Season Preview #5: RC Lens
News
With the 2024-2025 Ligue 1 season fast-approaching, we’re running through every team in the league, giving you all you need to become a Ligue 1 expert. Every day from now until the season kicks off on August 16, we’ll preview two clubs every day, breaking down their key moves and how the season is likely to unfold for them.
Racing Club de Lens
Founded: 1906
Stadium: Stade Boellart-Delelis
Nickname(s): Les Sang & Or (Blood and Gold)
Manager: Will Still
The Anglo-Belgian burst onto the managerial scene with Reims in the 2022-2023 season after the 31-year-old replaced Oscar Garcia. Following an undefeated run of five games he was appointed as permanent manager, becoming the youngest head coach in all of Europe's top five leagues. He broke the record in Ligue 1 for the longest unbeaten start with 17 matches, before finishing 11th in Ligue 1. With rumblings of a move to England on the cards, Still left Reims by mutual consent shortly before the end of the 2023-2024 season. Still then opted to stay in Ligue 1 and replace Franck Haise as manager of Racing Club de Lens for the upcoming season.
Last Season: 7th, Ligue 1
Cult Hero: Jonathan Gradit
The battled-hardened and experienced French centre back has seen it all throughout his career. From lingering in the lower leagues with Tours and taking a humbling relegation with Caen to reaching the Champions League with Lens, Gradit's story is one which embodies the grit and determination that characterises the Sang & Or's recent rise to prominence in French football. Whilst Brice Samba remains the captain of the side, Lens possess characters and personalities that set the tone. Gradit along with the elder statesmen of this Lens side such as Florian Sotoca are ageing like fine wines, and will be crucial in offering continuity as Will Still takes the managerial reins this season.
Key Arrivals
Playing in the Champions League with a relatively modest squad was always going to take its toll last season, but the prospect of European football at Lens is still an attraction, with the Sang & Or qualified for the Europa Conference League. With that in mind Lens have looked to bring in a second goalkeeper to rival Brice Samba, as Hervé Koffi made the switch from Charleroi SC in Belgium. Long-forgotten Chelsea defender Malang Sarr has also joined the club on a free transfer, hoping to bolster Still's options in defence. Young Ecuadorian left-back Jhoanner Chávez (22) looks like the most interesting prospect for the Northern side.
Season Outlook
It's a new era for the Sang & Or as they transition from Franck Haise to Will Still. With a first taste of European football on the cards for the 31-year-old tactician, Lens will need to learn their lessons from last season, which saw a big drop off of Ligue 1 form. The squad has seen little movement over the summer, but the additions of fullbacks Malang Sarr and Jhoanner Chávez does suggest a move to a back four - keeping that core midfield in place. It would complicate matters, however, if Elye Wahi leaves the club during the final weeks of the transfer window.
Likely XI (4-1-2-3): Samba; Frankowski, Danso, Gradit, Medina ; Abdul-Samed; Diouf, Thomasson; Sotoca, Wahi, Pereira Da Costa.
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