RC Lens
Encyclopedia
Racing Club de Lens is a French association football
Football in France
Football is the most popular sport in France. The Fédération Française de Football is the national governing bodyand is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the game of association football in the country, both professional and amateur...

 club based in the northern city of Lens
Lens, Pas-de-Calais
Lens is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It is one of France's large Picarde cities along with Lille, Valenciennes, Amiens, Roubaix, Tourcoing, Arras, and Douai.-Metropolitan area:...

 in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or (blood and gold), comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...

, whom they contest the Derby du Nord
Derby du Nord
The Derby du Nord is a football match contested between French clubs RC Lens and Lille OSC, two of region's most successful clubs. The derby has the name despite Lille being the only club of the two situated in the department of Nord. Lens are situated in the southern department of Pas-de-Calais...

.

The birth of a club

1905, Lens
Lens, Pas-de-Calais
Lens is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It is one of France's large Picarde cities along with Lille, Valenciennes, Amiens, Roubaix, Tourcoing, Arras, and Douai.-Metropolitan area:...

. On the place Verte (the actual place de la République), students are playing football. They do not yet know that they are writing the first lines of the history of the Racing Club de Lens. Why this name? Football was invented in England, so it was good to have a club with an Anglo-Saxon name. Moreover, the youth of that time were following the Racing Club de Roubaix and the Racing Club de France
Racing Club de France
Racing Club de France can refer to:*the former name of Racing Métro rugby union club*the former name of Racing Club de Paris football club*the former name of the basketball club Paris Basket Racing, a predecessor to today's Paris-Levallois Basket...

.

The first board was formed by the parents of those teenagers under the name of Racing club lensois, before the club would officially be registered under the name Racing Club de Lens in 1906. The club originally played in green, as the club was born on the place Verte, and the black, for the omnipresence of coal mining in the region.

Between 1907 and 1912, the players were forced to change sports grounds a couple of times, before settling at the actual parc des Glissoires, between Avion
Avion
Avion may refer to:* Avion, the french name for airplane ; coming from latin "avus" . Same family as "aviation".* Avion * Avion...

 and Lens
Lens, Pas-de-Calais
Lens is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It is one of France's large Picarde cities along with Lille, Valenciennes, Amiens, Roubaix, Tourcoing, Arras, and Douai.-Metropolitan area:...

.

During World War I, the club’s activities were silenced, before restarting in 1919. Lens was then playing in sky blue.

Of blood and gold

It was in 1924 that the red and gold colours appeared. The legend says that Mr Moglia, president of the club from 1923 to 1930, chose the colours of the Spanish flag after someone from the club remarked that the ruins of the Saint-Léger church they happened to be walking by that night were the last remains of the Spanish occupation in 1648. People also say that the colours come from the 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 authorized to play at the newly built municipal stadium Raoul Briquet (nowadays Léo Lagrange). The first match with the new colours was played for the inauguration of the stadium.

In 1926, the British footballer Kid Fenton was the first star who played for Lens. He stayed there 8 seasons. It was also the year the first supporters group was formed, and – finally – Lens first capture of the Championnat d’Artois.

In 1929, Lens won the North championship and won promotion for the first time to the Division d’Honneur of the Ligue du Nord with the clubs of the Olympique Lillois
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...

, RC Roubaix
RC Roubaix
Racing Club de Roubaix was a French association football team playing in the city of Roubaix, Nord.-History:The team was founded in 1895 and was very successful before the establishment of professionalism in France...

, Excelsior Athlétic Club de Roubaix and the AC Amiens.

In the Artois League, the club gained renown and in 1932, the club inaugurated the stade Félix Bollaert
Stade Félix Bollaert
Stade Félix Bollaert is the main football stadium in Lens, France, that was built in 1932. It is the home of RC Lens. The stadium's capacity is 41,233 – about 4,000 more than the city's population. This is similar to that of SC Heerenveen ground the Abe Lenstra Stadion which has a bigger capacity...

.

The first victories

In 1937 gains access to the first division
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....

 by finishing first of the second
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...

 with players such as Stanis and Spechtl. Lens even managed to reach the last 16 of the French Cup
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...

, but the team is knocked out by the Red Star
Red Star Saint-Ouen
Red Star Football Club 93 is a French association football club based in Saint-Ouen located in the northern suburbs of Paris. The club was founded in 1897 and currently play in the Championnat National, the third level of French football...

 (final score, 3–2).

In 1943, the RC Lens won the first division of the Northern Zone, thanks to Stanis who scored 43 goals in 30 games. A year earlier, in a French Cup
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...

 match he scored 17 goals, which is still today the world record.

