Lille OSC facts for kids
 |
||||
| Full name | Lille Olympique Sporting Club | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Les Dogues (The Mastiffs) Les Nordistes (The Northmen) Les Lillois (The Lillois) La Machine de Guerre (The War Machine) |
|||
| Short name |
|
|||
| Founded | 23 September 1944 | |||
| Stadium | Stade Pierre-Mauroy | |||
| Stadium capacity |
50,186 | |||
| Owner | Merlyn Partners SCSp | |||
| President | Olivier Létang | |||
| Head coach | Bruno Génésio | |||
| League | Ligue 1 | |||
| 2021–22 | Ligue 1, 10th of 20 | |||
|
||||
Lille Olympique Sporting Club, often called LOSC, LOSC Lille, or just Lille, is a French professional football club. It is based in Lille, a city in Northern France. The team plays in Ligue 1, which is the top football league in France. Since 2012, Lille has played its home games at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. This stadium can hold 50,186 fans and has a retractable roof. It is the fourth-largest stadium in France.
Lille was created in 1944 when two older clubs, Olympique Lillois and SC Fives, joined together. Both of these clubs helped start the French Division 1. Olympique Lillois was even the very first league champion in 1932–33. The club's best time was from 1946 to 1956, right after World War II. During this period, they won seven major trophies, including winning both the league and the cup in 1946. They were known as La Machine de Guerre, which means "The War Machine" in French.
Lille won another league and cup double in 2011. They also won their fourth league title in 2021 and their first Trophée des Champions that same year. This makes Lille the fourth-best French club in the 21st century.
In France, the club has won four league titles, six Coupes de France, and one Trophée des Champions. In European competitions, Lille has played in the UEFA Champions League nine times, reaching the knockout rounds twice. They have also played in the UEFA Europa League eight times and reached the UEFA Conference League quarter-finals once. They won the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2004. Lille is one of the few clubs still in the top division to have finished in the top three of the French championship at least 15 times.
The club's nickname is Les Dogues, which means "The Mastiffs" in French. Lille is famous for its youth academy, which has trained many talented players like Eden Hazard, Benjamin Pavard, and Leny Yoro. The club is also known for finding and developing great players from France and other countries, such as Mike Maignan, Gabriel, and Victor Osimhen. Lille has a long-standing rivalry with nearby team Lens, called the Derby du Nord. Lille has won more games against Lens and has more trophies overall. The club is owned by Merlyn Partners SCSp and led by Olivier Létang. It is the fifth-most popular French sports club on social media.
Club History: From Founding to Today
The "War Machine" Era (1944–1955)
Before Second World War, two top football clubs existed in Lille: Olympique Lillois and SC Fives. Olympique Lillois won the first French championship in 1932–33. They also reached the Coupe de France final in 1939. SC Fives finished second in the league in 1933–34 and reached the Coupe de France final in 1941.
After the war weakened both clubs, they decided to merge on September 23, 1944. This created Stade Lillois, which was soon renamed Lille Olympique Sporting Club.
In their first season, the new club reached the 1945 Coupe de France final. The next season, Lille won the double (both the league and the cup). They beat Red Star in the 1946 Coupe de France Final and finished first in the French Division 1.
In 1947, Lille won the Coupe de France again, beating Strasbourg. They won the cup for a third time in a row in 1948, defeating their rivals Lens. They also finished second in the league in 1948, 1949, 1950, and 1951. In 1951, an exhausted Lille team played in the Latin Cup final but lost to AC Milan.
On May 31, 1953, Lille won their fourth Coupe de France trophy, beating FC Nancy 2–1. The club then won its second league title in 1953–54, letting in only 22 goals in 34 games. This showed how strong their defense was. A year later, Les Dogues won their fifth Coupe de France, beating Bordeaux 5–2 in the final. This successful period after the war earned them the nickname La Machine de Guerre ("The War Machine"). In its first ten years, the club won most of its major trophies, including two league titles and five Coupe de France wins.
Challenges and Rebuilding (1955–2000)
The 1955–56 season was tough for Lille. The club had internal problems and finished 16th, leading to their first relegation in 1956. This also caused big financial issues. To pay off debts, many top players had to leave. The club struggled to build a strong team and went through many promotions and relegations between the first and second divisions.
