Top 5 players to have come out of Lyon ranks in recent times

Founded in 1950, Olympique Lyonnais is one football club rooted deeply in the history of the beautiful game in France. The club enjoyed unprecedented success at the start of the 21st century, winning the Ligue 1 title seven times in succession from 2002 and becoming a force to reckon with in French and, to some extent, European football.

Since then, it has been home to some of the top footballers over the years, who gained recognition at the club and went on to establish themselves as world-class footballers in their respective careers. Which brings us to the all-important question – who are the top 5 players to have come out of Lyon over the past few years? Read on to find out.

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#5 Alexandre Lacazette

Alexsandre Lacazette playing for Lyon

The Frenchman first started playing football at Elan Sportif, a local club in Lyon, at the age of seven. Lacazette soon made the move to the Lyon academy and made a name for himself as a fine goalscorer, reminding many of a prime Sonny Anderson. He became a vital part of the youth team and put in consistent performances that made it clear that he was destined for greatness. Lacazette subsequently broke into the first team in the 2009/10 season as a 17-year-old but could make just one appearance. The following season, the Frenchman scored his first goal for the club and ended the season with a total of two goals from eleven appearances (nine domestic and two in Europe).

At the start of the 2011/12 season, he established himself as an integral part of the senior side, making 43 appearances for the club in the season and scoring ten goals. A slight dip in form followed in the next season, but the Frenchman again picked up pace in the 2013/14 season and was brilliant for his team throughout the four years that followed. He was in the Ligue 1 team of the season for three years and also won the Ligue 1 player of the year in the 2014/15 season as he scored 27 goals from 33 league games and ended up as the top-scorer of the league.

Arsenal had been lurking in the shadows for his signature for quite a few seasons, and the Gunners finally got their man ahead of the 2017/18 season. Lacazette left Lyon after making 275 appearances in total, scoring 129 goals. Since arriving in London, the Frenchman has managed 41 goals from 100 appearances and was also adjudged the Arsenal player of the year last season.

Also check out: Champions League table EPL table La liga table 2019-20

#4 Samuel Umtiti

Samuel Umtiti (L) playing for Lyon

Umtiti’s tryst with football started when he joined Menival as a 5-year-old. Four years later, the Frenchman joined Lyon’s fabled academy. Umtiti’s defensive qualities came to the fore at a very young age and at the academy, he was shaped into an able defender. His skills were sharpened and he rose through the ranks, proving his capabilities at the youth level. He made his debut for Lyon in the 2011/12 season and had begun to attract eyeballs with his assured performances at the back by the following year. By his third season with the senior team, Umtiti had established himself as a regular first-team member and had turned into a defensive rock for his team.

The Frenchman’s style of play, his keen reading of the game, and his ability to take control of the situation saw his stock rise with every passing season. By the end of the 2015/16 season, La Liga giants Barcelona had begun keeping tabs on him. Umtiti joined the Catalans in the summer of 2016 and immediately became a first-team regular. The Frenchman has enjoyed a largely successful spell with the reigning La Liga Champions, even though injuries have been his bane in recent times.

#3 Hugo Lloris

Hugo Lloris playing for Lyon

The Frenchman was just ten when he was spotted by former Nice goalkeeper Dominique Baratelli. Upon his advice, Lloris joined the youth academy at Nice and developed by leaps and bounds over the years, establishing himself as the goalkeeper for the under-17 team. As a reward for his consistent performances, he was promoted to the reserves team in the 2004/05 season. The following season, he gained entry to the first team and continued to impress, displaying shot-stopping skills beyond his age. He gained a permanent place in the first team in the 2006/07 season and spent two fruitful seasons with Les Aiglons before he moved on to Lyon ahead of the 2008/09 season.

With Les Gones, Lloris reached splendid heights and developed into one of the brightest footballing talents in the world. He reached the peak of his powers in the 2011/12 season, helping Lyon win the Coupe de France and the Trophee des Champions. In his three years at Lyon, the Frenchman was crowned the French league's Goalkeeper of the Year three times and also featured in the Ligue 1 team of the year thrice. Following his blockbuster season, he was picked up by Tottenham in the summer of 2012.

Since then, the Frenchman has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, even captaining the French national team to World Cup glory in 2018.

#2 Miralem Pjanic

Miralem Pjanic (R) during his time with Lyon

The Bosnian footballer is, without a doubt, one of the best midfielders of his generation. Pjanic joined Ligue 1 side Metz as a 14-year-old and showed enough promise to attract the attention of quite a few big clubs in Europe. He was particularly impressive in the 2007/08 season and chose to move to Lyon in the summer of 2008.

At Lyon, Pjanic soon established himself as a worthy successor to the legendary Juninho, even wearing the No. 8 shirt in the 2009/10 season. The Bosnian displayed tremendous technical nous, which more than made up for his lack of speed and physical strength. He was an extremely accurate passer of the ball and had the vision of a genius. His playmaking skills and the ability to score in vital games soon made him a household name in France. More then that, it was his understanding of the game that made him an asset to any team.

The Bosnian moved to A. S. Roma on Deadline Day in the summer of 2011. After five successful seasons with the Giallorossi, he joined Juventus ahead of the 2016/17 season and has since established himself as an indispensable member of the first team.

#1 Karim Benzema

Karim Benzema during his Lyon days

The Frenchman started playing football at his local club, Bron Terraillon SC, as a child and caught the attention of Lyon, eventually joining the club’s academy after a trial. At the club, Benzeme’s rise was steady and he was even a ball boy during the senior team’s games. He first appeared for the Les Gones first-team in the 2004/05 season and even picked up an assist on his debut from the bench. The Frenchman struggled for game time in his first three seasons but continued to show promise on the field.

In the 2007/08 season, Benzema was handed the No. 10 shirt at Lyon and he proved himself to be worthy of the number, scoring 31 goals from 52 games in all competitions. He helped Lyon defend their Ligue 1 trophy and also won the Coupe de France with the club. The Frenchman ended the season as the Ligue 1 top-scorer and also won the Ligue 1 Player of the Year. He struck 23 times in 47 appearances the following season and subsequently earned a move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009. Since then, he has won every trophy possible with Los Blancos. He is in fine form once again this season, already finding the back of the net 15 times from 19 games in all competitions.

The Frenchman managed 66 goals from 148 appearances during his time with Lyon. He is easily one of the best players to have come out of the Ligue 1 side over the past few years.