After World War II, Lens finished 6th in the 1945/46 season, but they are relegated the following year. In 1948, the club played its first French Cup
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...

 final, which was lost 3–2 against the LOSC.

Then, Lens is promoted to the 1st division
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....

 and Maryan Wisnieski is recruited (in 1953). But problems with the board made him quit the club to join the UC Sampdoria Genoa without much success.

In 1962, the mines are shut down and the club is at stake as most of the players were miners. Between 1956 and 1968, survival is hard. Nevertheless, in 1964, Lens finished third and the best goal scorer was Ahmed Oudjani
Ahmed Oudjani
Ahmed Oudjani was an Algerian football striker.-Biography:Oudjani was a member of the legendary Algerian FLN team before the country gained its independence. He is also the all-time top scorer in RC Lens history, having scored 94 goals in 148 matches for the team, including 6 goals in one game...

 with 30 goals. Another famous player joins Lens: Georges Lech
Georges Lech
Georges Lech is a French retired football player. He is of Polish descent.-External links:*http://www.sitercl.com/Fichejo/L/lechgeor.htm*http://www.fff.fr/servfff/historique/historique.php?id=LECH%20Georges...

. However, Lens is relegated in 1968.

The following year, the mine’s administrators let go of Lens, and it is the end of professional football at the Stade Bollaert. Lens is once again an amateur club, one year after its relegation.

Henry Trannin, the managing director, and Arnold Sowinski
Arnold Sowinski
Arnold Sowinski is a retired French football player who played with RC Lens. He has also managed RC Lens on four different occasions.-References:*...

 stay faithful to the club, waiting for better days…

The good years and the fall

And the better days arrive in 1960: the town council bets on the Racing Club de Lens. Lens’ mayor, André Delelis
André Delelis
André Delelis is a French politician. He served as the Minister of Commerce and Craft Industry from 1981 to 1984, under former President François Mitterand.-Biography:...

, wants to see the club continue thrilling the fans. With the future president, Jean Bondoux, the mayor brings together volunteers and subscriptions in order to make the club survive. Moreover the city recovers the stadium from the closing mine industry.

In 1972, Lens reaches the semi-finals of the French Cup
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...

 and the arrival of 2 Polish players helps the club to the 1st division.
In 1975, Lens reaches once more the final of the French Cup
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...

 against the AS Saint-Étienne
AS Saint-Étienne
Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire is a French association football club based in Saint-Étienne. The club was founded in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Saint-Étienne plays its home matches at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard located within the city...

. But “les Verts” win the game 2–0, with an anthology goal by Jean-Michel Larqué
Jean-Michel Larqué
Jean-Michel Larqué is a retired football player, and now a journalist. He has also been player-coach of RC Paris, his only experience as head-coach.-Biography:...

.

As finalist of the French Cup
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...

, Lens has the opportunity to participate in its first UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...

 , but the team is knocked out quickly by the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

 club ADO Den Haag
ADO Den Haag
Alles Door Oefening Den Haag , commonly known by the abbreviated name ADO Den Haag , is a Dutch football club from the city of The Hague. The club was for a time known as FC Den Haag , with ADO representing the amateur branch of the club...

.
Lens’ progresses continue and after finishing 2nd in the League
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....

 behind Nantes
FC Nantes Atlantique
Football Club de Nantes is a French association football club based in Nantes, Pays de la Loire. The club was founded on 21 April 1943, during World War II, as a result of local clubs based in the city coming together to form one big club. From 1992–2007, the club was referred to as FC Nantes...

, they qualify themselves to the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...

. They knock out Malmö FF
Malmö FF
Malmö Fotbollförening, also known simply as Malmö FF, are a Swedish professional football club based in Malmö. The club is affiliated with Skånes Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Swedbank Stadion. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are sky blue and white...

, and above all, the Lazio Roma
S.S. Lazio
Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...

, after an away defeat (2–0), they won 6–0 at the Stade Félix Bollaert
Stade Félix Bollaert
Stade Félix Bollaert is the main football stadium in Lens, France, that was built in 1932. It is the home of RC Lens. The stadium's capacity is 41,233 – about 4,000 more than the city's population. This is similar to that of SC Heerenveen ground the Abe Lenstra Stadion which has a bigger capacity...

 after extra-time. Unfortunately, after this rare exploit for a French club, they are eliminated by the East German side Magdeburg
1. FC Magdeburg
1. FC Magdeburg is a German association football club playing in Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt.-History:Football has been played in Magdeburg since the end of the 19th century. On 15 June 1896 SV Victoria 96 Magdeburg was founded, a club that had its best days before World War II, when it participated...