In 1969, Lille even gave up its professional status because it lacked money and facilities. After a few years in amateur leagues, Lille became a professional team again in 1970 and won the second division that season. The club continued to move between divisions in the 1970s. Financial problems persisted, and the city council often had to help. In 1974, Lille won the Division 2 championship again. After two 13th-place finishes, the club was relegated once more in 1977.
Lille finally returned to the top league at the end of the 1977–78 season. They stayed in the first division until 1997. In 1978–79, they finished 6th, almost qualifying for European competitions. In 1980, Lille became the first French club to become a "mixed economy company" (SAEMS). This meant the city of Lille owned most of the club, helping it become financially stable. LOSC reached the Coupe de France semi-finals in 1983 and 1985.
However, Lille often stayed in the middle of the league table. In 1991, they finished sixth, just missing out on European spots. More financial problems in 1994 almost led to the club being forced down a division. Lille had to sell its best players and focus on its youth academy. Another money crisis led to relegation to the second division in 1997.
While in Division 2, the club was bought by Luc Dayan and Francis Graille in 1999. With coach Vahid Halilhodžić, Lille quickly found success. They dominated the 1999–2000 Division 2 season, winning the championship by sixteen points and returning to the top league.
Return to the Top and New Success (2000–2017)
In their first season back in the top league, 2000–01 French Division 1, Lille qualified for European competitions for the first time, earning a spot in the 2001–02 Champions League. Under chairman Michel Seydoux and coach Claude Puel, Lille entered a new era. The club moved from the old Stade Grimonprez-Jooris to the Stadium Lille Métropole and became a regular in European tournaments.
.jpg)
They had impressive wins, like beating Manchester United 1–0 in 2005, Milan 2–0 in their home stadium in 2006, and Liverpool 1–0 in 2010.
In the 2010s, Lille grew stronger both on and off the field. The opening of the modern Domaine de Luchin training complex in 2007 marked a new beginning. Also, the construction of the 50,000-seat Grand Stade Lille Métropole (later renamed Stade Pierre-Mauroy) began in 2010 and opened in 2012. This gave the club the fourth-largest football stadium in France.
Under coach Rudi Garcia, Lille returned to the top of the French league. Fifty-six years after their last trophy, the 2010–11 team, with players like Yohan Cabaye, Mathieu Debuchy, and Eden Hazard, won the club's second double. They finished first in 2010–11 Ligue 1 and beat Paris Saint-Germain in the 2011 Coupe de France final.
Lille continued to be a top French team in the 2011–12 and 2012–13 seasons, finishing third and sixth. In 2013, Garcia left, and René Girard became the new manager. Under Girard, Lille finished third in 2013–14. Girard left in 2015 after the team finished eighth.
In May 2015, Hervé Renard became the new manager, but he was replaced by Frederic Antonetti in November 2015. Antonetti's contract was ended in November 2016 when the club was near the bottom of the league.
Campos and Galtier: A Period of Success (2017–2021)
In early 2017, Lille hired Luis Campos as sporting director and Marcelo Bielsa as manager. However, Bielsa was suspended in November 2017 after an unauthorized trip and was replaced by Christophe Galtier. In a tough 2017–18 season, Lille avoided relegation to Ligue 2 by winning their second-to-last game.
The next season was very different. With new players like José Fonte, Loïc Rémy, Zeki Çelik, Jonathan Bamba, Jonathan Ikoné, and Rafael Leão, the team won many games. On April 14, 2019, in front of a record crowd of 49,712 fans, they beat Paris Saint-Germain 5–1. At the end of the season, Lille finished second, qualifying for the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League after a seven-year absence.
On August 1, 2019, top scorer Nicolas Pépé was sold to Arsenal for a club-record fee of €80 million. Lille then signed Victor Osimhen, Tiago Djaló, Timothy Weah, Reinildo Mandava, Benjamin André, Yusuf Yazıcı, and Renato Sanches. The Ligue 1 season was stopped early in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lille was in 4th place at that time.
