LOSC LILLE

Lille Olympique Sporting Club is a French professional football club based in Lille, Hauts-de-France. Meanwhile, the club is commonly referred to as LOSC, LOSC Lille, or simply Lille. This club competes in Ligue 1, the top flight of French football.

History

Lille was founded because of a merger between Olympique Lillois and SC Fives in 1944. Meanwhile, both clubs were founding members of the French Division 1.

The club’s most successful period was the decade from 1946 to 1956. Moreover, it was in the post-war period, when the team led by managers George Berry and André Cheuva won seven major trophies. Meanwhile, this included a League/Cup double in 1946. Moreover, it was known as La Machine de Guerre (French for “The War Machine”).

The club won another double in 2011. Moreover, the club won its fourth league title in 2021 as well as its first French super cup. Lille is the fourth-best French club in the 21st century.

Achievements

Meanwhile, Olympique Lillois was the league’s inaugural champion. In domestic football, the club has won four league titles. Moreover, they have won six Coupes de France, and one Trophée des Champions since its foundation. In European football, Lille has participated in the UEFA Champions League eight times. The club reached the knockout phase twice. Moreover, it competed in the UEFA Europa League on eight occasions and won the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2004. Meanwhile, they even finished as runners-up in 2002.

Rivalries and stadium

Nicknamed Les Dogues (French for “The Mastiffs”), the club has a long-standing rivalry with nearby side Lens. Meanwhile, they contest the Derby du Nord. Lille leads in the head-to-head record between the two rivals. Lille even lead in terms of total trophies won.

Currently, the club is owned by Luxembourg-based investment fund Merlyn Partners SCSp. Meanwhile, it is the fifth-most-followed French sports club on social media.

Lille has played its home matches since 2012 at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, the fourth-largest football stadium in France. The 50,186-capacity retractable roof venue replaced the club’s previous home Stadium Lille-Metropole.