logo
episode-header-image
Apr 16
49m 20s

Olympique Lyonnais: The Champions League...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Olympique Lyonnais is the most successful club in women’s football, dominating Europe over the last 15 years winning eight Champions League titles. Only Barcelona have recently been able to compete. Lyon's success is the vision of club president Jean-Michel Aulas who wanted to create an iconic team, with the best players, but in the case of Aulas he also promised to ensure both male and female players were treated equally. This included the first mixed football training academy.

In Olympique Lyonnais: The Champions League trailblazers we find out the story of how the French club raised the standard of women’s football, going behind the scenes with striker and Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg, Chelsea and England defender Lucy Bronze and France and Lyon captain Wendie Renard who have all witnessed huge success and then change with Europe’s elite catching up. Now South Korean born businesswoman Michele Kang has taken over the the French giants, with big ambitions for the club.

Photo: Players of Olympique Lyonnais celebrate after winning during the UEFA Women's Champions League final match between FC Barcelona and Olympique Lyonnais at Juventus Stadium on May 21, 2022 in Turin, Italy. (Credit: Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images)

Up next
Yesterday
Bonus. World of Secrets: The Killing Call
Sidhu Moose Wala explodes onto the Canadian music scene. His sound is a fusion of two worlds - hip-hop with the poetic language of rural Punjab, where he is from. After years of struggle he is making it. But with the spotlight comes a dark side. As his fame grows, so do the threa ... Show More
35m 54s
Jul 8
Re-homing France’s immigrant workers
France’s last foyers – housing for immigrant workers – are set for demolition. But some current residents are worried about what they’ll lose. Hundreds of “foyers” - housing units especially for immigrant workers – were built after World War II. The economy was booming and France ... Show More
27m 11s
Jul 7
Max Kidruk: Imagining the future in a science fiction trilogy
How do you imagine the future if you are a science fiction writer living in the present with your country at war? That is the challenge and dilemma for best selling author Max Kidruk. As he nears completion of Collapse, the second volume of a science fiction trilogy The New Dark ... Show More
26m 20s
Recommended Episodes
May 2022
Olympique Lyonnais Crowned The Queens Of Europe | UEFA Women's Champions League
Olympique Lyonnais beat Barcelona to be crowned the Women's Champions League Champions.  The UEFA Women's Champions League, previously called the UEFA Women's Cup, is an international women's association football competition. It involves the top club teams from countries affiliat ... Show More
5m 13s
Jun 1
PSG make Champions League history against Inter
Paris St Germain wrote their names into the Champions League history books after beating Inter Milan 5-0 in the final in Munich to win the trophy for the first time.World Football’s Delyth Lloyd is joined by Italian football journalist Daniele Verri and French broadcaster Patrick ... Show More
26m 7s
May 31
Five Star Paris Conquer Europe
Paris Saint-Germain have been crowned champions of Europe for the very first time after a historic 5-0 victory over Inter Milan, the biggest ever win in the final of this competition. Two goals from UEFA Player of the Match Désiré Doué, and one each for Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kva ... Show More
45m 21s
May 30
Champions League Final Preview: PSG vs Inter
On Saturday, PSG will face Inter in the 24/25 Champions League final in Munich. It will be the meeting of the oldest versus the youngest team from the knockout stage, will experience or youthful exuberance prevail?The Athletic’s Italian football correspondent James Horncastle and ... Show More
46m 25s
May 7
Paris beat Arsenal to set up Inter final
Paris Saint Germain will meet Inter Milan in the 2025 UEFA Champions League final, after the French champions saw off Arsenal 2-1 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate. It was a historic evening at the Parc des Princes as Luis Enrique’s side booked their place in the showpiece for ju ... Show More
35m 47s
Apr 2022
Paris Saint-Germain Acting Leader | UEFA Champions League
Why Paris Saint Germain rejected European Super League? and the fight against Barcelona, Juventus,  and Real Madrid.   Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, commonly referred to as Paris Saint-Germain, Paris, Paris SG or simply PSG is a professional football club based in Paris, Fra ... Show More
4m 43s
May 2022
12 years of Bad Luck for Pep Guardiola | UEFA Champions League
Is Pep Guardiola  cursed in the Champions League? as Manchester City fail to win the champions league.  Josep "Pep" Guardiola Sala is a Spanish professional football manager and former player, who is the current manager of Premier League club Manchester City.   The UEFA Champions ... Show More
5m 36s
May 8
Arsenal picked off by PSG while Inter beat Barca in Champions League classic
It’s an Inter v PSG final in the Champions League and Jimbo has Duncan Alexander, Charlie Eccleshare and Tom Williams in the studio to review the semi-final action. Arteta’s depleted Arsenal come up short in their semi-final in Paris. Is it finally time for PSG to ascend to the t ... Show More
52m 10s
May 2022
Real Madrid Crowned The Kings Of Europe | UEFA Champions League
Real Madrid beat  Liverpool; to be crowned the Champions League champions.    Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, commonly referred to as Real Madrid or simply Real, is a Spanish professional football club based in Madrid. Founded on 6 March 1902 as Madrid Football Club, the club has tra ... Show More
3m 34s
Mar 2022
Players Question Their Futures | Paris Saint-Germain F.C.
The Champions League fall out raises a lot of questions about players futures including the likes of Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe.  Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, commonly referred to as Paris Saint-Germain, PSG, Paris or Paris SG, is a professional football club based in Paris, ... Show More
1m 48s