In summer 2020, Lille signed young talents Sven Botman and Jonathan David, as well as veteran Burak Yılmaz. By the end of the first half of the 2020–21 season, Lille had lost only two games. They beat rivals Lens 4–0 in October 2020. The team started the second half of the season with six straight wins. On April 3, 2021, Lille won at Paris with a goal from Jonathan David, taking first place in the league. Three weeks later, they came back from two goals down to beat Lyon 3–2, with Burak Yılmaz scoring twice.
On May 23, Lille won the Ligue 1 title with a 2–1 victory at Angers. This was their fourth Ligue 1 title, achieved under manager Christophe Galtier. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan had 21 clean sheets that season. In the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League, they beat AC Milan 3–0 in November 2020 but lost to Ajax in the round of 32.
New Era with Fonseca (2021–Present)
In the 2021–22 season, Lille won its first Trophée des Champions, beating Paris Saint-Germain 1–0 in Israel. The team then reached the UEFA Champions League round of 16, where they were defeated by Chelsea. Lille is considered the fourth-best French club in Ligue 1 in the 21st century.
On June 29, 2022, Paulo Fonseca was appointed as the new head coach. The 2022–23 season started well with a 4–1 home win against Auxerre. On October 9, they beat rivals Lens 1–0. Fonseca's Lille team is known for its stylish, attacking football, often playing in a 4–2–3–1 formation. They focus on passing and offense.
Club Identity and Colors
Team Crest and Nicknames
Lille's club crest has changed many times over the years. The first crest used was the shield of the city of Lille, which dates back to 1235. It showed a white fleur-de-lys on a red background. The fleur-de-lys symbol is linked to the city's name, "Lille," which sounds like "Lisle," an old spelling of "Lys" (meaning lily or water flag). The white and red colors in the shield represent wisdom, wealth, passion, and faithfulness.
White and red were the colors of Olympique Lillois. Blue, which is often used for the team's shorts, comes from SC Fives. Red is still the main color used by the club today.
In 1981, the mastiff dog appeared on the club crest for the first time and has been there ever since. The nickname Les Dogues ("The Mastiffs") shows the team's strong and dedicated playing style. This nickname was first used for Olympique Lillois players in the 1920s. Other common nicknames for the club are Les Nordistes ("The Northmen") and Les Lillois (people from Lille).
A new crest was introduced in 1989, combining the fleur-de-lys and a mastiff. The words "LOSC Lille Métropole" were added to show the club's connection to the larger Lille area. This badge was updated in 1997 and then replaced in 2002 with a simpler design focusing on the dog and the "LOSC" initials. In 2012, the fleur-de-lys became a main part of the logo again.
The most recent crest, revealed in 2018, includes all the club's symbols: the initials, the mastiff, the fleur-de-lys, and the three colors. It is shaped like a regular pentagon, similar to the shape of the Citadel of Lille.
- Lille OSC crest history
-
1944–1946
-
1946–1955
-
1955–1974
-
1974–1981
-
1981–1989
-
1997–2002
-
2002–2012
-
2012–2018
.svg)
Team Kits and Sponsors
| Period | Kit supplier | Main sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 1944–1970 | None | None |
| 1970–1971 | Le Coq Sportif | |
| 1971–1973 | Caby | |
| 1973–1974 | Pel d'Or | |
| 1974–1975 | Soda Krak GBM | |
| 1975–1979 | Kopa | Peaudouce |
| 1979–1988 | Puma | |
| 1988–1990 | Duarig | Shopi |
| 1990–1991 | Constri-Foot | Eurest |
| 1991–1992 | Xylophene | |
| 1992–1993 | Lotto | Eurest |
| 1993–1994 | ABM | Tousalon |
| 1994–1995 | La Redoute | |
| 1995–1996 | Adidas | Aquatour |
| 1996–1997 | Reebok | |
| 1997–1998 | Polyfilla | |
| 1998–1999 | Crédit Agricole | |
| 1999–2000 | Nike | |
| 2000–2001 | ING Direct | |
| 2001–2003 | Kipsta | |
| 2003–2006 | Partouche | |
| 2006–2008 | Airness | |
| 2008–2010 | Canterbury | |
| 2010–2013 | Umbro | |
| 2013–2014 | Nike | |
| 2014–2015 | Etixx | |
| 2015–2016 | Partouche | |
| 2016–2018 | New Balance | |
| 2018–2019 | None | |
| 2019–2022 | Boulanger | |
| 2022–2023 | Cazoo | |
| 2023– | Boulanger |
_5.jpg)
Lille OSC's first home kit was white and blue. The white jersey had a large red "V" or chevron shape around the neck and red sleeve ends. This design was inspired by Olympique Lillois and SC Fives. The blue shorts and socks also came from SC Fives. The red chevron was on every jersey until 1964, when it disappeared.