. Worse, the club goes back to the 2nd division in 1978.

The return among the elite will be in 1979 with Roger Lemerre as head coach. During the 1980’s, Gérard Houllier
Gérard Houllier
Gérard Houllier, OBE , is a French football manager, who was last manager of Premier League club Aston Villa. He stepped down on 1 June 2011, following hospitalisation over heart problems towards the end of the 2010-2011 season....

 and Joachim Marx
Joachim Marx
Joachim Jerzy Marx is a retired Polish football striker.On the national level, he played for Poland national team and was a participant at the 1972 Summer Olympics, where his team won the gold medal.With Ruch Chorzów, he played 162 matches in the Ekstraklasa scoring 66 goals...

 will succeed him.

But the club doesn’t have enough means to keep players such as Didier Sénac
Didier Sénac
Didier Sénac is a former football defender from France, who obtained three international caps for the French national team during the early 1980s...

, Gaëtan Huard
Gaëtan Huard
Gaëtan Huard is a retired French footballer who played as a goalkeeper.-Football career:Huard played 357 Ligue 1 matches for RC Lens, FC Girondins de Bordeaux and Olympique de Marseille...

 or Philippe Vercruysse
Philippe Vercruysse
Philippe Vercruysse is a former football midfielder from France. Vercruysse was born in Saumur, Maine-et-Loire. He earned a total number of twelve international caps for the French national team during the 1980s...

.

Martel’s takeover

In 1988, a local businessman takes over the club, with the help of Serge Doré. Little by little, the club will transform itself into an enterprise and it will open itself to investors.

During the same year, Arnaud Dos Santos
Arnaud Dos Santos
Arnaud Dos Santos is a French former footballer and coach.He played for US Boulogne, FC Rouen, AS Monaco FC, FC Girondins de Bordeaux, Troyes AC and Lille OSC....

 will be named head coach of the club, and it will be promoted back in 1st division
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....

 in 1991.

In 1993 and 1994, the RC Lens plays in the top of the League and the team qualifies for the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...

 twice in a row. Lens even reaches the semi final of the French Cup
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...

 after knocking out the Paris Saint Germain at the Parc des Princes
Parc des Princes
The Parc des Princes is an all-seater football stadium located in the southwest of Paris, France. The venue, with a seating capacity of 48,712 spectators, has been the home of French football club Paris Saint-Germain since 1974. The current Parc des Princes was inaugurated on 4 June 1972, endowed...

, but the team fails against Montpellier
Montpellier HSC
Montpellier Hérault Sport Club is a French association football club based in the city of Montpellier. The club was founded in 1919 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Montpellier plays its home matches at the Stade de la Mosson, located within the city...

.

In 1998, “les Sang et Or” will write their best page of their history under Daniel Leclercq
Daniel Leclercq
Daniel Leclercq is a retired football defender and manager.-References:*...

 (“the Druid”): French Champions, League Cup semi-finalist and finalist of the French Cup against the PSG (2–1 defeat). Like a symbol, it is a player who started his career in Lens, Yohan Lachor
Yohan Lachor
Yohan Lachor is a French football defender. He currently plays for the French Ligue 2 side US Boulogne.-Career:...

, who scored in Auxerre
AJ Auxerre
Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise is a French association football club based in the commune of Auxerre in Burgundy. The club was founded in 1905 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Auxerre plays its home matches at the Stade l'Abbé-Deschamps on the banks of the...

 the goal which gave Lens the title, in front of Metz
FC Metz
Football Club de Metz, commonly referred to as simply Metz , is a French association football club based in Metz. The club was formed in 1932 and has spent most of its history in the Ligue 1, though they currently play in Ligue 2, the second level in French football league system. Metz plays its...

.
Still under the "Druid", Lens will win its 2nd major title in 1999 with the League Cup against Metz
FC Metz
Football Club de Metz, commonly referred to as simply Metz , is a French association football club based in Metz. The club was formed in 1932 and has spent most of its history in the Ligue 1, though they currently play in Ligue 2, the second level in French football league system. Metz plays its...

, with a goal from Daniel Moreira
Daniel Moreira
Daniel Moreira is a former French footballer. He played as a striker.Moreira started his career with Valenciennes FC before moving to Guingamp. He finished as the runners-up of the 1997 Coupe de France playing for them....

. That year, in the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...

, Lens will also become the only club to have beaten Arsenal at Wembley (1–0, with a goal from Mickaël Debève
Mickaël Debève
Mickaël Debève is a former French footballer. He currently plays as a midfielder.-Football career:Debève began his career at Toulouse FC; after a slow start - only four first-team appearances in three seasons, he became an important main squad member...

), but they were knocked out.

The next season, Daniel Leclercq
Daniel Leclercq
Daniel Leclercq is a retired football defender and manager.-References:*...

 was fired, but Lens will still reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...

. François Brisson’s men were eliminated by Arsenal, but they had before beaten Kaiserslautern
Kaiserslautern
Kaiserslautern is a city in southwest Germany, located in the Bundesland of Rhineland-Palatinate at the edge of the Palatinate forest . The historic centre dates to the 9th century. It is from Paris, from Frankfurt am Main, and from Luxembourg.Kaiserslautern is home to 99,469 people...

 (4–1 win in Germany), Atlético Madrid and the Celta Vigo.
For the 2002/2003 season, Joël Muller
Joël Müller
Joël Müller, born January 2, 1952, in Donchery, France, is a former football player and manager, currently working as a technical director for FC Metz.-References:...

 was named head coach. Lens finished second that season and qualified for its 2nd UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...

 campaign. However, the club finished 8th the next two years.

Muller will be replace during his 4th season by Francis Gillot
Francis Gillot
Francis Gillot is a former football defender and current manager of Girondins de Bordeaux.Gillot was named head coach of Bordeaux on 6 June 2011. He signed a two-year deal with the club.-References:*...

, who managed to qualify Lens for the Intertoto Cup, which was won, which meant qualification for the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...

.

During the 2006/2007, the Sang et Or finish the first part of the season 2nd, behind Lyon
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...

. But due to chaotic 2nd part, they only finished 5th.

A few days later, Francis Gillot
Francis Gillot
Francis Gillot is a former football defender and current manager of Girondins de Bordeaux.Gillot was named head coach of Bordeaux on 6 June 2011. He signed a two-year deal with the club.-References:*...

 resigned, probably due to the fact that the club didn’t qualify for the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...

.
The 5 June 2007, Guy Roux made his come back, which would only last 3 months, as he resigned during the game RC Strasbourg
RC Strasbourg
Racing Club de Strasbourg is a French association football club founded in 1906 and professional since 1933, based in the city of Strasbourg, in Alsace...

-RC Lens (lost 2–1).

Jean-Pierre Papin
Jean-Pierre Papin
Jean-Pierre Papin is a former French professional football player who was European Footballer of the Year in 1991.Papin achieved his greatest success while playing for Olympique Marseille between 1986 and 1992...

 took over, but Lens could make up no ground through the season, finishing 18th, 2 points behind Toulouse, and were relegated to Ligue 2 for next season. Lens finished the season with just 40 points, winning only 9 times in 38 matches. Strasbourg and Metz are also relegated.

After a slow start in their only year in the Ligue 2 they manage to finish as leader the first half of the season. Getting 13 out of 15 points in their first five games of the second half, everything looks set for a quick return to the first league. After only taking 5 points of the next six games, the race is open again. They become champions and return to the highest division in 2009.

Honours

Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....

  • Winners: 1997–98
  • Runners-up: 1955–56, 1956–57, 1976–77, 2001–02

Ligue 2
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...

  • Winners: 1936–37, 1948–49, 1972–73, 2008–09

Coupe de France
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...

  • Runners-up: 1948, 1975, 1998

Coupe de la Ligue
Coupe de la Ligue
The Coupe de la Ligue , known outside of France as the French League Cup, is a knockout cup competition in French football organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel...

  • Winners: 1994, 1999
  • Runners-up: 2008

Coupe Drago
  • Winners: 1959, 1960, 1965
  • Runners-up: 1957

Coupe Gambardella
Coupe Gambardella
The Coupe Gambardella is a French football cup competition held between the under-19s of the French football clubs, organized by the French Football Federation ....

  • Winners: 1957, 1958, 1992
  • Runners-up: 1979, 1983, 1993, 1995

UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...

  • Semi-finalists: 2000

UEFA Intertoto Cup
UEFA Intertoto Cup
The UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...

  • Winners: 2005, 2007
    UEFA Intertoto Cup 2007
    The UEFA Intertoto Cup 2007 was the 19th and penultimate edition of the competition and took 50 entries. Three rounds were held, and 11 teams qualified for the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup. The draw took place at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on 23 April 2007...


Records

  • Record league win : 10–2 (v. RC Paris,1963–1964).
  • Record European Cup win : 0–7 (v. Avenir-Beggen
    FC Avenir Beggen
    Football Club Avenir Beggen is a football club, based in Beggen, a quarter of Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg.The club were founded in 1915 as FC Daring Beggen but changed their name to FC Avenir Beggen a year later...

