in England where a salary cap, based on
club turnover, operates.
These figures strongly suggest Lyon
women have been run at a loss but that
may be changing. TV rights to Lyon’s
matches, sold for €200,000 in 2017,
went for €1.2m this season, by far the
biggest club TV deal in women’s football.
The money is obviously one reason
why few players say no to Lyon. So, too,
the facilities. But just as attractive is the
training environment. When US superstar
Alex Morgan joined in 2017 she said the
biggest lure was the prospect of training
day-in, day-out with a squad of high-
class internationals. “I want to be the
best player in the United States...the
best in the world,” she explained.
Wales’ Jess Fishlock, who was at Lyon
last season on loan from Seattle-based
Reign FC, says: “You have to be at your
best every day in training or you get
exposed. So you get better and better.”
Although domestic games are often
uncompetitive, even that has benefits,
with Fishlock admitting: “It allows you
to try things in a real competitive game.
Then you have the confidence to take
that into other games.”
Rivals are threatening. Lyon needed
JEAN-MICHEL AULAS
One of the most influential figures in French
football, the computer-software tycoon
became owner of Lyon in 1987. He added
the women’s team in 2004 and instituted
new levels of professionalism akin to the men’s
game. The Groupama Stadium, which hosted
the 2019 Women’s World Cup Final, will be
his physical legacy, but his impact on women’s
football is just as significant.JEAN-LUC VASSEUR
Former midfielder with Paris Saint-Germain,
Rennes and others, he became coach this
summer. It is his first role in the women’s game
but he has previously led Ligue 1 side Reims.ADA HEGERBERG
Crowned first winner of the Ballon D’Or
Feminin in December, the 24-year-old striker
joined Lyon from Turbine Potsdam as a teen in
2014 and has subsequently scored 193 goals
in 165 matches. Quit her national team in
2017 in protest at what she feels is a lack
of support for the women’s game from the
Norwegian federation.WENDIE RENARD
Club captain and defensive rock who has been
a mainstay for a dozen seasons. Born in the
French Caribbean island of Martinique but
moved to the mainland at 16 to join Lyon. Has
won more than a century of caps for France.SONIA BOMPASTER
Former Lyon and France midfielder who was
appointed in 2013 to lead the club’s female
academy. Sharing facilities with Lyon’s male
equivalent, the academy regularly produces
players for the first team.KEY FIGURES AT LYON
penalties to beat Wolfsburg in the 2016
Final and PSG in the 2017 Final. In 2018
both Wolfsburg and Manchester City
beat them in 90 minutes, if not in the
tie overall. Last season Chelsea pushed
them very close in the European semi-
final. The London side’s manager, Emma
Hayes, proclaimed a “new era in women’s
football” arguing Lyon’s domination is
“massively challenged”.
The response was that of restless,
hungry champions. Lyon blew away
Barcelona in the Final, taking a four-
goal lead in barely half an hour with a
Hegerberg hat-trick. Having also wrapped
up the French double they then sacked
coach Reynald Pedros. This seemed
harsh, but Lyon are on a relentless quest
for improvement. Jean-Luc Vasseur –
previously a men’s coach, including a
spell in Ligue 1 with Reims – took over.
There was further recruitment on the
field. Nikita Parris, England’s Women’s
Footballer of the Year, arrived from
Manchester City, followed by Alex
Greenwood, Manchester United’s captain.
They will form an English quartet, with
Bronze and Izzy Christiansen having
previously joined from City. Belgian
captain Janice Cayman also signed alongwith Portuguese forward Jessica Silva.
There was another notable signing,
with 17-year-old Manon Revelli agreeing
a three-year deal. Lyon can sign Europe’s
best, but they also develop their own with
both genders treated equally at academy
level. Revelli was one of four OL players
involved as France won the European
Under-19 title in July, with Melvine Malard
finishing as the tournament’s top scorer.
It will not be easy for youngsters or
new signings to earn playing time at a
club which had 16 players at the World
Cup, but they will become better players.
Joining them was a “no brainer”, says
Parris, who adds: “I just want to be at the
best place possible to ensure I really kick
on in my career.” Lyon, she added, were
“irresistible, as they are the best”.Winner...Ada
HegerbergCLUB PROFILE