In the 1990s, different kit makers added various red designs. In 1999, a big change happened: the main color of the home kits became red, while away kits were mostly white. The club made an exception for the 2016–17 Ligue 1 season, returning to a white home kit to celebrate the 70th anniversary of their 1946 double win.
Third kits are usually worn for European games. They were blue in the early 2000s, then started using the black and yellow colors of the flag of Flanders. Since the 2000s, the club has released many black or yellow third kits.
Lille has had many different kit suppliers. The first was Le Coq Sportif in the 1970s. In the 1980s, Puma was a famous supplier for nine years. After that, companies like Lotto and Adidas had short contracts. Reebok supplied kits for three seasons starting in 1996, before Nike took over in 1999. Other suppliers included Kipsta (a brand from the Lille region), Airness, and Canterbury. In 2013, Umbro took over, followed by Nike again in 2013 for three years.
_51.jpg)
On June 22, 2016, Lille announced a five-year deal with New Balance. This partnership was renewed in 2021 until June 2026.
The first main sponsors of the club were Jean Caby butchery and Pel d'Or lemonade. One of Lille's most well-known sponsors was Peaudouce, a French company that made nappies and baby products. Their logo was on the club's shirt for over ten years. Other famous sponsors include Eurest, Crédit Agricole, and ING Direct.
The "P" logo of the French casino company Partouche first appeared on Lille's jersey in 2003. Partouche is Lille's most loyal sponsor, with their logo on the shirt for fourteen seasons. Recent main sponsors include French electronics retailer Boulanger and British online car retailer Cazoo.
        1940s to 1960s
|
 1970s
|
   1980s
|
 1999–present
|
   2011–12 home
|
  2012–13 away
|
   2013–14 third
|
     2015–16 third
|
Club Grounds and Facilities
Home Stadiums Over Time
After Lille OSC was formed, the team played its home games at the stadiums of both original clubs: Stade Henri-Jooris (from Olympique Lillois) and Stade Jules-Lemaire (from SC Fives). In 1949, the club decided to use Stade Henri-Jooris as its main home and Stade Jules-Lemaire for training. Stade Jules-Lemaire was later torn down in 1959.
Stade Henri-Jooris, named after a famous president of Olympique Lillois, could hold 15,000 fans. It was Lille's home until 1975, when the team moved to Stade Grimonprez-Jooris. This stadium was located near the old one. It originally held 25,000 people, but this was reduced to 17,000 by 2000 due to safety rules. After renovations, its capacity increased to 21,000. However, it still didn't meet modern football standards. Plans for a new stadium were made in 2002.
.png)
In June 2003, the club agreed to build a new 33,000-seat stadium on the site of Stade Grimonprez-Jooris. But this project faced opposition from people who wanted to protect the historic 17th-century citadel nearby. In May 2004, the stadium closed. Lille had to play league matches at Stadium Nord Lille Métropole (18,000 seats) in Villeneuve-d'Ascq. They played their 2005–06 UEFA Champions League games at Stade de France near Paris. After two years of legal battles, the new Grimonprez-Jooris stadium was cancelled. The old Grimonprez-Jooris was demolished in 2010.
Lille stayed at Stadium Lille Métropole until the end of the 2011-12 Ligue 1 season. A new plan for a larger stadium was then launched.