    , 1995–1996).
  • The European exploit : v. Lazio Roma (6–0 after extra time, 2 November 1977).
  • Most goals in a single match : 16, Stefan Dembicki
    Stefan Dembicki
    Stefan "Stanis" Dembicki was a German-born French football player who played with RC Lens.-External links:...

     (Stanis), which is a world record, (v. Auby Asturies, French Cup
    Coupe de France
    The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...

    , 13 December 1942). Final score: 32–0.
  • Most league appearances with Lens : 497, Eric Sikora
    Éric Sikora
    Éric Sikora is a former footballer from France. He spent his whole career at RC Lens. He is of Polish descent.-External links:* *...

     and 377, Bernard Placzek.
  • Most league goals in a season : 30, Ahmed Oudjani
    Ahmed Oudjani
    Ahmed Oudjani was an Algerian football striker.-Biography:Oudjani was a member of the legendary Algerian FLN team before the country gained its independence. He is also the all-time top scorer in RC Lens history, having scored 94 goals in 148 matches for the team, including 6 goals in one game...

     (1963–1964) and 20, Roger Boli
    Roger Boli
    Roger Boli is a French former footballer who played striker for clubs in the French and British leagues. He is currently an agent in France....

    (1993–1994).
  • Top scorers : 93, Maryan Wisnieski and Ahmed Oudjani
    Ahmed Oudjani
    Ahmed Oudjani was an Algerian football striker.-Biography:Oudjani was a member of the legendary Algerian FLN team before the country gained its independence. He is also the all-time top scorer in RC Lens history, having scored 94 goals in 148 matches for the team, including 6 goals in one game...

    .
  • Highest attendance at a home match : 48 912, (v. Marseille
    Olympique de Marseille
    Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...

    , Ligue 1
    Ligue 1
    Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....

    , 15 February 1992) at Stade Félix-Bollaert. Lens won 2–1.

Presidents

  • 1906–07 : Jules J. Van den Weghe
  • 1907–08 : Lotin
  • 1908–12 : Jules J. Van den Weghe
  • 1912–20 : Charles Douterlinghe
  • 1920–23 : Marcel Pierron
  • 1923–30 : Pierre Moglia
  • 1930–33 : Renoult
  • 1933–34 : Jules A. Van den Weghe
  • 1934–57 : Louis Brossard
  • 1957–59 : Vital Lerat
  • 1959–68 : Albert Hus
  • 1968–72 : René Houdart
  • 1972–76 : Jean Bondoux
  • 1976–79 : Jean-Pierre Defontaine
  • 1979–86 : Jean Bondoux
  • 1986–88 : Jean Honvault
  • Since 1988 : Gervais Martel
    Gervais Martel
    Gervais Martel is a French businessman and president of French football club RC Lens having served in this role since 24 August 1988. Under the leadership of Martel, Lens won their first ever Ligue 1 title in the 1997–98 season and won their first ever Coupe de la Ligue title the following year...


  • Managers

    Former coaches include two ex France coaches: Gérard Houllier
    Gérard Houllier
    Gérard Houllier, OBE , is a French football manager, who was last manager of Premier League club Aston Villa. He stepped down on 1 June 2011, following hospitalisation over heart problems towards the end of the 2010-2011 season....

     (1982–85) managed France between July 1992 and November 1993, and Roger Lemerre (second half of the 1996–97 season, then as assistant coach 1997–98), who managed France between July 1998 and July 2002.

    Jack Harris (1934) Robert De Veen
    Robert De Veen
    Robert De Veen was a Belgian football player and manager. He was born in Bruges.He played for Club Brugge and Belgium, scoring 26 goals for 23 caps, including 13 goals against France....

     (1934–36) Jack Galbraith
    Jack Galbraith
    John McDonald "Jack" Galbraith was a Scottish professional footballer. He was born in Renton, West Dunbartonshire....

     (1936–38) Raymond François (1938) Joszef Eisenhoffer (1938–39) Jack Galbraith
    Jack Galbraith
    John McDonald "Jack" Galbraith was a Scottish professional footballer. He was born in Renton, West Dunbartonshire....

     (1939) Richard Buisson (1939–41) Georges Beaucourt
    Georges Beaucourt
    Georges Beaucourt was a French association football player who participated at the 1934 FIFA World Cup. He played club football with Lille and Lens; he was also the manager of Lens between 1941 and 1942.-References:**...

