History of Lille OSC in Timeline

Lille Olympique Sporting Club (LOSC), or Lille, is a French professional football club based in Lille, Northern France. They compete in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Since 2012, Lille's home matches have been played at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, a 50,186-capacity stadium that ranks as the fourth-largest in France. The stadium also features a retractable roof.

1914: Olympique Lillois earned a USFSA Football Championship title

In 1914, Olympique Lillois earned a USFSA Football Championship title, the French football top division before the creation of the French Division 1.

November 1919: First Use of "Les Dogues" Nickname

In November 1919, the nickname Les Dogues (The Mastiffs) first appeared in the newspaper Le Télégramme du Nord to refer to Olympique Lillois players.

1932: Olympique Lillois crowned domestic champions

In 1932–33, Olympique Lillois were crowned domestic champions, the first in the history of the championship that was created in 1932.

1933: SC Fives ranked second

In 1933–34, SC Fives, ranked second.

1935: Olympique Lillois runners-up

In 1935–36, Olympique Lillois were runners-up.

1937: First Meeting of Lille and Lens

In 1937, Lille and Lens first met while Lille played under the Olympique Lillois emblem, marking the beginning of a fierce rivalry due to proximity and sociological differences.

1939: Olympique Lillois went to the Coupe de France final

In 1939, Olympique Lillois went to the Coupe de France final.

1941: SC Fives went to the Coupe de France final

In 1941, SC Fives went to the Coupe de France final, being defeated by Girondins AS Port.

November 1944: Official registration under the new name

On 25 November 1944, the club is officially registered under its new name: Lille Olympique Sporting Club, a few weeks after being renamed from Stade Lillois.

1944: Foundation of Lille OSC

In 1944, Lille OSC was founded, marking the beginning of the club's history.

1944: Merger of Olympique Lillois and SC Fives

In 1944, Lille was founded as a result of a merger between Olympique Lillois and SC Fives. Both clubs were founding members of the French Division 1, with Olympique Lillois being the league's inaugural champions.

1945: Coupe de France final

In 1945, the newborn club reached the Coupe de France final.

1946: Early Club Crest

In 1946, Blue was present in the first-ever club crest.

1946: League/Cup Double

In 1946, Lille won a league/cup double. This was during the club's most successful period from 1946 to 1956, when they were known as 'La Machine de Guerre'.

1947: Retained the Coupe de France trophy

In 1947, Lille came back to the Coupe de France final and retained the trophy, defeating Strasbourg.

1948: Third Coupe de France trophy

In 1948 Lille won the cup again beating main rivals Lens, its third in a row, and were runners-up of the league the same year, behind Marseille that became the champions after a strong 1947–48 season finishing.

1949: Runners-up of the league

In 1948–49, Lille were runners-up of the league.

1949: Choice of Stade Henri-Jooris as Home Ground

In 1949, Lille chose Stade Henri-Jooris as its home ground, using Stade Jules-Lemaire as a training ground.

1950: Runners-up of the league

In 1949–50, Lille were runners-up of the league.

June 1951: Latin Cup final

On 24 June 1951, Lille reached the Latin Cup final and lost against Gre-No-Li's AC Milan after having played 250 minutes in the span of two days.

May 1953: Fourth Coupe de France trophy

On 31 May 1953, Lille earned their fourth Coupe de France trophy in a 2–1 final win against FC Nancy, before 60,000 spectators.

1955: Beginning of complicated season

The 1955–56 season happened to be highly complicated. The club suffered from internal conflicts, Louis Henno [fr] was contested and certain players refused to play some matches.

1956: Relegation for the first time

In 1956, Lille were relegated for the first time in their history. This relegation is accompanied by aggravating financial consequences.

1956: End of successful period

The club's most successful period ended in 1956, following a decade from 1946 of winning seven major trophies, including a league/cup double in 1946. They were known as 'La Machine de Guerre'.

1957: Promotion by beating Rennes

Promoted in 1957 by beating Rennes, Lille initially ended up to an unexpected 6th place.

1959: Destruction of Stade Jules-Lemaire

In 1959, Stade Jules-Lemaire, previously used as a training ground, was destroyed.

1964: Avoiding relegation to the lower level

From 1964 to 1968, the club managed somehow to avoid relegation to the lower level.

1964: The red chevron disappeared

In 1964, the red chevron was part of each jersey until it disappeared to give place to an immaculate white jersey that only kept red collar and sleeve ends.

1968: Avoiding relegation to the lower level

From 1964 to 1968, the club managed somehow to avoid relegation to the lower level.