On February 1, 2008, the company Eiffage was chosen to build a 50,000-seat multi-purpose stadium with a retractable roof. This stadium can also transform into a 30,000-seat arena for basketball, tennis, handball games, and concerts. The Stade Pierre-Mauroy, also known as Decathlon Arena – Stade Pierre-Mauroy since 2022, opened on August 17, 2012. It was first called the Grand Stade Lille Métropole but was renamed in 2013 to honor Pierre Mauroy, a former Mayor of Lille and Prime Minister of France.
The stadium is in Villeneuve-d'Ascq and holds 50,186 people, making it France's fourth-largest stadium. It has hosted games for the France national football team and France national rugby union team, as well as matches for UEFA Euro 2016 and the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The arena part has hosted EuroBasket 2015, the Davis Cup, and the 2017 World Men's Handball Championship. It will also host handball and basketball for the 2024 Olympic Games. The record attendance for a sports game at the stadium is 49,712 fans, who watched Lille beat Paris Saint-Germain 5–1 in 2019.
Training Facilities
The Domaine de Luchin has been the club's training ground since 2007. It is located in Camphin-en-Pévèle, about 15 minutes from central Lille. This large 43-hectare area has nine full-size pitches (one with artificial turf), a goalkeeper training field, the club's offices, and the youth academy facilities. It also has classrooms, bedrooms, a medical center, a fitness center, and press areas.
A famous bronze statue of a mastiff, called "Dogue de Bronze" ("The Bronze Mastiff"), was installed in 2011. The main pitch at the facility can hold 1,000 spectators and hosts matches for the academy and women's teams. In March 2024, this pitch was renamed "Terrain Eden Hazard" ("Eden Hazard pitch") after the club legend Eden Hazard. A piece of the Berlin Wall with a graffiti of Hazard by artist C215 is also on display at the center.
Club Rivalries
The Derby du Nord ("The North Derby") is a big rivalry between Lille and RC Lens. This derby gets its name because both clubs are in the northern part of France, in the Hauts-de-France region. Lens is about 30 kilometers south of Lille. The name can also sometimes refer to matches between Lille and Valenciennes, but the main "North Derby" is always with Lens. The match between Lille and Valenciennes is sometimes called Le Petit Derby du Nord ("The Little North Derby").
The two clubs first played each other in 1937. Because the clubs are so close and their fans have different backgrounds, a strong rivalry grew. Lens is known as a working-class, industrial mining city, while Lille is seen as a middle-class, modern city. However, today, fans from both clubs come from various social classes.
As of 2024, Lille and Lens have played over 115 matches. Lille has won 46 times, Lens has won 37 times, and 36 matches have been draws. Lille has won more top division titles, more Coupe de France trophies, and more Trophée des Champions titles than Lens. Lille has also played more games in top French and European competitions.
Club Achievements
Domestic Trophies
League Titles
- French Division 1/Ligue 1
- Winners (4): 1945–46, 1953–54, 2010–11, 2020–21
- Runners-up (6): 1947–48, 1948–49, 1949–50, 1950–51, 2004–05, 2018–19
- French Division 2
- Winners (4): 1963–64, 1973–74, 1977–78, 1999–2000
Cup Wins
- Coupe de France
- Winners (6): 1945–46, 1946–47, 1947–48, 1952–53, 1954–55, 2010–11
- Runners-up (2): 1944–45, 1948–49
