RC Lens RC Lens (Racing Club de Lens) was founded in 1906 and embodies the coal-mining identity of the Pas-de-Calais region. A defining moment in the club's history occurred in 1924, when it adopted its iconic red and gold colors (earning the nickname Les Sang et Or – The Blood and Gold), referencing the historical Spanish rule over Flanders in the 16th and 17th centuries. Following the closure of local pits, the club became the primary symbol of working-class pride and collective memory in northern France.
The sporting pinnacle for the club came in 1998 when RC Lens won its first Ligue 1 title under the guidance of manager Daniel Leclercq. On the European stage, the team lifted the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2005 and recorded memorable UEFA Champions League victories, including a famous 1998 win against Arsenal at Wembley and home triumphs over Arsenal and Sevilla FC in the 2023/2024 campaign. Historical icons of the club include legendary scorer Ahmed Oudjani, long-serving appearance record holder Éric Sikora, and French international Maryan Wisniewski.
The team plays its home matches at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis. Located near the center of the town, the stadium has a capacity exceeding 38,000, which is larger than the total population of Lens itself. The venue is renowned for its tradition of supporters singing Pierre Bachelet's hymn "Les Corons" at halftime during every home fixture to honor the regional mining heritage.
