Season Preview #6: LOSC Lille

With the 2024/25 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.

LOSC Lille

Founded: 1944

Stadium: 

Nickname: Les Dogues

Manager: Bruno Génésio (first season)
Génésio's time at his previous club in France -- Stade Rennais -- was uneven. He won the UNFP Manager of the year award in 2022, but was dismissed less than a year later. Previously, he also worked with Olympique Lyonnais, for whom he played nearly 200 times, and helped Les Gones reach a Europa League semifinal. Able to make do with limited resources, as illustrated by his time in Lyon, his experience will prove vital if Lille are to make progress, either in Europe or domestically.

Last season: 3rd, Ligue 1

Cult hero: Benjamin André

Now 34, and having made more than 200 appearances for Lille, André shows no signs of slowing down as he enters his sixth season in the north of France. A composed and elegant presence in midfield, his workrate and determination have been key to allowing the sides for whom he has played an impressive measure of freedom. A right back in his early days as a professional, he is also strong in the air, and unafraid to get stuck in, adding veteran character to a team which has seen plenty of changes since his arrival.

Key arrivals:

Lille have been loath to spend heavily in this window, with an outlay of just €13M while sanctioning the departure of Leny Yoro to Manchester United, but their moves to date nonetheless look canny. Thomas Meunier and Aissa Mandi are two defenders with plenty of experience in Europe and in France, and should reinforce the team's defensive options, while at the other end of the spectrum, Norwegian youth international Osame Sahraoui and Ethan Mbappé both look like promising young players. Mohamed Bayo's return from a loan spell with Le Havre is also intriguing, with the big striker having netted double figures for Clermont in the recent past.

Key departures:

Yoro is the headliner in terms of outgoings, but Adam Ounas and Yusuf Yazici, while not regulars in the first team, offered needed depth in attack. With Rémy Cabella another year older, their creativity could yet be missed. Rumors continue to rumble about a potential departure for Jonathan David, but for now the Canadian international looks happy and ready to take a tilt at reaching the group stage of the Champions League.

Season Outlook:

Lille may be worried about competing on multiple fronts but, this side has more depth than last season's edition, which reached the quarterfinals of the UEFA Europa Conference League as well as the Round of 16 of the Coupe de France, and might have finished third but for a moment of madness on the final matchday. Yoro will be missed, but there is simply too much depth -- and continuity -- in this side to see them not being a contender for the top four once again. 

Likely XI (4-2-3-1): Chevalier; Meunier, Diakité, Alexsandro, Ismaily; André, Bentaleb (or Gomes); Zhegrova, Cabella (or Gomes), Sahraoui; David

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