RC Lens: A remarkable journey to the Champions League

There are plenty of tales to tell in football, but perhaps few are as inspiring as Racing Club de Lens' incredible journey to the Champions League. 

From humble beginnings in the French lower leagues to rubbing shoulders with Europe's elite, the club's meteoric rise is a testament to determination, resilience and teamwork. 

This article delves into their fascinating story...

Les Sang et Or 

Hailing from the north of France, Racing Club de Lens - commonly known as Lens - was founded in 1906.

To truly understand the club, it is essential to grasp the town's rich industrial history. Lens was a significant mining hub for over a century after the discovery of coal in the mid-19th century, until the closure of the last mines in the 1980s.

Following the devastation of World War One, during which much of Lens was destroyed, the football team predominantly consisted of Polish immigrants who had arrived to work in the mines. Even today, the club maintains strong ties to the working-class community that has played an integral role in its formation and development.

During the '60s, '70s and '80s, the club had their ups and downs and was languishing outside of the French top flight until local businessman Gervais Martel became president in 1988 to gradually turn the tide. Lens returned to the top flight in 1991 and the next decade was to be a golden era for the club.

In the '90s, the club's rapid ascent culminated in a Ligue 1 title in 1997/98, the only league success in their history achieved in remarkable fashion without big name players.

Une bande de 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔 réalise le rêve de milliers 𝒅'𝑨𝒓𝒕𝒆́𝒔𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒔 🏆#FierDEtreLensois pic.twitter.com/6gk7ZPCyDU

— Racing Club de Lens (@RCLens) May 9, 2023

Unforgettable European campaigns

Lens' Ligue 1 title was followed by two memorable forays into the Champions League, these marking their only appearances in the competition to date. 

The club faced daunting challenges in the respective group stages, facing Arsenal in 1998/99 and European giants Bayern Munich and AC Milan in 2002/03.

However, Lens displayed unwavering resolve and produced stunning performances against the odds to capture the imagination of fans worldwide. 

A famous 1-0 win over Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal at Wembley in 1998 and a 2-1 comeback win over eventual winners AC Milan at the Stade Bollaert rank right up there among their highlights during these glory days. 

Sandwiched in the middle of those two UCL adventures was an unforgettable UEFA Cup campaign in 1999/00, when Lens reached the semi-finals before losing to Arsenal (beaten in the final by Galatasaray).

The French yo-yo and the comeback

Financial issues aligned with ownership problems conspired to burst Lens' bubble and over the next 15 years they shuttled between the top two tiers in French football.

Enter current owner and president Joseph Oughourlian, who has played a crucial role in transforming the club and bringing back the good times. 

After taking over the club in 2016, Oughourlian faced significant challenges, including financial instability and a lack of success on the field. 

However, courtesy of his financial expertise and strategic decision-making, he stabilised the club and set it on a path to success. Oughourlian's leadership, combined with the dedication and hard work of the entire organisation has underpinned Lens' journey to the Champions League.

Promotion to Ligue 1 was secured in 2019/20 and the club have gradually continued to build a competitive squad.

Ligue 1 regulars

2020/21 marked their return to the top flight and they have developed fabulously under manager Franck Haise, the mastermind who has constructed an outstanding team with no obvious superstars. 

After returning to Ligue 1, the club finished a commendable seventh in their first season back and replicated that success in the following campaign. 

Back-to-back seventh places in Ligue 1 caught the attention of many clubs and Lens therefore had to contend with the departure of key players (e.g. Cheick Doucoure to Crystal Palace and Jonathan Clauss to Marseille).

However, the club's ability to adapt and find suitable replacements has ensured their continued success. Under Haise's guidance, the team has maintained its style of play and maximised the potential of the available talent. 

In the season just gone, Lens not only challenged perennial champions Paris Saint-Germain but also exceeded expectations by securing a second-place finish in Ligue 1 after a 3-0 victory over already relegated Ajaccio last weekend. The Champions League now beckons next season. 

Players like Seko Fofana and Lois Openda have emerged as key figures, while the likes of former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Brice Samba and Kevin Danso have also been hugely important in defence. In fact, those four players were all included in Ligue 1's team of the season.

TEAM OF THE SEASON

🇫🇷 Mbappé
🇧🇪 Openda
🇦🇷 Messi
🇨🇮 Fofana
🇫🇷 Rongier
🇫🇷 Thuram
🇵🇹 Mendes
🇦🇹 Danso
🇨🇩 Mbemba
🇲🇦 Hakimi
🇫🇷 Samba pic.twitter.com/ZM06rhQnwS

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) May 28, 2023

As a consequence of their fantastic campaign, manager Franck Haise was named Ligue 1's manager of the season.

❤️💛🏆#FierDEtreLensois #TropheesUNFP pic.twitter.com/PG9NPOpN0Q

— Racing Club de Lens (@RCLens) May 28, 2023

At the heart of Racing Club de Lens' success lies a united and harmonious team. The players demonstrated exceptional camaraderie, displaying a selfless work ethic and a strong sense of collective purpose. 

This cohesion enabled them to overcome adversity and compete against the best teams in France all the way to the finish line: Lens winning 10 of their last 11 games.

A miserly defence was key to their success and, in fact, only Barcelona (18) conceded fewer goals than Lens (28) across UEFA's 'Top 5' leagues during the campaign just gone.

📊Fewest goals conceded in 22/23 (#UEFA's 'Top 5' leagues):

18⚽️: Barcelona
28⚽️: 💛LENS❤️, Napoli
30⚽️: Lazio
31⚽️: Atletico Madrid
33⚽️: Man City, Napoli, Juventus#FierDEtreLensois #RCLens pic.twitter.com/9YWKsK0ZaH

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) May 31, 2023

Looking Ahead

Racing Club de Lens' remarkable journey to the Champions League is a fantastic one and they will hope to seize the day and become a consistent force in both domestic and European competitions. 

The club's Champions League qualification is a reward for hard work, sacrifice, and dedication - and they fully deserve the chance to test themselves against the best in Europe next season.

Une célébration de niveau 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒖𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 🎊#FierDEtreLensois #RCLACA #ArtésiensEtEuropéens pic.twitter.com/PeWFXNmAfO

— Racing Club de Lens (@RCLens) May 28, 2023