     (1941–42)   Anton Marek
    Anton Marek
    Anton "Tony" Marek was an Austrian football player and manager who played for Nord-Wien, Wacker Vienna, Club Français, RC Lens and Toulouse FC.After retiring Marek managed RC Lens, OGC Nice, AS Cannes, Draguignan and Monaco....

     (1942–47) Nicolas Hisbst (1948–50) Ludvic Dupal (1950–53)   Anton Marek
    Anton Marek
    Anton "Tony" Marek was an Austrian football player and manager who played for Nord-Wien, Wacker Vienna, Club Français, RC Lens and Toulouse FC.After retiring Marek managed RC Lens, OGC Nice, AS Cannes, Draguignan and Monaco....

     (1953–56) Felix Witowski (1956–58) Karel Michlowski (1956–58)
    Jules Bigot (1958–62) Élie Fruchart
    Élie Fruchart
    Élie Fruchart is a retired French football player who played with US Auchel. He has also managed US Auchel, RC Lens, Stade de Reims, USL Dunkerque and Angers SCO.-References:*...

     (1962–69) Arnold Sowinski
    Arnold Sowinski
    Arnold Sowinski is a retired French football player who played with RC Lens. He has also managed RC Lens on four different occasions.-References:*...

     (1970–78) Roger Lemerre (1978–79) Arnold Sowinski
    Arnold Sowinski
    Arnold Sowinski is a retired French football player who played with RC Lens. He has also managed RC Lens on four different occasions.-References:*...

     (1979–81) Jean Serafin
    Jean Sérafin
    Jean Sérafin is a French former footballer and coach.He played for US Valenciennes and USL Dunkerque.After his playing career, he became a coach with Le Touquet AC, RC Lens, OGC Nice, Nîmes Olympique, Tours FC, Al-Wahda FC, Club Africain, Red Star and Wuhan .-External links and references:*...

     (1981–82) Gérard Houllier
    Gérard Houllier
    Gérard Houllier, OBE , is a French football manager, who was last manager of Premier League club Aston Villa. He stepped down on 1 June 2011, following hospitalisation over heart problems towards the end of the 2010-2011 season....

     (1982–85) Joachim Marx
    Joachim Marx
    Joachim Jerzy Marx is a retired Polish football striker.On the national level, he played for Poland national team and was a participant at the 1972 Summer Olympics, where his team won the gold medal.With Ruch Chorzów, he played 162 matches in the Ekstraklasa scoring 66 goals...

     (1985–88) Arnold Sowinski
    Arnold Sowinski
    Arnold Sowinski is a retired French football player who played with RC Lens. He has also managed RC Lens on four different occasions.-References:*...

     (1988) Jean Parisseaux (1988–89) Philippe Redon
    Philippe Redon
    Philippe Redon is an French former footballer and coach.He played for Stade Rennais, Red Star, Paris SG, Girondins de Bordeaux, FC Metz, Stade Lavallois, FC Rouen, Papeete, AS Saint-Étienne and US Créteil....

     (1989) Marcel Husson (1989–90) Arnaud Dos Santos
    Arnaud Dos Santos
    Arnaud Dos Santos is a French former footballer and coach.He played for US Boulogne, FC Rouen, AS Monaco FC, FC Girondins de Bordeaux, Troyes AC and Lille OSC....

     (1990–92) Patrice Bergues (1992–96)
    Slavo Muslin
    Slavoljub Muslin
    Slavoljub Muslin is a Serbian football manager and a former player who currently manages FC Krasnodar...

     (1996–97) Roger Lemerre (1997) Daniel Leclercq
    Daniel Leclercq
    Daniel Leclercq is a retired football defender and manager.-References:*...

     (1997–99) François Brisson
    François Brisson
    François Brisson is a retired professional French football striker. He obtained two international caps for the French national team during the 1980s...

     (1999–00) Rolland Courbis (2000–01) Georges Tournay (2001) Joël Muller
    Joël Müller
    Joël Müller, born January 2, 1952, in Donchery, France, is a former football player and manager, currently working as a technical director for FC Metz.-References:...

     (2001–January 2005) Francis Gillot
    Francis Gillot
    Francis Gillot is a former football defender and current manager of Girondins de Bordeaux.Gillot was named head coach of Bordeaux on 6 June 2011. He signed a two-year deal with the club.-References:*...

     (January 2005–07) Guy Roux (2007) Jean-Pierre Papin
    Jean-Pierre Papin
    Jean-Pierre Papin is a former French professional football player who was European Footballer of the Year in 1991.Papin achieved his greatest success while playing for Olympique Marseille between 1986 and 1992...

