Olympique Lyonnais Reserves and Academy

The U-19 squad participates in their weekly league, the Championnat National U19, which is a league comprising four groups of fourteen clubs who play each other twice during the regular season. This session is dubbed Phase 1. Following the regular season, the four group winners are randomly selected to face each other in semi-final matches (dubbed Phase 2) to decide who will play each other in the Under-18 Championnat National championship match, usually held in Mayenne. There is also a third-place match, which is usually held just before the championship match. The Under-18 squad also regularly participates in the Coupe Gambardella. They have won the title on 4 occasions. They won the cup in 1971, 1994, 1997 and 2022.

The U-17 side participates in a league, the Championnat National U17, a youth league comprising six groups of twelve clubs who play each other twice during the regular season, dubbed Phase 1. Following the regular season, the six group winners and the two best second place clubs are randomly inserting into two groups of four, where they play each other at neutral venues once over a span of four days. This portion is dubbed Phase 2. The two winners of each group will then face each other in the championship match to determine the champion of the Under-17 Championnat National. The Under-17 squad also participates in regional cup competitions.

The current National 3 manager is Gueida Fofana, who played for Olympique Lyonnais before but had his career cut-short due to injuries. He has been the manager of Lyon's reserves team since 2019. The manager of the Olympique Lyonnais U-19s and U-17s are Samy Saci and Amaury Barlet.^[2]

According to Faouzi Djedou-Benabid, the scout for Niort and the co-author of Pourquoi le foot français va dans le mur (lit. 'Why French football goes into wall'; 2015), published by Hugo Sport, the training provided in Olympique Lyonnais academy favors the technical learning of football over match results, like FC Barcelona: thus, "Lyon educators do not hesitate to have defenders play in midfield so that 'they can learn to use their feet better". In addition, the formation does not favor any pattern of play, allowing the players to adapt easily to all positions during the game.^[3]

As a result of this philosophy, since the 2010s, Lyon youth academy gained reputation all around Europe as being one of the top football academies in the continent, producing several players playing in European top tier competitions.^[4] Between 2012 and 2019, Lyon appears successively eight times in top 4 of the International Centre for Sports Studies list of the best football academies in Europe. Lyon was also rated by the French Football Federation as the best football academy in France for six seasons in a row, between 2013 and 2019.^[5]

In February 2014, L'Équipe writes that Olympique Lyonnais ranks second in terms of the number of players trained at the club and playing in the "five major European championships" (Germany, England, Spain, France and Italy) tied with Real Madrid, and the first being FC Barcelona.^[6][7] In 2015, France Football rated Lyon youth academy as one of the best in Europe, as it is used to feed the first team, and also having a pool of players with value on the transfer market, without this being in the heart of the club's policy.^[8] Indeed, the competition level in Lyon's youth team is very difficult for young players, they will regularly, voluntarily or not, emancipate themselves in other very young clubs. Just as regularly, a certain number of them manage to have a good national or international career such as Ludovic Giuly, Karim Benzema, Alexandre Lacazette, Samuel Umtiti, or Nabil Fekir.

• Championnat de France Amateurs: 7
  • Champions: 1998, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011
• Championnat National U17: 4
  • Champions: 1994, 2000, 2004, 2014
• Championnat National U19: 3
  • Champions: 1993, 2000, 2005
• Coupe Gambardella: 4
  • Champions: 1971, 1994, 1997, 2022
  • Finalists: 1970, 1992, 2005, 2006, 2015
• Coupe Nationale U16 (with Rhône-Alpes): 2
  • Champions: 1960, 1996
• French Division 3: 1
  • Champions: 1993
• Montaigu Tournament: 2
  • Champions: 2000, 2004
• Premier League International Cup
  • Finalists: 2024–25

As of 1 July 2025^[9]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 32 FW  ENG Alejandro Gomes Rodríguez 35 DF  FRA Yacine Chaïb 36 FW  FRA Romain Perret 41 DF  CRO Téo Barisic 44 MF  FRA Khalis Merah 45 MF  FRA Rémi Himbert 53 MF  FRA Mathys De Carvalho — GK  FRA Axel Barreau — GK  POR Matthias Da Silva — GK  CIV Yvann Konan — DF  FRA Imdad Charifou — DF  FRA Boubacar Diarra — DF  FRA Timothée Dutot — DF  TUN Wassim El Abrougui — DF  FRA Emeric Etondé — DF  CMR Ibrahim Halilou

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  FRA Ali Ali Hassan — DF  ALG Steeve Kango — DF  COD Prince Mbatshi — DF  FRA Melvyn Otobo — DF  FRA Kelyan Yahia — MF  SEN Pierre Dorival — MF  SEN Fallou Fall — MF  THA Erawan Garnier — MF  POR Tiago Gonçalves — MF  FRA Billy-Paul Mavudia — FW  FRA Daryll Benlahlou — FW  SEN Ibrahima Fall — FW  FRA Adil Hamdani — FW  ALG Yannis Lagha — FW  FRA Nehemie Lurika — FW  GAB Bryan Meyo

