Olympique Lyonnais Reserves and Academy
One of Europe's top football academies since the 2010s.
The reserve team of Olympique Lyonnais plays in Championnat National 3, the fifth tier of French football and the highest level its status allows. This squad has won the reserve division title of the Championnat de France Amateur six times, in 1998, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2010.
The U-19 team competes in the Championnat National U19, a league of four groups of fourteen clubs. After a regular season called Phase 1, the four group winners are drawn into semi-finals, with the winners meeting in the Under-18 championship match, usually held in Mayenne; a third-place match precedes it. The U-18 side also plays in the Coupe Gambardella, which it has won four times: 1971, 1994, 1997, and 2022.
The U-17 team plays in the Championnat National U17, a league of six groups of twelve clubs. Following Phase 1, the six group winners and the two best second-place teams are split into two groups of four, playing each other once at neutral venues over four days. The winners of those groups then face off for the Under-17 title. The U-17 squad also takes part in regional cup competitions.
Gueida Fofana, a former Lyon player whose career was cut short by injury, has managed the reserves since 2019. Samy Saci manages the U-19s, and Amaury Barlet manages the U-17s.
The academy’s philosophy prioritizes technical learning over match results, similar to FC Barcelona. According to scout Faouzi Djedou-Benabid, Lyon educators will move defenders into midfield so they learn to use their feet better. The system does not favor any specific pattern of play, helping players adapt to different positions during matches.
This approach has made Lyon’s academy one of Europe’s most respected since the 2010s. Between 2012 and 2019, it appeared in the top four of the International Centre for Sports Studies’ list of Europe’s best academies eight times in a row. The French Football Federation rated it the best in France for six consecutive seasons, from 2013 to 2019. In February 2014, *L’Équipe* reported that Lyon ranked second, tied with Real Madrid, for the number of academy-trained players in the five major European leagues, behind only Barcelona. In 2015, *France Football* praised the academy for feeding the first team and producing players with transfer market value, though this is not the club’s core policy.
Quick Facts
- Clubname
- Olympique Lyonnais
- Nickname
- Les Gones, Lyon, or OL
- Founded
- 1899/1950
- Ground
- Stade Gérard Houllier · fr · Groupama OL Training Center, / Décines-Charpieu
- Capacity
- 1,524
- Chairman
- USA John Textor
- Manager
- FRA Gueida Fofana (National 3) · FRA Samy Saci (U-19s) / FRA Amaury Barlet (U-17s)
- League
- Championnat National 3 / Championnat National Under-19 / Championnat National Under-17
- Season
- 2022–23 (National 2)
- Position
- National 2 Group C, 14th (relegated)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The academy's philosophy emphasizes technical learning over match results, similar to FC Barcelona. According to scout Faouzi Djedou-Benabid, Lyon educators have defenders play in midfield so they can learn to use their feet better. The formation does not favor any pattern of play, allowing players to adapt easily to all positions during a game. This approach has led to Lyon appearing eight times in the top four of the International Centre for Sports Studies list of best football academies in Europe between 2012 and 2019, and being rated by the French Football Federation as the best academy in France for six consecutive seasons from 2013 to 2019.
The competition level within Lyon's youth teams is very difficult for young players, who regularly emancipate themselves at other clubs, either voluntarily or not. Many have gone on to have successful national or international careers, including Ludovic Giuly, Karim Benzema, Alexandre Lacazette, Samuel Umtiti, and Nabil Fekir. As of June 2025, 37 players formed in the Lyon academy had earned caps for the France national team.
The reserves team has won the Championnat de France Amateur title six times (1998, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2010), though the honours list also records seven titles including 2011. The U-19 squad has won the Coupe Gambardella four times (1971, 1994, 1997, 2022) and the Championnat National U19 three times (1993, 2000, 2005). The U-17 side has won the Championnat National U17 four times (1994, 2000, 2004, 2014).
Reader's Guide
The Olympique Lyonnais Reserves and Academy represent a systematic approach to player development that prioritizes technical skill and positional versatility over immediate results. This philosophy has produced a steady stream of professional players who have succeeded both at Lyon and elsewhere, contributing to the club's financial model through transfer revenue without that being the core policy. The academy's consistent ranking among Europe's best, as measured by independent studies and the French Football Federation, underscores its effectiveness. The reserves team serves as a bridge between youth football and the professional level, competing in the fifth division. The academy's influence extends beyond Lyon, as its graduates have populated national teams and top European leagues, making it a benchmark for youth development in French football.
More in Club History & Eras
Elsewhere in Olympique Lyonnais
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced