Olympique Lyonnais Féminin

Olympique Lyonnais Féminin (French pronunciation: [ɔlɛ̃pik ljɔnɛ]; commonly referred to as Olympique Lyon, Lyon, or simply OL) is a French women's professional football club based in Lyon. The club has been the female section of Olympique Lyonnais since 2004. It is the most successful club in the history of the Première Ligue, with seventeen league titles as Olympique Lyonnais and four league titles as FC Lyon before the acquisition.

Olympique Lyonnais Féminin
Full nameOlympique Lyonnais Féminin
Nickname(s)Les Fenottes
Les Lyonnaises
Short nameOL
Founded1970; 54 years ago (1970) (as FC Lyon)
2004; 20 years ago (2004) (as Olympique Lyonnais)
GroundStade Gérard Houllier, Décines-Charpieu
Capacity1,524
OwnerMichele Kang (52,00%)[1]
OL Groupe (48,00%)
PresidentMichele Kang
ManagerJoe Montemurro
LeaguePremière Ligue
2023–24Division 1 Féminine, 1st of 12 (champions)
Websitehttps://www.ol.fr/fr/football/feminin-pro/actualites
Current season

Since the 2010s, Lyon has frequently been named the strongest women's team in the world,[2] and has been cited as a model for the development of women's football in both economic and cultural terms.[3] The team has won eight Champions League titles, including a record five successive titles from 2016 to 2020, as well as fourteen consecutive domestic league titles from 2007 to 2020. They have also won five trebles when the top-level continental competition is considered, the most for any team.

History

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The club was formed as the women's section of FC Lyon in 1970. In 2004, the women's club became the women's section of Olympique Lyonnais. Since joining Lyon, the women's section has won the Division 1 Féminine fourteen times and the Coupe de France nine times. Lyon reached the semi-finals of the 2007–08 edition of the UEFA Women's Cup and, during the 2009–10 season, reached the final of the inaugural edition of the UEFA Women's Champions League, losing to German club Turbine Potsdam 7–6 on penalties.[4][5] In the following season, Lyon finally captured the UEFA Women's Champions League, defeating its nemesis Turbine Potsdam 2–0 in the 2011 final. It successfully defended its title in 2012, defeating FFC Frankfurt in the final.

From 2016 to 2020, the club won five consecutive Champions League titles, equaling the male record held by Real Madrid. Three players: Sarah Bouhaddi, Wendie Renard, and Eugénie Le Sommer have all won eight Champions League trophies.

Lyon's main rivalry is with Paris Saint-Germain, with matches between the two teams sometimes referred as the "Classique féminin". Paris is OL's main contender for national titles, as they finished in second place of D1 Féminine seven times. Lyon had never lost the D1 title to PSG until 2021 when PSG finished ahead of Lyon, and won five Coupe de France finals against Paris. In 2017 both teams reached the Champions League final, with Lyon beating Paris after a penalty shoot-out and winning its fourth title in the competition.[6]

Lyon hosts its matches at the Stade Gérard Houllier, a stadium of capacity 1,524 located in the Groupama OL Training Center and situated not far from the larger Parc Olympique Lyonnais where the male teams play. The women's team does host its "big" matches at the 59,000-seat stadium. The current president of the club is Michele Kang and the captain of the team is Wendie Renard. According to the UEFA women's coefficient, Lyon was the highest-ranked club in UEFA in 2014.[7]

Ownership and finances

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Lyon Féminin is part of OL Groupe, whose majority shareholder since December 2022 is Eagle Football Group, which is controlled by American businessman John Textor. Club president Jean-Michel Aulas was also OL Groupe's previous and founding owner, and remains a minority owner of OL Groupe and board director of Eagle Football Group.[1][8][9]

As of April 2023, L'Équipe reported that Lyon Féminin operated at a €12 million annual deficit.[1]

On 16 May 2023, OL Groupe and Michele Kang announced the formation of a separate entity that would be composed of Kang's Washington Spirit of the NWSL, and Olympique Lyon Féminin. OL Groupe would sell its NWSL club, OL Reign, to resolve conflicts of interest. OL Groupe would retain a 48% stake in the resulting new entity, and Kang would become the club's majority owner and CEO, pending regulatory approval.[10][11][12][13] Kang's proposed deal for the women's side reportedly valued it at $54.4 million.[14] Kang attended Lyon's victory in the Coupe de France féminine finals on 13 May 2023 and raised the trophy with the team.[13][15]

Players

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Current squad

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As of 13 September 2024.[16]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   CHI Christiane Endler
2 DF   USA Sofia Huerta (on loan from Seattle Reign)
3 DF   FRA Wendie Renard (captain)
4 DF   FRA Selma Bacha
6 MF   HAI Melchie Dumornay
7 MF   FRA Amel Majri
8 MF   GER Sara Däbritz
9 FW   FRA Eugénie Le Sommer
10 MF   GER Dzsenifer Marozsán
11 FW   FRA Kadidiatou Diani
12 DF   AUS Ellie Carpenter
13 MF   NED Damaris Egurrola
14 FW   NOR Ada Hegerberg
15 DF   FRA Wassa Sangaré
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 GK   FRA Féerine Belhadj
17 MF   NED Daniëlle van de Donk
18 DF   FRA Alice Sombath
19 DF   FRA Kysha Sylla
21 DF   CAN Vanessa Gilles (on loan from Angel City)
22 FW   MWI Tabitha Chawinga
23 DF   DEN Sofie Svava
25 MF   FRA Inès Benyahia
26 MF   USA Lindsey Horan
27 FW   FRA Vicki Bècho
30 GK   GER Laura Benkarth
31 FW   FRA Liana Joseph
32 MF   FRA Maeline Mendy
34 MF   FRA Laureen Oillic

Out on loan

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
DF   FRA Alice Marques (at   Valencia until 30 June 2025)
No. Pos. Nation Player
DF   FRA Julie Swierot (at   Reims until 30 June 2025)

Notable former players

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Current staff

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As of 7 August 2024.[17]
Position Staff
Head coach   Joe Montemurro
Assistant coaches   Joe Palatsides
  Méline Gérard
  Patrizia Panico
Goalkeeping coach   Simon Pouplin
Head of performance   Antonin Da Fonseca
Physical trainer   Rémi Pullara
Video analyst   Marceau Goguer
Medical director   Franck Pelissier
Doctor   Claire De Labachelerie
Physiotherapists   Shingo Kitada
  Anthony Martin
  Ganaelle Rigondaud
Nutritionist   Isabelle Mischler
General manager/team delegate   Olivier Blanc
Equipment manager   Julien Legrand
Kit manager   Amilcar Perez
  Jacques Raffin
OMS cell manager   Nadi Ferran
Team coordinator   Manon Eleure

Honours

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Celebration of the sixth UEFA Women's Champions League in 2019.

Official

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Invitational

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Others

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Record in UEFA Women's Champions League

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As of match played 13 November 2024
Competition Pld W D L GF GA GD
UEFA Champions League 145 113 19 13 494 76 +418

All results (away, home and aggregate) list Lyon's goal tally first.

Season Round Opponents Away Home Agg.
2007–08 First qualifying round   Slovan Duslo Šaľa 12–0
  Škiponjat Struga (Host) 10–0
  Sarajevo 7–0
Second qualifying round   Brøndby 0–0
  Kolbotn 1–0
  Sparta Prague 2–1
Quarter-final   Arsenal 3–2 0–0 f 3–2
Semi-final   Umeå 0–0 1–1 f 1–1 (a)
2008–09 Second qualifying round   Neulengbach 8–0
  Zürich 7–1
  Arsenal 3–0
Quarter-final   Verona 5–0 f 4–1 9–1
Semi-final   Duisburg 1–3 1–1 f 2–4
2009–10 Round of 32   Mašinac Niš 1–0 f 5–0 6–0
Round of 16   Fortuna Hjørring 1–0 f 5–0 6–0
Quarter-final   Torres Sassari 0–1 3–0 f 3–1
Semi-final   Umeå 0–0 3–2 f 3–2
Final   Turbine Potsdam 0–0 (a.e.t.) (6–7 p) (  Getafe)
2010–11 Round of 32   AZ 2–1 f 8–0 10–1
Round of 16   Rossiyanka Khimki 6–1 f 5–0 11–1
Quarter-final   Zvezda Perm 0–0 f 1–0 1–0
Semi-final   Arsenal 3–2 2–0 f 5–2
Final   Turbine Potsdam 2–0 (  London)
2011–12 Round of 32   Olimpia Cluj-Napoca 9–0 f 3–0 12–0
Round of 16   Sparta Prague 6–0 f 6–0 12–0
Quarter-final   Brøndby 4–0 4–0 f 8–0
Semi-final   Turbine Potsdam 0–0 5–1 f 5–1
Final   Frankfurt 2–0 (  Munich)
2012–13 Round of 32   Vantaa 7–0 f 5–0 12–0
Round of 16   Zorky Krasnogorsk 9–0 f 2–0 11–0
Quarter-final   Rosengård Malmö 3–0 5–0 f 8–0
Semi-final   Juvisy 6–1 3–0 f 9–1
Final   Wolfsburg 0–1 (  London)
2013–14 Round of 32   Twente Enschede 4–0 f 6–0 10–0
Round of 16   Turbine Potsdam 1–0 f 1–2 2–2 (a)
2014–15 Round of 32   Brescia 5–0 f 9–0 14–0
Round of 16   Paris Saint-Germain 1–1 f 0–1 1–2
2015–16 Round of 32   Medyk Konin 6–0 f 3–0 9–0
Round of 16   Atlético Madrid 3–1 f 6–0 9–1
Quarter-final   Slavia Prague 0–0 9–1 f 9–1
Semi-final   Paris Saint-Germain 1–0 7–0 f 8–0
Final   Wolfsburg 1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p) (  Reggio Emilia)
2016–17 Round of 32   Avaldsnes 5–2 f 5–0 10–2
Round of 16   Zürich 9–0 8–0 f 17–0
Quarter-final   Wolfsburg 2–0 f 0–1 2–1
Semi-final   Manchester City 3–1 f 0–1 3–2
Final   Paris Saint-Germain 0–0 (a.e.t.) (7–6 p) (  Cardiff)
2017–18 Round of 32   Medyk Konin 5–0 f 9–0 14–0
Round of 16   Kazygurt Shymkent 7–0 f 9–0 16–0
Quarter-final   Barcelona 1–0 2–1 f 3–1
Semi-final   Manchester City 0–0 f 1–0 1–0
Final   Wolfsburg 4–1 (a.e.t.) (  Kyiv)
2018–19 Round of 32   Avaldsnes 2–0 f 5–0 7–0
Round of 16   Ajax Amsterdam 4–0 f 9–0 13–0
Quarter-final   Wolfsburg 4–2 2–1 f 6–3
Semi-final   Chelsea 1–1 2–1 f 3–2
Final   Barcelona 4–1 (  Budapest)
2019–20 Round of 32   Ryazan-VDV 9–0 f 7–0 16–0
Round of 16   Fortuna Hjørring 4–0 f 7–0 11–0
Quarter-final   Bayern Munich 2–1 (  Bilbao)
Semi-final   Paris Saint-Germain 1–0 (  Bilbao)
Final   Wolfsburg 3–1 (  San Sebastián)
2020–21 Round of 32   Juventus 3–2 f 3–0 6–2
Round of 16   Brøndby 3–1 2–0 f 5–1
Quarter-final   Paris Saint-Germain 1–0 f 1–2 2–2 (a)
2021–22 Round 2   Levante 2–1 f 2–1 4–2
Group D   Bayern Munich 0–1 2–1 1st
  Benfica 5–0 5–0
  BK Häcken 3–0 4–0
Quarter-final   Juventus 1–2 f 3–1 4–3
Semi-final   Paris Saint-Germain 2–1 3–2 f 5–3
Final   Barcelona 3–1 (  Turin)
2022–23 Group C   Arsenal 1–0 1–5 2nd
  Juventus 1–1 0–0
  Zürich 3–0 4–0
Quarter-final   Chelsea 2–1 (a.e.t.) 0–1 f 2–2 (3–4 p)
2023–24 Group B   Slavia Prague 9–0 2–2 1st
  St. Pölten 7–0 2–0
  Brann 2–2 3–1
Quarter-final   Benfica 2–1 f 4–1 6–2
Semi-final   Paris Saint-Germain 2–1 3–2 f 5–3
Final   Barcelona 0–2 (  Bilbao)
2024–25 Group A   Galatasaray 3–0
  VfL Wolfsburg 2–0
  AS Roma 3–0

f First leg.

List of seasons

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Top scorers in bold were also the top scorers in the Division 1 Féminine that season.

Champions Runners-up Promoted Relegated
Season League Cup Europe Top goalscorer(s)
Division Pos Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Name(s) Goals
2001–02 D1 3rd 22 14 2 6 53 26 +27 66 RU   Séverine Creuzet-Laplantes 17
2002–03 D1 2nd 22 15 4 3 60 19 +41 71 W   Sandrine Brétigny 26
2003–04 D1 2nd 22 14 4 4 52 25 +27 68 W   Claire Morel 18
2004–05 D1 3rd 22 15 2 5 50 20 +30 69 RU   Séverine Creuzet-Laplantes 13
2005–06 D1 3rd 22 10 8 4 34 12 +22 60 RU   Sandrine Brétigny 11
2006–07 D1 1st 22 20 1 1 116 9 +107 83 RU   Sandrine Brétigny 42
2007–08 D1 1st 22 18 4 0 93 4 +89 80 W Women's Cup SF   Sandrine Brétigny 25
2008–09 D1 1st 22 21 1 0 114 11 +103 86 SF Women's Cup SF   Kátia 27
2009–10 D1 1st 22 18 2 2 93 11 +82 78 SF Champions League RU   Kátia 17
2010–11 D1 1st 22 22 0 0 106 6 +100 88 QF Champions League W   Sandrine Brétigny 19
2011–12 D1 1st 22 19 3 0 119 3 +116 82 W Champions League W   Eugénie Le Sommer 22
2012–13 D1 1st 22 22 0 0 132 5 +127 88 W Champions League RU   Lotta Schelin 24
2013–14 D1 1st 22 21 0 1 95 12 +83 85 W Champions League R16   Eugénie Le Sommer
  Laëtitia Tonazzi
15
2014–15 D1 1st 22 22 0 0 147 6 +141 88 W Champions League R16   Lotta Schelin 34
2015–16 D1 1st 22 19 3 0 115 4 +111 82 W Champions League W   Ada Hegerberg 33
2016–17 D1 1st 22 21 0 1 103 6 +97 63 W Champions League W   Ada Hegerberg
  Eugénie Le Sommer
20
2017–18 D1 1st 22 21 1 0 104 5 +99 64 RU Champions League W   Ada Hegerberg 31
2018–19 D1 1st 22 20 2 0 89 9 +83 62 W Champions League W   Ada Hegerberg 20
2019–20 D1 1st 16 14 2 0 67 4 +63 44 W Champions League W   Ada Hegerberg 14
2020–21 D1 2nd 22 20 1 1 78 6 +72 61 DNF Champions League QF   Nikita Parris 13
2021–22 D1 1st 22 21 1 0 79 8 +71 64 R16 Champions League W   Catarina Macario 14
2022–23 D1 1st 22 20 1 1 69 9 +60 61 W Champions League QF  Signe Bruun 8
2023–24 D1 1st 22 20 1 1 82 13 +69 61 W Champions League RU  Ada Hegerberg 12

References

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  1. ^ a b c Guillemet, Hugo (12 April 2023). "L'OL féminin bientôt vendu à Michele Kang, une femme d'affaires américaine". L'Equipe. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  2. ^ Smith, Rory (17 May 2019). "The World's Most Dominant Team Isn't Who You Think". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  3. ^ Ingle, Sean (29 June 2019). "How Lucy Bronze was polished at Lyon, the ultimate finishing school". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Lyon and Potsdam make history". UEFA. 11 May 2010. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
  5. ^ "Potsdam hold nerve to claim European crown". UEFA. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
  6. ^ "2016–17 Women's Champions League Final Report". UEFA. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  7. ^ "UEFA WOMEN'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2014/15" (PDF). UEFA. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  8. ^ "Olympique Lyonnais Price Tag For John Textor: $846 Million". Forbes. 21 June 2022.
  9. ^ "L'OL officiellement vendu à l'Américain John Textor". L'Équipe (in French). 20 December 2022.
  10. ^ "OL Groupe and Michele Kang Form Global Multi-Team Women's Football Group" (Press release). Washington Spirit. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  11. ^ Caron, Emily (16 May 2023). "Spirit's Michele Kang adds Lyonnais Feminin to Women's Soccer Venture". Sportico. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  12. ^ Hess, AJ (16 May 2023). "Spirit owner Michele Kang buys Lyon to build first international women's soccer empire". Fast Company. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  13. ^ a b Guillement, Hugo (16 May 2023). "Michele Kang, nouvelle actionnaire majoritaire de l'OL féminin : " Il n'est pas question de changer l'OL "" [Michele Kang, new majority shareholder of OL Women: "There is no question of changing OL"]. L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Washington Spirit owner Kang to take over Lyon". Sports Business Journal. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  15. ^ "Spirit owner Michele Kang attends Lyon women's match, hoists trophy with team amid takeover reports". The Athletic. 13 May 2023.
  16. ^ "EFFECTIF & STAFF". Olympique Lyonnais. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  17. ^ "COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE | NOUVELLE ORGANISATION AU SEIN DU STAFF DE L'ÉQUIPE FÉMININE DE L'OL". Olympique Lyonnais. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  18. ^ "Most consecutive association football victories (all competitions)". Guinness World Records.
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  NODES
Association 5
INTERN 3
Note 3