R.C. Lens

Origin of the club

The origins of the club are not clearly documented, although most sources suggest that the club was established in 1906 under the name "Racing Club lensois". The name was chosen as a reference to Racing Club de Roubaix and Racing Club de France, both popular clubs at the time. The current name, "Racing Club de Lens", dates back to 1969. The club originally played in green and black to represent the founding location; they wore green to represent the name of the home pitch, "Verte" (meaning 'green' in French), and black to represent the omnipresence of the coal mining industry in the surrounding area. Between 1907 and 1912, the players were forced to change home grounds twice before settling at the Parc des Glissoires, situated between Avion and Lens. During World War I, in common with all French sports clubs, the team's activities were stopped and did not restart until 1919. By this time, Lens had changed their playing colours to sky blue.

Of blood and gold

It was in 1924 that the red and gold colours first appeared. One legend says that Pierre Moglia, president of the club from 1923 to 1930, chose the colours of the Spanish flag after a colleague from the club remarked that the Saint-Léger church ruins, which they had walked past one evening, were the last visible remains of the local Spanish domination in 1648. Some people also say that the colours were derived as a reference to the local coal mines: the red for the blood of the miners…

Ligue 1 Winners (1): 1997–98 Runners-up (6): 1955–56, 1956–57, 1976–77, 2001–02, 2022–23, 2025–26 Ligue 2 Winners (4): 1936–37, 1948–49, 1972–73, 2008–09 Runners-up: (2): 2013–14, 2019–20 Coupe de France Winners (1): 2025–26 Runners-up (3): 1947–48, 1974–75, 1997–98 Coupe de la Ligue Winners (2): 1993-94,1998–99 Runners-up (1): 2007–08 Trophée des Champions Winners (1): 2026 Runners-up (1): 1998 Coupe Drago Winners (3): 1959, 1960, 1965 Runners-up (1): 1957 UEFA Cup Semi-finalists (1): 1999–2000 UEFA Intertoto Cup Winners (1): 2005