Les Gones
Les Gones – The Kids of Lyon
Olympique Lyonnais (French: Olympique lyonnais; French pronunciation: [ɔlɛ̃pik ljɔnɛ]), commonly referred to as simply Lyon (French pronunciation: [ljɔ̃]) or OL, is a men's French professional football club based in Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France. With origins dating back to 1899, they were founded in 1950. The club currently competes in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. They play their home matches at the 59,186-capacity Parc Olympique Lyonnais, commercially known as the Groupama Stadium, in Décines-Charpieu, a suburb in the Metropolis of Lyon. 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.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- Lyon dialect for 'the kids'
- Home stadium
- Parc Olympique Lyonnais (formerly Stade de Gerland)
Lore & Background
The club'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. Lyon was owned by French businessman Jean-Michel Aulas from June 1987 until it was purchased by American businessman John Textor in December 2022.
Reader's Guide
The club won its first Ligue 1 championship in 2002, beginning a national record-setting streak of seven successive titles. Lyon has also 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 of the competition during the 2009–10 season and the 2019–20 season, and have made it to the quarterfinals in 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.
Did You Know?
- The club was founded in 1950, not 1899; the 1899 date refers to a predecessor club, Lyon Olympique Universitaire.
- Michele Kang was not announced president of the club in June 2025; John Textor remains the owner and president as of early 2025.
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