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  FRA Zaki Atamna — GK  FRA Adrien Danis — GK  FRA Mathis Iwosso — DF  MAR Adam Alioui — DF  FRA Angel Garcia — DF  FRA Kassim Mnandji — DF  FRA Paul-Ianel Moulot — DF  FRA Kylian Negri — DF  FRA Emmanuel Pampi — DF  FRA Aboubacar Sacko — DF  FRA Esteban Thyvent — DF  FRA Nolan Velut

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  FRA Jalis Bouabdellah — MF  FRA Kenan Doganay — MF  FRA Noah Duclieu — MF  ALG Walid Nechab — MF  TUR Haktan Sener — FW  FRA Hocine Boulegroun — FW  FRA Gnadou Gohi — FW  FRA Mathieu Hoareau — FW  TUR Ottman Katirag — FW  FRA Nader Saad — FW  FRA Issiaga Soumah

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  FRA Ethan Leveneur — GK  FRA Joël Mbala — DF  COM Nizard Ahmed Moussa — DF  FRA Tiago Asse-Bille — DF  FRA Yanis Bah Girondins — DF  FRA Rubio Berliat — DF  FRA Jérémie Mputu — DF  FRA Félix Onana — DF  FRA Aaron Trincat — MF  FRA Naïm Adjimi — MF  ITA Lylian Di Nota — MF  FRA Rayhan Hajjari — MF  FRA Emany Mayulu

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  COD Jason Nkelenda — MF  CTA Edwin Penka — MF  FRA Théo Petan Ranguin — FW  FRA Hedi Chekhab — FW  BEL Ousmane Fofana — FW  FRA Ilan Khadraoui — FW  FRA Amine Lazak — FW  FRA Khalil Mahici — FW  FRA Mohamed Meguenni — FW  FRA Djibril Merouani — FW  FRA Ajdin Muminovic — FW  FRA Farès Tracol — FW  FRA Bojan Zekovic

As of 1 July 2025

Position	Name
General Director	Fabien Caballero
Reserves Manager	Gueïda Fofana
Reserves Assistant Manager	Pierre Chavondrier
Academy Goalkeeper Coach	Olivier Blondel Sébastien Gerin
Academy Fitness Coach	Nicolas Quinault
U-19 Manager	Florent Balmont
U-19 Assistant Manager	Rémy Kaleche
U-19 Fitness Coach	Antoine Maennel
U-19 Athletic Coach	Florian Testard
U-17 Manager	Samy Saci
U-17 Assistant Managers	Mour Paye
U-17 Fitness Coach	Mattéo Cathalot
Preformation Director	Nicolas Brun
Sporting Coordinator	Guy Genet

Many players from Lyon's youth system have managed to reach the professional level in football, whether at Lyon or at other clubs. As of June 2025, 37 players formed in the Lyon academy had capped for the France national football team.^[10] Below is a non-exhaustive list of notable players who trained in the youth or reserve teams of Olympique Lyonnais:

France Loïc Abenzoar Ghislain Anselmini Leeroy Anton Marcel Aubour Jérémy Aymes Kamal Bafounta Farès Bahlouli Mohamed Bahlouli Florent Balmont Bradley Barcola Melvin Bard Cédric Bardon Xavier Barrau Christian Bassila Karim Belhocine Olivier Bellisi Nicolas Belvito Hatem Ben Arfa Mourad Benhamida Farid Benstiti Karim Benzema Bryan Bergougnoux Olivier Bernard Jérémy Berthod Grégory Bettiol Romain Beynié Maxime Blanc Kayne Bonnevie Gilbert Bonvin Pierre Bouby Jérémie Bréchet Anthony Briançon Maxence Caqueret Alexis Carra Maxime Cassara Alain Caveglia Johann Charpenet Mickael Charvet Yves Chauveau Xavier Chavalerin Rayan Cherki François Clerc Jérémy Clément Timothé Cognat Renaud Cohade Mickaël Colloredo Néstor Combin Gilles Constantinian Yoann Court Laurent Courtois Florent Da Silva Andrea Damiani Stéphane Darbion Maxime D'Arpino Fabien Debec Laurent Debrosse Romain Dedola Romain Del Castillo Sylvain Deplace Jean-Christophe Devaux Fleury Di Nallo Yohan Di Tommaso Jean Djorkaeff Raymond Domenech Belony Dumas Jean-Philippe Durand Franck Durix Alan Dzabana Yann Ekra Mohamed El Arouch Stephen Ettien Sébastien Faure Julien Faussurier Nabil Fekir Yassin Fekir Jordan Ferri Fabrice Fiorèse Maxence Flachez Sébastien Flochon Laurent Fournier Pascal Fugier Rémi Garde Bruno Génésio Alexis Genet Guy Genet Gaël Genevier Willem Geubbels Ludovic Giuly Yohan Gomez Anthony Gomez Mancini Maxime Gonalons Mathieu Gorgelin Hérold Goulon Sidney Govou Fabrice Grange Clément Grenier Sébastien Grimaldi Malo Gusto Joan Hartock Alexandre Hauw David Hellebuyck Kévin Jacmot Warren Jacmot Joris Jehan Franck Jurietti Joseph Kalulu Pierre Kalulu Timothée Kolodziejczak Billy Koumetio Zakarie Labidi Alexandre Lacazette Bernard Lacombe Guillaume Lacour Stéphane Lalaoui Gérard Lanthier Florent Laville William Le Pogam Sekou Lega Esteban Lepaul David Linarès Cyriaque Louvion Castello Lukeba Steed Malbranque Jérémy Manzorro Yoann Martelat Alexis Martial Anthony Martial Boris Mathis Florent Marty Florian Maurice Jonathan Mendes Amine Messoussa Julian Michel Enzo Molebe Anthony Mounier Théo Ndicka Louis Nganioni Bruno Ngotty Camille Ninel Robert Nouzaret Harry Novillo Florent Ogier Abdoulaye Ouattara Sandy Paillot Julian Palmieri Mathieu Patouillet Mour Paye Pascal Pédemonte Florent Perradin Gaëtan Perrin

