RC Lens

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Lens won the Division 1 (now Ligue 1) title in the 1997–98 season, and has finished as runner-up on five occasions, most recently in the 2025–26 season. Lens also finished as runner-up three times in Coupe de France before securing their maiden cup in 2026. Lens won the Trophée des Champions for the first time in 2026, having finished as runner-up in 1998. The club has a strong rivalry with neighbors Lille OSC, with whom they contest the Derby du Nord. The origins of the club are not clearly documented, although most sources suggest that the club was established in 1906 under the name 'Racing Club lensois'. The name was chosen as a reference to Racing Club de Roubaix and Racing Club de France, both popular clubs at the time. The current name, 'Racing Club de Lens', dates back to 1969. The club originally played in green and black to represent the founding location; they wore green to represent the name of the home pitch, 'Verte' (meaning 'green' in French), and black to represent the omnipresence of the coal mining industry in the surrounding area. Between 1907 and 1912, the players were forced to change home grounds twice before settling at the Parc des Glissoires, situated between Avion and Lens. During World War I, in common with all French sports clubs, the team's activities were stopped and did not restart until 1919. By this time, Lens had changed their playing colours to sky blue. It was in 1924 that the red and gold colours first appeared. One legend says that Pierre Moglia, president of the club from 1923 to 1930, chose the colours of the Spanish flag after a colleague from the club remarked that the Saint-Léger church ruins, which they had walked past one evening, were the last visible remains of the local Spanish domination in 1648. Some people also say that the colours were derived as a reference to the local coal mines: the red for the blood of the miners and the gold for the coal which was valuable at the time. It was also in 1924 that the club was authorised to play at the newly built municipal stadium Raoul Briquet (nowadays Léo Lagrange). The first match for the club in their new colours was played for the inauguration of the stadium. In 1926, British footballer Kid Fenton was the first star who played for Lens. He stayed for eight seasons and became a strong favourite with the club's supporters. This was also the year the first supporters g

In Their Own Story

The defining chapter of Lens history occurred under manager Daniel Leclercq in the late 1990s. In the 1997–98 season, Lens clinched their first Division 1 title in a dramatic race. The decisive moment came when Yohan Lachor, a player who began his career at the club, scored for Auxerre against Metz to secure the championship on the final day. The following year, they won the Coupe de la Ligue against Metz with a goal from Daniel Moreira and became the only club to beat English giants Arsenal 1–0 at Wembley in the Champions League, thanks to Mickaël Debève's strike. Years later, Lens completed their cup history by winning the Coupe de France in 2026, ending three previous runner-up finishes. Even after a relegation to Ligue 2 in 2008 under Jean-Pierre Papin, the club recovered quickly, becoming champions of the second division and returning to Ligue 1 for the 2009–10 season.

Reader's Guide

The club's history is marked by its mining heritage, its traditional red and gold colours, and its passionate fanbase. Key periods include the 1998 league title, the 1999 Coupe de la Ligue win, and the 2026 Coupe de France and Trophée des Champions victories. The club's stadium is Stade Bollaert-Delelis.

Did You Know?

• Lens won the Coupe de France for the first time in 2026.
• Stefan Dembicki scored 17 goals in a single Coupe de France match in 1942, a world record.
• Lens defeated Arsenal 1–0 at Wembley Stadium in the 1998–99 UEFA Champions League.
• The club's colours of red and gold were first adopted in 1924, possibly inspired by the Spanish flag or the local coal mines.