Resurgent Lille's African connection
22/07/2011
French champions Lille's clash with Marseille in the Trophée des Champions final in Tangiers is a chance for them to reconnect with their long-standing ties across the African continent.
A mythical club of the 1940s and 50s (3 championships, 5 Coupes de France), LOSC Lille-Métropole have been enjoying a renaissance since the turn of the century.
Driven by an ambitious project put in place in 2002 by club president Michel Seydoux, Lille have emerged as one of the most consistent performers on the domestic and international stage with eight European campaigns in the last 11 years. In 2011, thanks to a spectacular attacking style and both individual and collective talent, Rudi Garcia's Dogues completed an historic League and Cup double, confirming the club's return to the summit of the French game.
A club open to the world
Situated near France's northern border, LOSC Lille-Métropole has openly forged an international identity, thanks to players from the four corners of the globe. Cosmopolitan and multicultural, a reflection of the region, the club has a particular attachment to Africa. Abedi Pelé, Peter Odemwingie, Jean II Makoun, Kader Keita, Gervinho and last season's Ligue 1 top scorer Moussa Sow are just a few of the jewels revealed to the world in a Lille jersey.
The club has direct links with the Institut Diambars of Senegal, a new football academy created by Bernard Lama, Patrick Vieira and Jean-Marc Adjovi-Boco. Three current squad members have already emerged from the partnership, in the highly promising Idrissa Gueye, Pape Souaré and Omar Wade.
Lille's Lions of Atlas
As Lille prepare for their maiden Trophée des Champions in Tangiers, the club is reminded of its ties with North Africa and Morocco in particular: from Abdelkrim Merry Krimau to Hicham Aboucherouane, and including Salaheddine Bassir and Abdelilah Fahmi, several Lions of Atlas have proudly worn LOSC's colours in Ligue 1 and the Champions League, generating legions of local supporters.
Now, as French champions and Coupe de France winners, LOSC are diving headlong into a new era with their participation in this season's UEFA Champions League and, above all, the move to a brand new stadium: the Grand Stade Lille Métropole. From July 2012, Lille will be playing their home matches in the state-of-the-art 50,000-seater stadium that will play a starring role in France's hosting of Euro 2016.
>> CLUB PROFILE: LOSC Lille Métropole