OL on FM26 - An Empire's Renaissance
July 2025: OL was INCHES away from administrative relegation due to financial problems. The decision was reversed. Michele Kang took over as president after Textor's resignation. The Groupama Stadium celebrates its 10th anniversary. It's time to rebuild an EMPIRE that dominated French football for 7 years.
Why choose Lyon?
Because Olympique Lyonnais is THE CLUB OF CHAOS AND RENAISSANCE. Seven consecutive league titles from 2002 to 2008, an academy that produced Benzema, Lacazette, Ben Arfa, Umtiti. Then the fall, and the Textor era that NEARLY ended in relegation due to financial problems in 2025. Saved at the last minute by Michele Kang who took the helm in June 2025, OL are back in the Europa League with Paulo Fonseca in the dugout. The Groupama Stadium (59,186 seats) is one of the finest modern stadiums in France. In FM26, you take charge of a wounded giant, sitting 6th in the table mid-season, with an immense history to honour and a legendary academy to exploit. The challenge: rebuild a TRULY GREAT LYON SIDE. The most exciting project in Ligue 1.
The financial crisis: your advantage
Textor left empty coffers. Michele Kang must rebuild with little. This is exactly what TRUE FM managers love: a rebuild challenge with constraints. You'll need to rely on the academy - and what an academy! Lyon's youth system produced Benzema, Lacazette, Tolisso, Umtiti, Fekir...
Tactics: rebuilding Lyon's DNA
OL under Fonseca is searching for its identity between the technical possession game inherited from its glorious past and the demands of modern football. The ideal formation for Lyon in FM26: a technical 4-3-3 with midfielders capable of retaining the ball under pressure. The Lyon academy is your SECRET WEAPON — aggressively scout your youth system; several players can become starters within 2-3 seasons. In FM26, the Lyon model is: develop + sell + reinvest smartly. Don't try to compete with PSG in the transfer market — beat them with INTELLIGENCE and patience. Derby matches against Saint-Étienne must be your games of the season.
Objectives: return to the top
Year 1: stabilize finances and results. Year 2: Europe minimum. Year 3: challenge PSG for the title. OL has the infrastructure and history. All that's missing is YOU to reconquer Ligue 1.
Lyon is the RENAISSANCE challenge. A fallen giant waiting for its messiah. The Groupama Stadium is ready. The academy is ready. The fans are ready. Are YOU? ALLEZ LYON!