History of Olympique Lyonnais

Lore & Background

Olympique Lyonnais traces its origins to 1896, when Racing Club de Lyon was established. In 1899, Olympique de Lyon formed a football team within the multisport club Lyon Olympique Universitaire. Early on, the football section was overshadowed by local rivals FC Lyon, who won the French championship in 1908 and 1909. In 1910, Lyon Olympique won the French Championship. By 1945, Lyon Olympique was managed by Félix Louot, who led the club to win the southern pool of the final wartime championship and a 4–0 loss to Rouen in the national final. Disagreements over amateurs and professionals led Louot to form a new club. On 3 August 1950, Olympique Lyonnais was officially founded by Dr. Albert Trillat and others, moving into the Stade de Gerland. The club's first manager was Oscar Heisserer, and its first official match was a 3–0 victory over CA Paris-Charenton. In 1951, Lyon won the second division title and moved up to the first division, but were relegated after one season. They returned to the top division in the 1953–54 season under Heisserer, who then departed.

Reader's Guide

Olympique Lyonnais enjoyed limited success in the 1960s, partly due to the play of Fleury Di Nallo and Argentine Néstor Combin. Under manager Lucien Jasseron, the club finished fifth in the league and reached the 1963 Coupe de France final, losing to Monaco. The following season, Lyon won its first Coupe de France title, defeating Bordeaux 2–0. The club won a second Coupe de France in 1967 under Louis Hon, beating Sochaux 3–1. The 1970s saw the arrival of Yugoslavian defender Ljubomir Mihajlović and the emergence of Bernard Lacombe and Serge Chiesa. In 1973, Lyon won its third Coupe de France, defeating Nantes 2–1. The club later struggled, fighting relegation and losing Lacombe to rivals Saint-Étienne. By 1987, the club was playing in the second division. In June 1987, businessman Jean-Michel Aulas took control with the objective of turning Lyon into an established Ligue 1 side. His first season was a success, with the club finishing second in Groupe B of the second division. The club's seven Ligue 1 titles place it fourth all-time in French football.

Did You Know?

• Olympique Lyonnais was officially founded on 3 August 1950 by Dr. Albert Trillat and others.
• Fleury Di Nallo, known as 'The Little Prince of Gerland', is considered arguably Lyon's greatest player.
• In June 1987, businessman Jean-Michel Aulas took control of the club with a plan to return it to Ligue 1.