Olympique Lyonnais Féminin

This article is about the women's association football team. For the men's association football club, see Olympique Lyonnais.
Olympique Lyonnais Féminin
Full name Olympique Lyonnais Féminin
Nickname(s) Les Fenottes
Les Lyonnaises
Short name OL
Founded 1970 (as FC Lyon)
2004 (as Olympique Lyonnais)
Ground Stade Gérard Houllier, Décines-Charpieu
Capacity 1,524
Owner Michele Kang (52,00%)
OL Groupe (48,00%)
President John Textor
Manager Sonia Bompastor
League Division 1 Féminine
2022–23 Division 1 Féminine, 1st of 12 (champions)
Website Club website

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 Division 1 Féminine, with fifteen league titles as Olympique Lyonnais and four league titles as FC Lyon before the acquisition.

Since the 2010s, Lyon has frequently been named the strongest women's team in the world, and has been cited as a model for the development of women's football in both economic and cultural terms. The team has won eight Champions League titles, including a record five successive titles from 2016 to 2020, as well as 14 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

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. 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.

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 president of the club is Jean-Michel Aulas 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.

Ownership and finances

Main articles: OL Groupe and John Textor

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.

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

On 16 May 2023, OL Groupe and Y. 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. Kang's proposed deal for the women's side reportedly valued it at $54.4 million. Kang attended Lyon's victory in the Coupe de France féminine finals on 13 May 2023 and raised the trophy with the team.

Players

For a list of all former and current Olympique Lyonnais Féminin players with a Wikipedia article, see Category: Olympique Lyonnais Féminin players.

Current squad

As of 15 September 2023.

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
3 DF FRA Wendie Renard (captain)
4 DF FRA Selma Bacha
5 DF FRA Perle Morroni
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
16 GK FRA Feerine Belhadj
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 MF NED Daniëlle van de Donk
18 DF FRA Alice Sombath
19 MF FRA Kysha Sylla
20 FW FRA Delphine Cascarino
21 DF CAN Vanessa Gilles (on loan from Angel City)
22 MF SUI Sally Julini
23 DF FRA Julie Swierot
24 DF FRA Alice Marques
26 MF USA Lindsey Horan
27 FW FRA Vicki Bècho
29 DF FRA Griedge Mbock Bathy
30 GK GER Laura Benkarth
31 FW FRA Liana Joseph
32 MF FRA Maeline Mendy
34 MF FRA Laureen Oillic

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW FRA Inès Benyahia (at Le Havre until 30 June 2024)
— FW FRA Melvine Malard (at Manchester United until 30 June 2024)

Notable former players

Current staff

As of 23 August 2023.
Position Staff
Head coach Sonia Bompastor
Assistant coaches Camille Abily
Théo Rivrin
Goalkeeping coach Simon Pouplin
Assistant goalkeeping coach Méline Gérard
Head of performance Antonin Da Fonseca
Physical trainer Rémi Pullara
Video analyst Marceau Goguer
Medical director Franck Pelissier
Team doctor Claire De Labachelerie
Physiotherapists Shingo Kitada
Anthony Martin
Ganaelle Rigondaud
Nutritionist Isabelle Mischler
General manager/team delegate Olivier Blanc
Team manager Julien Legrand
Kit manager Jacques Raffin
Amilcar Perez
OMS cell manager Nadi Ferran
Team coordinator Manon Eleure

Honours

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

Official

(16, record): 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23
(10, record): 2007–08, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2022–23
(3, record) 2019, 2022, 2023
(8, record): 2010–11, 2011–12, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22

Invitational

Winners: 2012
Winners: 2014
Winners: 2019, 2022
  • Trophée Veolia Féminin
Winners: 2020

Others

  • Guinness world record for most consecutive victories in all competitions: 41 wins (from 28 April 2012 to 18 May 2013).

Record in UEFA Women's Champions League

As of match played 21 December 2022

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

Competition Pld W D L GF GA GD
UEFA Champions League 129 101 17 10 466 64 +402
Total 129 101 17 10 466 64 +402
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)

f First leg.

List of seasons

Main article: List of Olympique Lyonnais Féminin seasons

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

See also