Lyon Lyon

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Lore & Background

The club's origins trace to 1899, when a football club named Olympique de Lyon was formed within the multi-sport club Lyon Olympique Universitaire. Following internal disagreements, a final meeting of around twenty people took place on 23 May 1950 in Café Neuf on Place Bellecour. There, the name Olympique Lyonnais was decided, along with the club's colours of red and blue. On 26 May, Le Progrès reported the club had officially formed. On 27 August 1950, the club played its first official match, defeating CA Paris-Charenton 3–0, with Lyon's first goal scored within the first forty seconds. In just its second year, Lyon were crowned champions of Division 2 during the 1950–51 season. The club won its first Ligue 1 title in 2002, starting a national record-breaking streak of seven successive titles. During that run, the club also won its fourth Coupe de France title, its first Coupe de la Ligue title, and six Trophée des Champions. Lyon reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2010 and again in 2020.

In Their Own Story

In June 1987, Lyon was bought by local businessman Jean-Michel Aulas, who took control aiming to turn Lyon into an established Division 1 side. His plan, titled OL – Europe, was designed to develop the club at a European level within four years. The first manager under the new hierarchy was Raymond Domenech, who qualified the team for the UEFA Cup in his first season. At the start of the new millennium, Lyon established itself as France's richest club and became known for developing talent like Michael Essien, Florent Malouda, Juninho, Cris, Eric Abidal, and Karim Benzema. On 8 May 2023, after 36 years of presidency, Aulas stepped down, having sold the club to American businessman John Textor in December 2022. In December 2022, Textor's Eagle Group acquired a 77.49% stake in the club at a valuation of €900 million including debt. On 24 June 2025, Lyon were administratively relegated to Ligue 2 by the DNCG due to the poor state of the club's finances. On 30 June 2025, Michele Kang was announced president of the club.

Reader's Guide

Lyon's nickname, Les Gones, translates to 'The Kids' in Lyon's regional dialect of Franco-Provençal. They have a long-standing rivalry with nearby team Saint-Étienne, against whom they contest Le Derby. The club's home colours are white, red and blue. Lyon was a member of the G14 group of leading European football clubs and are founder members of its successor, the European Club Association. The club has won eight Trophées des Champions, five Coupes de France, and three Ligue 2 titles. On a European level, the team has participated in the UEFA Champions League seventeen times, reaching the semi-final during the 2009–10 season and the 2019–20 season, and have made it to the quarterfinals on three other occasions. They have also qualified for the Europa League numerous times, making it as far as the semi-final during the 2016–17 season. In the 2019–20 Champions League, Lyon defeated Juventus in the round of 16 and Manchester City in the quarter-final before losing 3–0 in the semi-final to Bayern Munich.

Did You Know?

• The club's first official match was on 27 August 1950, and Lyon's first goal was scored within the first forty seconds.
• Lyon was founded in 1950 after a meeting of around twenty people at Café Neuf on Place Bellecour.
• The club's nickname, Les Gones, translates to 'The Kids' in Lyon's regional dialect of Franco-Provençal.
• Lyon was owned by Jean-Michel Aulas from June 1987 until it was purchased by John Textor in December 2022.
• On 24 June 2025, Lyon were administratively relegated to Ligue 2 by the DNCG due to the poor state of the club's finances.