June 1969: Lille abandoned its professional status

On 23 June 1969, Lille abandoned its professional status, lacking facilities and resources.

1970: Recreated its professional team

In 1970, Lille recreated its professional team by entering the second division, finished at the top of the division at the end of the season.

1973: Missed out on promotion

In 1973, Lille missed out on promotion by one point.

1974: Division 2 champions

In 1974, Lille were crowned Division 2 champions.

1975: Finished twice in 13th place

During the 1974–75 season, the club finished twice in 13th place.

1975: Le Coq Sportif as First Kit Manufacturer

In 1975, Le Coq Sportif became Lille's first official kit manufacturer.

1975: Move to Stade Grimonprez-Jooris

In 1975, Lille moved from Stade Henri-Jooris to Stade Grimonprez-Jooris.

1977: Returned to the top tier of French football

At the end of the 1977–78 season, Lille finally returned to the top tier of French football.

1977: Relegation

In 1977, the club was once again relegated.

1978: Good run and ended at 6th place

In the 1978–79, the Mastiffs had a good run and ended at 6th place, nearly qualifying for European competitions while being promoted.

July 1980: First French club to opt for the status of a mixed economy company

In July 1980, Lille was the first French club to opt for the status of a mixed economy company (SAEMS), of which the city of Lille became the majority shareholder and turned the club into a public-controlled enterprise.

1981: Mastiff Appears in Club Crest

In 1981, the mastiff appeared for the first time in the club crest and has been a part of it ever since.

1983: Coupe de France semi-finals

LOSC reached the Coupe de France semi-finals in 1983.

1985: Coupe de France semi-finals

LOSC reached the Coupe de France semi-finals in 1985.

1989: New Crest Unveiled

In 1989, a new crest was unveiled combining the fleur-de-lys and a mastiff, with the acronym "LOSC" supplemented by "Lille Métropole".

1991: Finished in sixth place

In 1991, Lille then-coached by Jacques Santini finished in sixth place, just two points from the European places.

1992: Quick Return of Red Chevron

The 1992-93 season marked the quick return of the red chevron on the Lille's kit.

1994: Bernard Lecomte took over as president

After financial problems, Bernard Lecomte took over as president of the club in 1994 and saved it from administrative relegation the following year by negotiating with the governing bodies.

1996: Reebok Receives Contract

In 1996, Reebok received the contract to be the kit manufacturer, staying for three seasons.

1997: Marginal Revision of the Crest

In 1997, the 1989 crest was marginally revised.

1997: Division 1 perennial member

Until 1997, the club remained in the first division, becoming a perennial member of the Division 1.

1997: Relegation to the second division

Yet another economic crisis brought the club to the brink of bankruptcy and led to relegation to the second division in 1997.

1999: Nike Starts First Spell

In 1999, Nike started its first spell as Lille's kit manufacturer.

1999: Switch of Principal Kit Color

In 1999, the club switched the principal colour of the kits, with home jerseys now dominated by red and away jerseys by white.

1999: Privatisation and Purchase

In 1999, while being in Division 2, the club was privatised and purchased by Luc Dayan [fr] and Francis Graille.

2000: Finished Champion

During the 1999–2000 Division 2 season, Lille finished champion with sixteen points ahead of its runner-up, being promoted back to the top.

2000: Stadium Renovation

In 2000, Stade Grimonprez-Jooris was renovated and its capacity was increased to 21,000.

2000: Qualified for Europe

In just its first season back in the top flight 2000–01 French Division 1, Lille qualified for Europe for the first time in the club's history, booking its place in the 2001–02 Champions League.

2001: Qualified for Europe

In just its first season back in the top flight 2000–01 French Division 1, Lille qualified for Europe for the first time in the club's history, booking its place in the 2001–02 Champions League.

2002: UEFA Intertoto Cup runners-up

In 2002, Lille finished as runners-up in the UEFA Intertoto Cup.

2002: Plans for New Stadium

In 2002, plans were made to build a new stadium compliant with UEFA standards when the club was privatized.

2002: Stylish Crest Replacement

In 2002, the crest was replaced with a more stylish one, where the dog and the acronym are prominent.

June 2003: Agreement for New Stadium Construction

In June 2003, Lille's board agreed to build a new 33,000-seat stadium on the site of Stade Grimonprez-Jooris.

2003: Partouche Sponsorship

In 2003, the logo of Partouche, a French casino and resort company, appeared on Lille's jersey for the first time.

May 2004: Closure of Stade Grimonprez-Jooris

In May 2004, Stade Grimonprez-Jooris closed its doors, forcing Lille to play matches at Stadium Nord Lille Métropole.