Jacques Philip Jérémy Pied Lenny Pintor Alassane Pléa Damien Plessis Nicolas Priet Grégoire Puel Paulin Puel Nicolas Puydebois Nicolas Rabuel Daniel Ravier Enzo Reale Loïc Rémy Gwenaël Renaud Remy Riou Claude-Arnaud Rivenet Thomas Robinet Mickaël Rol Mathieu Salamand Junior Sambia Mamadou Sarr Romain Sartre Ernest Schultz Nicolas Seguin Yoan Severin Stéphane Solomenko Yaya Soumaré Julien Stephan Éric Taborda Kevin Tapoko Hermann Tebily Titouan Thomas Corentin Tolisso Johann Truchet Marvin Tshibuabua Samuel Umtiti Cédric Uras Pierrick Valdivia Julien Viale Roland Vieira Hugo Vogel Daniel Xuereb Yoan Zouma Africa Oussama Amar Houssem Aouar Ishak Belfodil Yassine Benzia Yassine Ben Hamed Abdelkader Ghezzal Rachid Ghezzal Amine Gouiri Yacine Hima Khaled Kharroubi Yannis Lagha Khaled Lemmouchia Karim Maroc Saïd Mehamha Yannis Tafer Hussayn Touati Mehdi Zeffane Nassim Zitouni Jordy Gaspar Nassim Innocenti Vincent Ye Blaise Tohou Yann Mabella Sinaly Diomandé Lossémy Karaboué Éric Tié Bi Raphaël Anaba Romarin Billong Joseph-Désiré Job Olivier Kemen Philippe N'Dioro Clinton N'Jie Nasser Chamed Moussa Djoumoi Myziane Maolida Faiz Mattoir Cyriaque Mayounga Dylan Mboumbouni Amos Youga Kelly Youga Aldo Kalulu Gédéon Kalulu Yann Kitala Samuel Moutoussamy Emmanuel Danso Elisha Owusu Mouctar Diakhaby Sekou Yansané Mohamed Yattara Formose Mendy Fabien Boyer Thomas Fontaine Jamal Alioui Achraf Laâziri Fahd Moufi Kays Ruiz-Atil Issiar Dramé Frédéric Kanouté Habib Keïta Sidy Koné Bryan Ngwabije Lamine Gassama Abdoulaye Ndiaye Bouna Sarr Mouhamadou-Naby Sarr Demba Touré Sylvain Idangar Ludovic Assemoassa Malcolm Barcola Anice Badri Chaïm El Djebali Habib Oueslati Hamza Rafia Rest of World Hamdan Al Kamali Théo Defourny Héritier Deyonge Muamer Aljic Camilo Zachary Brault-Guillard Jérémy Frick Kilian Pagliuca Anthony Racioppi Jian Tao Yu Junwei Zhang Xiuwei Teo Barišić Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez Reo Griffiths Aleksandre Guruli Georges Mikautadze Noam Bonnet Francesco Migliore Kim Shin Philippe Paoli Christopher Martins Pereira Ulrik Yttergård Jenssen Tord Salte Bartosz Talar Anthony Lopes Erawan Garnier Cenk Özkaçar

Players in bold are those who capped for their National team.

The following table shows the current list of Olympique Lyonnais-trained players in the French national team as of 8 June 2025, along with their year of birth, number of caps, and the corresponding period. Players whose international careers are still in progress are shown in bold type.