The strongest French team of the new millennium, Lyon can trace their history right back to 1899 and the birth of local sports association 'Lyon Olympique'. Renamed 'Lyon Olympique Universitaire' in the 1910s, the club turned professional in 1942, before disagreements between the rugby and football sections led to the latter breaking away eight years later.
As a brave new era dawned, it was renowned local surgeon Albert Trillat who suggested that the team call themselves 'Olympique Lyonnais' and that the players wear the city's colours of red and blue. Slowly but surely, OL established themselves in the top flight, yet it was in the Coupe de France that they first found success. Indeed, until recent years their cup wins in 1963, 1964 and 1973 were the team's only major honours, but, even then, the side featuring current France boss Raymond Domenech was outshone by their fierce local rivals Saint-Etienne.
Relegation to Ligue 2 followed in 1983 and, with empty coffers, the future looked decidedly bleak. That all began to change in 1987, though, when software magnate Jean-Michel Aulas took over the Presidency promising to get Lyon back in Europe within four years. With Domenech installed as Coach, they did just that, having first secured promotion in 1989. Year after year, the team crept up the table and, although there were numerous changes in the dug-out, Aulas's excellent leadership steered the club to the top of the French game.
Coupe de la Ligue glory under Jacques Santini in 2001 presaged the nascent dynasty, and the following year OL lifted the Ligue 1 trophy for the first time in their history. Paul Le Guen led them to three more consecutive titles before stepping down in 2005, and the next logical step as far as Aulas is concerned is winning the Champions' League.