     (August 2007–08) Jean-Guy Wallemme
    Jean-Guy Wallemme
    Jean-Guy Wallemme is a former French footballer, who is currently manager manager of Congo.He was a mainstay of the RC Lens team which won the French championship in 1998.In August 2011 he took over the Congolese national team....

     (2008–January 2011) László Bölöni (January 2011–June 2011) Jean-Louis Garcia
    Jean-Louis Garcia
    Jean-Louis Garcia is a French football manager and former player.-Career:Garcia was a goalkeeper for many clubs including: AS Cannes, AS Monaco, SO Châtellerault, AS Nancy and FC Nantes Atlantique. As a player, he had quite a successful career apart from one game in Europe in 1995 against Bayer...

     (June 2011–present)

    Current squad

    As of 28 July, 2011

    Out on loan

    (at Panionios until the end of the 2011–12 Superleague Greece
    2011–12 Superleague Greece
    The 2011–12 Superleague Greece is the 53rd season of the highest football league of Greece and the sixth under the name Superleague. The season will begin in late August or early September 2011 and will end in May 2012 with the last matches of the European playoff round...

     season)

    Reserves squad

    Reserve team of Lens plays in the Championnat de France amateur, Group A.
    As of November 2009.

    Retired numbers

    12  Club Supporters (the 12th Man)
    12th Man (football)
    The 12th man or 12th player is a term used to describe the fans within a stadium during association football or American football games. This term has a different meaning in cricket, referring to the first substitute player who fields when a member of the fielding side is injured...

     

    17 -   Marc-Vivien Foé
    Marc-Vivien Foé
    Marc-Vivien Foé was a Cameroonian international footballer, who played in midfield for both club and country. With success in the French League, and stints in the English Premier League, his sudden death, while in the middle of an international competitive fixture, came as a shock to the worldwide...


    Current Staff (2008–2009)

    Name Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Nationality
    Jean-Louis Garcia
    Jean-Louis Garcia
    Jean-Louis Garcia is a French football manager and former player.-Career:Garcia was a goalkeeper for many clubs including: AS Cannes, AS Monaco, SO Châtellerault, AS Nancy and FC Nantes Atlantique. As a player, he had quite a successful career apart from one game in Europe in 1995 against Bayer...

    Head Coach 20 September 1962 Ollioules
    Ollioules
    Ollioules is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.-Twin townss:Ollioules is twinned with: Weiler-Simmerberg, Germany, since 2004-2005-References:*Notes...

     
    Jocelyn Blanchard
    Jocelyn Blanchard
    Jocelyn Blanchard is a French footballer currently a Free Agent after having being Released by Austria Kärnten After the Club went into Liquidation in 2010.- Career :...

    Technical Director 28 May 1972 Béthune
    Béthune
    Béthune is a city in northern France, sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department.-Geography:Béthune is located in the former province of Artois. It is situated South-East of Calais, West of Lille, and North of Paris.-Landmarks:...

     
    Manuel Nogueira Assistant 9 June 1969 Longwy
    Longwy
    Longwy is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.The inhabitants are known as Longoviciens.-Economy:Longwy has historically been an industrial center of the Lorraine iron mining district. The town is known for its artistic glazed pottery.-History:Longwy initially...

     
    Jean-Pierre Lauricella Assistant (goal keepers) 4 February 1965 Charbonnier-les-Mines
    Charbonnier-les-Mines
    Charbonnier-les-Mines is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France.-References:*...

     

    Former players

    Three Lens players won the gold medal in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games: defender Didier Sénac
    Didier Sénac
    Didier Sénac is a former football defender from France, who obtained three international caps for the French national team during the early 1980s...

    , as well as strikers François Brisson
    François Brisson
    François Brisson is a retired professional French football striker. He obtained two international caps for the French national team during the 1980s...

     and Daniel Xuereb
    Daniel Xuereb
    Daniel Xuereb is a former football striker from France, who earned eight international caps for the French national team during the 1980s...

     who scored a goal apiece in France's triumph over Brazil 2–0 in the final at the Pasadena
    Pasadena, California
    Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...

     Rose Bowl in front of a 103,000 crowd.

    For a complete list of RC Lens players, see :Category:RC Lens players

    French Internationals

    Name Position Caps with Lens Total Caps
    1 Maryan Wisnieski Forward 33 33
    2 Georges Lech
    Georges Lech
    Georges Lech is a French retired football player. He is of Polish descent.-External links:*http://www.sitercl.com/Fichejo/L/lechgeor.htm*http://www.fff.fr/servfff/historique/historique.php?id=LECH%20Georges...