- Coupe de la Ligue
- Runners-up (1): 2015–16
- Trophée des Champions
- Winners (1): 2021
- Runners-up (2): 1955, 2011
European Trophies
- UEFA Intertoto Cup
- Winners (1): 2004
- Runners-up (1): 2002
- Latin Cup
- Runners-up (1): 1951
Doubles (League and Cup)
- French Division 1/Ligue 1 and Coupe de France (2): 1945–46, 2010–11
Individual Player and Coach Awards
- UNFP Player of the Year
Eden Hazard – 2011, 2012
- UNFP Young Player of the Year
- Eden Hazard – 2009, 2010
- UNFP Goalkeeper of the Year
Mike Maignan – 2019
- UNFP Manager of the Year
- Claude Puel – 2006
- Rudi Garcia – 2011
- René Girard – 2014
- Christophe Galtier – 2019, 2021
- UNFP Goal of the Year
- Loïc Rémy – 2019
Burak Yılmaz – 2021
- Prix Marc-Vivien Foé
Gervinho – 2010, 2011
Vincent Enyeama – 2014
Sofiane Boufal – 2016- Nicolas Pépé – 2019
- Victor Osimhen – 2020
Team Records and Statistics
Coaching Records
Coaches Who Won Trophies
| Rank | Head coach | L1 | L2 | CdF | TdC | UIC | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | André Cheuva |
1 | – | 4 | – | – | 5 |
| 2 |  George Berry |
1 | – | 1 | – | – | 2 |
| 3 | Rudi Garcia |
1 | – | 1 | – | – | 2 |
| 4 | Christophe Galtier |
1 | – | – | – | – | 1 |
| 5 | Jules Bigot |
– | 1 | – | – | – | 1 |
| 6 | Georges Peyroche |
– | 1 | – | – | – | 1 |
| 7 | José Arribas |
– | 1 | – | – | – | 1 |
| 8 |  Vahid Halilhodžić |
1 | – | – | – | 1 | |
| 9 | Jocelyn Gourvennec |
– | – | – | 1 | – | 1 |
| 10 | Claude Puel |
– | – | – | – | 1 | 1 |
Player Records
Most Games Played
.jpg)
| Rank | Player | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marceau Somerlinck |
433 |
| 2 | Rio Mavuba |
370 |
| 3 | André Strappe |
365 |
| 4 | Florent Balmont |
323 |
| 5 | Franck Béria |
317 |
Top Goal Scorers
.png)
| Rank | Player | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jean Baratte |
221 |
| 2 | André Strappe |
134 |
| 3 |  Jonathan David |
97 |
| 4 | Gérard Bourbotte |
96 |
| 5 | Jean Lechantre |
91 |
Transfer Records
Highest Transfer Fees Paid
.jpg)
| Rank | Player | From | Fee (€ millions) |
Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jonathan David |
Gent |
€27 | 2020 |
| 2 |  Renato Sanches |
 Bayern Munich |
€20 | 2019 |
| 3 | Yusuf Yazıcı |
Trabzonspor |
€16.5 | 2017 |
| 4 |  Thiago Maia |
Santos |
€14 | 2017 |
 Mohamed Bayo |
Clermont |
€14 | 2022 | |
| 6 | Victor Osimhen |
Charleroi |
€12 | 2019 |
 Hákon Arnar Haraldsson |
 Copenhagen |
€12 | 2023 | |
| 8 | Luiz Araújo |
São Paulo |
€10.5 | 2017 |
| 9 | Marvin Martin |
Sochaux |
€10 | 2012 |
| Nicolas Pépé |
Angers |
€10 | 2017 | |
 Timothy Weah |
Paris Saint-Germain |
€10 | 2019 | |
| Matias Fernandez-Pardo |
Gent |
€10 | 2024 |
Highest Transfer Fees Received
| Rank | Player | To | Fee (€ millions) |
Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nicolas Pépé |
Arsenal |
€80 | 2019 |
| 2 | Victor Osimhen |
 Napoli |
€71.2 | 2020 |
| 3 | Leny Yoro |
Manchester United |
€62 | 2024 |
| 4 |  Sven Botman |
Newcastle United |
€37 | 2022 |
| 5 | Amadou Onana |
Everton |
€36 | 2022 |
| 6 | Eden Hazard |
Chelsea |
€35 | 2012 |
| Rafael Leão |
Milan |
€35 | 2019 | |
| 8 |  Carlos Baleba |
Brighton & Hove Albion |
€27 | 2023 |
| 9 | Gabriel Magalhães |
Arsenal |
€26 | 2020 |
| 10 | Thiago Mendes |
Lyon |
€24 | 2019 |
Images for kids
-
George Berry
-
Claude Puel
-
Rudi Garcia
-
Christophe Galtier
-
Paulo Fonseca
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
-
George Berry
-
Claude Puel
-
Rudi Garcia
-
Christophe Galtier
-
Paulo Fonseca