December 2004: Postponement of Stadium Delivery

In December 2004, the delivery of the new stadium was postponed.

2004: UEFA Intertoto Cup win

In 2004, Lille won the UEFA Intertoto Cup.

December 2005: Building Permits Declared Void

In December 2005, local courts declared issued building permits for the new stadium void.

2005: Victory over Manchester United

Amongst its most emphatic results was the 1–0 victory over Manchester United at the Stade de France in 2005.

2005: Opposition to Stadium Project

In 2005, construction of the new stadium faced opposition from preservationists who prevented the project from obtaining necessary permits.

2006: Triumph over Milan

Amongst its most emphatic results was the 2–0 triumph over Milan in San Siro in 2006.

2007: Domaine de Luchin Becomes Lille OSC Training Ground

In 2007, the Domaine de Luchin, a 43-hectare estate, became the club's training ground, housing pitches, the club headquarters, academy facility, and other amenities.

2007: Inauguration of the Domaine de Luchin training complex

In 2007, the inauguration of the vast and modern Domaine de Luchin training complex brought the club to a new era.

March 2010: Construction of Grand Stade Lille Métropole began

On 29 March 2010, construction of the 50,000-capacity Grand Stade Lille Métropole (renamed later Stade Pierre-Mauroy) began, giving the club the fourth-largest football stadium in France.

2010: Home win over Liverpool

Amongst its most emphatic results was the 1–0 home win over Liverpool in 2010.

2010: Demolition of Grimonprez-Jooris

In 2010, Grimonprez-Jooris was demolished, six years after Lille OSC's departure.

2011: Second Double Win

In 2010–11, Lille's first-team won the club's second double after finishing at the 2010–11 Ligue 1 top spot and defeating Paris Saint-Germain in the 2011 Coupe de France final.

2011: Installation of the "Dogue de Bronze" Statue

In 2011, the "Dogue de Bronze" (The Bronze Mastiff), a bronze statue of a mastiff, was installed at the Domaine de Luchin and appeared in many club photos and videos.

2011: Confirmed place belong top French football teams

In the 2011–12 Ligue 1 seasons, Lille confirmed its place belong top French football teams, finishing successively at the second.

2011: End of Stay at Stadium Lille Métropole

Lille stayed at Stadium Lille Métropole until the end of the 2011-12 Ligue 1 season.

August 2012: Inauguration of the Stade Pierre-Mauroy

On August 17, 2012, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, known as Decathlon Arena – Stade Pierre-Mauroy since 2022 due to sponsorship reasons, was inaugurated. The stadium is located in Villeneuve-d'Ascq and has a seating capacity of 50,186 people, becoming France's fourth largest stadium.

2012: Move to Stade Pierre-Mauroy

In 2012, Lille started playing their home matches at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. The stadium has a capacity of 50,186 and a retractable roof, making it the fourth-largest stadium in France.

2012: Fleur-de-lys Becomes Central Element in Logo

In 2012, the fleur-de-lys became a central element in the logo again. The badge shape recalls the previous heraldry, and only the city and club name appear at the top of the logo like a crown.

2012: Qualified for the 2012–13 Champions League

In the 2012–13 Ligue 1 seasons, Lille confirmed its place belong top French football teams, finishing successively at the sixth places and qualifying for the 2012–13 Champions League.

2012: Grand Stade Lille Métropole opened

The 50,000-capacity Grand Stade Lille Métropole (renamed later Stade Pierre-Mauroy) opened in 2012, giving the club the fourth-largest football stadium in France.

2013: Garcia left to join Roma

In 2013, Garcia left to join Roma, while former Montpellier coach René Girard was appointed as new manager.

2013: Umbro Takes Over

In 2013, Umbro took over as kit manufacturer until Nike started a second spell.

2014: Finished at the third place

Under Girard, Lille finished at the third place in 2013–14, behind Zlatan Ibrahimović's Paris Saint-Germain and James Rodríguez's Monaco.

May 2015: Hervé Renard appointed as manager

In May 2015, Hervé Renard was appointed as the new manager of Lille.

November 2015: Renard terminated as manager

On 11 November 2015, Renard was terminated as manager and was replaced by Frederic Antonetti.

2015: Best club in the world regarding financial balance of transfers

According to the CIES Football Observatory, Lille is the best club in the world regarding the financial balance of transfers concerning non-academy players signed since 2015.

2015: Stade Pierre-Mauroy Hosts EuroBasket 2015

In 2015, the 30,000-seat arena at Stade Pierre-Mauroy hosted EuroBasket 2015.