    Forward 16 35
    3 Xercès Louis
    Xercès Louis
    Xercès Louis was a French football midfielder.-References:* * *...

    Midfielder 12 12
    4 Didier Six
    Didier Six
    Didier Six is a former French international footballer. He played as a winger and he earned 52 caps and scored 13 goals for the France national football team. He played in the 1978 FIFA World Cup and the 1982 FIFA World Cup, and was also part of the winning team at Euro 84...

    Forward 11 52
    5 Alou Diarra
    Alou Diarra
    Alou Diarra is a French international footballer who currently plays for French club Marseille in Ligue 1. He primarily plays as a defensive midfielder, but can also deputized as a centre back if necessary...

     *
    Midfielder 11 12
    6 Guillaume Bieganski
    Guillaume Bieganski
    Guillaume Bieganski is a French association football defender of Polish origin.-References:* *...

    Defender 5 9
    7 Philippe Vercruysse
    Philippe Vercruysse
    Philippe Vercruysse is a former football midfielder from France. Vercruysse was born in Saumur, Maine-et-Loire. He earned a total number of twelve international caps for the French national team during the 1980s...

    Midfielder 4 12
    8 Ladislas Siklo
    Ladislas Smid
    Ladislas Smid was a Hungarian-born French football player who played with Attila Budapest and RC Lens, as well as the French national team.-External links: -References:...

    Midfielder 4 4
    9 Tony Vairelles
    Tony Vairelles
    Tony Vairelles is a French football striker. He currently plays for FC Gueugnon.-Club career:A much-travelled striker or winger, the talented Vairelles started his professional career with hometown club AS Nancy before moving to RC Lens in summer 1995...

     *
    Forward 3 8
    10 Daniel Xuereb
    Daniel Xuereb
    Daniel Xuereb is a former football striker from France, who earned eight international caps for the French national team during the 1980s...

    Forward 3 8
    11 Pierre Laigle
    Pierre Laigle
    Pierre Laigle is a retired French footballer. He last played for AS Saint-Priest in the Championnat de France amateur....

    Midfielder 2 8
    12 Daniel Moreira
    Daniel Moreira
    Daniel Moreira is a former French footballer. He played as a striker.Moreira started his career with Valenciennes FC before moving to Guingamp. He finished as the runners-up of the 1997 Coupe de France playing for them....

     *
    Forward 2 3
    13 Didier Sénac
    Didier Sénac
    Didier Sénac is a former football defender from France, who obtained three international caps for the French national team during the early 1980s...

    Defender 2 3
    14 François Brisson
    François Brisson
    François Brisson is a retired professional French football striker. He obtained two international caps for the French national team during the 1980s...

    Forward 2 2
    15 Edmond Novicki
    Edmond Novicki
    Edmond Novicki was a Polish-born French football player who played with RC Lens, US Valenciennes, SC Fives and Olympique Lillois, as well as the French national team. He was of Polish descent....

    Forward 2 2
    16 Michel Stievenard
    Michel Stievenard
    Michel Stievenard is a retired French footballer.During his club career he played for RC Lens and Angers SCO . He earned 2 caps for the France national football team in 1960, and was part of the squad that competed in the 1960 European Nations' Cup.-External links:*...

    2 2
    17 Frédéric Déhu
    Frédéric Déhu
    Frédéric Déhu is a retired French footballer who played as a central defender.-Club career:Déhu made his professional debuts with RC Lens, becoming an undisputed starter from his third season onwards...

     *
    Defender 1 5
    18 Farès Bousdira
    Farès Bousdira
    Farès Bousdira is an Algerian born professional French football midfielder.-External links:* *...

    Midfielder 1 1
    19 Paul Courtin Forward 1 1
    20 Jean Desgranges 1 1
    21 Raymond François Midfielder 1 1
    22 Richard Krawczyk
    Richard Krawczyk
    Richard Krawczyk is a French retired professional football midfielder.-External links:**...

    Midfielder 1 1
    23 Marcel Ourdouillié
    Marcel Ourdouillié
    Marcel Ourdouillié is a French former footballer. He played with USL Dunkerque and RC Lens, as well as the French national team.-External links:**...

    Midfielder 1 1
    24 Éric Carrière
    Eric Carrière
    Éric Carrière is a former professional French association footballer who played for Dijon. He is a skilful playmaker who is adept at taking free-kicks, penalties, and corners for his team, as well as scoring from the run of play although he is primarily known for defence splitting passes...

    *
    Midfielder 0 11


    * Still playing.

    External links

    Official website
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