Trophée des Champions was a football match held at Stade Gerland, Lyon on July 28, 2007, that saw 2006-07 Ligue 1 champions Olympique Lyonnais defeat 2007 Coupe de France champions FC Sochaux-Montbéliard 2-1 thanks to goals by Sidney Govou and Cris....
Olympique Lyonnais ladies
Olympique Lyonnais (ladies)Olympique Lyonnais (ladies)
Olympique Lyonnais Féminin is a French women's football club based in Lyon. The club has been the female section of Olympique Lyonnais since 2004. Lyon currently play in the Division 1 Féminine and are the defending champions having won the league for five straight seasons.The club was formed as...
currently play in France's top division, the Championnat de France de football féminin
Championnat de France de football féminin
The Championnat de France de Football Féminin, primarily referred to as the Division 1 Féminine, is the French semi-professional football league for association women's football clubs in France. It is the country's primary female football competition and serves as the top division of the women's...
. The ladies team was set up in the 1970s as part of FC Lyon
FC Lyon
FC Lyon is a French sports club. It was established on November 17, 1893, and is notable for its rugby and football sections....
, but was attached to OL in the summer of 2004. They mostly play their home games at Plaine des Jeux de Gerland, 400 metres from Stade Gerland
Stade Gerland
The Stade de Gerland is a stadium, in the city of Lyon, France and home to Ligue 1 football club Olympique Lyonnais...
, the main stadium.