June 2016: Partnership with New Balance

On June 22, 2016, Lille announced a five-year partnership with New Balance.

November 2016: Antonetti's contract terminated

On 23 November 2016, a year after being appointed, Lille terminated Antonetti's contract with the club lying second last in the table.

2016: Unveiling of Berlin Wall Segment with Hazard Graffiti

In 2016, a segment of the Berlin Wall, featuring graffiti of Hazard by French artist C215, was unveiled and put on display inside the training centre.

2016: Stade Pierre-Mauroy Hosts UEFA Euro 2016 Games

In 2016, the Stade Pierre-Mauroy hosted games of UEFA Euro 2016, adding to its resume of hosting prestigious sporting events.

2016: Return to White Home Kit

In 2016, the club exceptionally returned to a white home kit for the 2016–17 Ligue 1 season to celebrate the league and cup double 70-year anniversary.

November 2017: Marcelo Bielsa Suspended

In November 2017, Marcelo Bielsa was suspended by Lille following an unauthorized trip to Chile, with the club near the bottom of the league table.

December 2017: Marcelo Bielsa Terminated

On 23 December 2017, Marcelo Bielsa was terminated by Lille and replaced with Christophe Galtier.

2017: Stade Pierre-Mauroy Hosts 2017 World Men's Handball Championship

In 2017, Stade Pierre-Mauroy was chosen to host games for the 2017 World Men's Handball Championship.

2018: Unveiling of the Latest Crest

In 2018, the latest crest was unveiled, incorporating every club symbol (initials, mastiff, fleur-de-lys, and colors) inside a pentagon shape representing the Citadel of Lille.

April 2019: Victory Against Paris Saint-Germain

On 14 April 2019, Lille defeated Paris Saint-Germain 5–1 in a home win, with goals from Nicolas Pépé, Jonathan Bamba, Gabriel, and José Fonte.

August 2019: Nicolas Pépé Sold to Arsenal

On 1 August 2019, Nicolas Pépé was sold to Arsenal for €80 million (£72 million). Lille then recruited Victor Osimhen and Tiago Djaló on the same day.

2019: Record Attendance at Lille vs. Paris Saint-Germain Game

In 2019, a record attendance of 49,712 spectators witnessed Lille's 5–1 win over Paris Saint-Germain.

March 2020: Ligue 1 Season Ended Abruptly

In early March 2020, Lille was in 4th place. The Ligue 1 season ended abruptly due to the COVID-19 outbreak on 13 March, and competitions were cancelled a month and a half later.

October 2020: Home Win Against Lens

On 18 October 2020, Lille defeated Derby du Nord rivals Lens in a 4–0 home win.

November 2020: Away Win Against AC Milan

On 5 November 2020, Lille defeated AC Milan at San Siro in a 3–0 away win with a hat-trick from Yusuf Yazıcı, in the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League.

April 2021: Victory at Paris and Lyon

On 3 April 2021, Lille won at Paris with a Jonathan David goal. Three weeks later, Lille came back from two goals down to beat Lyon at Groupama Stadium with Burak Yılmaz scoring twice in a 3–2 away win.

August 2021: Trophée des Champions Victory

On 1 August 2021, Lille won its first Trophée des Champions, defeating Paris Saint-Germain with a Xeka goal at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, Israel.

2021: Lille won their fourth league title

In 2021, Lille won their fourth league title as well as their first Trophée des Champions the same year, Lille are the fourth best French club in the 21st century.

2021: Partnership Renewal with New Balance

In 2021, the partnership with New Balance was renewed on a new five-season contract until June 2026.

June 2022: Paulo Fonseca Appointed as Head Coach

On 29 June 2022, Paulo Fonseca was appointed as the new head coach of Lille's first team.

2023: Selected as Venue for 2023 Rugby World Cup

The Stade Pierre-Mauroy was chosen as one of the nine venues for France's hosting of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

March 2024: Lille OSC Renames Pitch After Eden Hazard

In March 2024, Lille OSC chose to rename its main pitch at the Domaine de Luchin after club legend Eden Hazard. The "Terrain Eden Hazard" was inaugurated by the former Belgium captain.

2024: Lille OSC vs Lens: Statistics as of 2024

As of 2024, the teams have played more than 115 matches in all competitions, Lille winning 46, Lens 37, and the remaining 36 having been drawn. Lille have won the most top division titles, the most Coupe de France trophies and Trophée des Champions titles. The Mastiffs have also played more games in domestic and European top competitions and have more game wins in French top division than their nearby rivals.