Lens’ nickname is Sang et Or, which translated means Blood and Gold.
Admittedly, this is a reference to their traditional kit colours, but it sounds monstrously epic like the title of some epic fantasy novel or perhaps a hair metal album from 1984.
However, Lens aren’t quite that epic. Since the turn of the millennium, they have had some flirtations with success. Most memorably losing the Ligue 1 title on the very last day of the season to Lyon in 2001/02. Going into that game, they were leading the table on 64 points, one ahead of Lyon on 63. But in the final day clash at the Stade Gerland, Lyon beat them 3-1 to move onto 66 and secure their first of seven consecutive titles.
Since then, Lens have never been the same, embarking on a slow crawl down the table and into Ligue 2 obscurity. That became ignominy when their 2014 promotion was overruled because of financial irregularities.
Despite their fall, they’ve nonetheless persisted and now find themselves back in the big time. Lens may not be as illustrious as the Ligue 1 clubs they’re rubbing shoulders with, but the club based in northern France have still managed to produce quality players. Here, Squawka have put together a combined XI of players who once called Stade Bollaert-Delelis home.
Goalkeeper: Alphonse Areola
Period: 2013-2014
League Games: 35
Areola joined Lens on loan when they were in Ligue 2 and was instantly their first-choice goalkeeper. Lens’ defence went from conceding 53 goals the season before to just 40 with Areola between the sticks. He helped them gain promotion but they made no effort to bring him back the following campaign and have regretted that decision since with the Parisian turning out for PSG and Real Madrid before joining Fulham and then West Ham.
Right-back: Serge Aurier
Period: 2009-2012
League Games: 48
A product of the Lens youth academy, Aurier debuted at the age of 17 in 2009 while the club was still in Ligue 1. He was instantly impressive, a powerhouse up and down the right flank. He moved to Toulouse, where he was even better and hit the big time at PSG in 2014 before moving on to Spurs. He’s won copious amounts with Les Parisiens and even helped Ivory Coast win the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015.
Centre-back: Raphael Varane
Period: 2010-2011
League Games: 23
An absolute colossus of a defender. Debuted for Lens while still a 17-year-old, and he made such an enormous impression that by the end of the season, Real Madrid and Manchester United (where he now plays) were battling over his signature. Los Blancos won, and Varane has gone on to be a key part of winning every trophy available as well as an international mainstay where, in 2018, he performed fantastically in France’s World Cup triumph.
Centre-back: Vitorino Hilton
Period: 2004-2008
League Games: 122
Having started at Brazilian side Chapecoense, where he never played a single league game, Vitorino Hilton would soon make his way to Europe by joining Servette in 2002 where during a two-year spell he established himself as a first-team regular. It was during a brief loan spell at Bastia that he caught the eye of Lens who swiftly moved to acquire his services. Hilton ultimately enjoyed four seasons at Lens before turning out for Marseille and Montpellier, it was at the latter where he lifted the club’s first Ligue 1 crown, the centre-back called time on his 26-year playing career at Sète in 2022.
Left-back: Benoit Assou-Ekotto
Period: 2004-2006
League Games: 67
Joined Lens as a 10-year-old in 1994, then a decade later made his debut for the first team. A fullback that was so dependable in both defence and attack he earned a move to the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur where he was a mainstay for the better part of a decade. After playing for Saint-Etienne and Metz, the former Spurs defender retired from the game.
Defensive-midfield: Geoffrey Kondogbia
Period: 2010-2012
League Games: 35
Another product of the impressive youth academy, Kondogbia debuted after Aurier and Varane but showed just as much promise. An uncanny combination of power and left-footed precision, he looked like the heir to Seydou Keita’s throne. He has not prospered as much as Keita managed to (failing to turn his spell at Sevilla into a huge move), but then he is 30 and is starting to show his worth at Atlético Madrid following a spell at Valencia.
Defensive-midfield: Seydou Keita
Period: 2002-2007
League Games: 119
Seydou Keita joined Lens just after their title heartbreak and then proceeded to dominate the side to such an extent that he was made captain and earned a move to Sevilla, where he won the UEFA Cup, and then Barcelona, where he won everything in sight. A man of such immense standing, Pep Guardiola once said he was one of the best souls he had ever known. He moved to Qatar’s El-Jaish, where he ended his illustrious career, after a spell in Italy with Roma.
Right-wing: Vladimir Smicer
Period: 2001-2004
League Games: 91
A graduate of Slavia Prague’s esteemed academy system Vladimir Smicer made over 80 league appearances before Lens picked him up following Euro 1996 where he was part of the Czech Republic team which reached the final. Smicer would play a pivotal role in their first-ever Ligue 1 success (1997/98) before moving on to Liverpool where he enjoyed greater success notably scoring in their 2005 Champions League final comeback win over Milan. That incredible victory proved to be Smicer’s final game for the Reds; the Děčín returned to France with Bordeaux before ending an illustrious career where it all started.
Attacking-midfield: Adel Taarabt
Period: 2006-2007
League Games: 1
The penultimate product of the Lens youth system to make this list, Taarabt only played once for his hometown club before embarking on an odyssey across Europe, well, London anyway. Several spells for Tottenham, QPR and Fulham varied wildly in terms of quality and consistency and the loving frustration he used to bring out of Harry Redknapp was most entertaining. After playing for Genoa on loan from Benfica, he is currently at UAE outfit Al-Nasr.
Left-wing: Thorgan Hazard
Period: 2011-2012
League Games: 14
While his more famous brother Eden emerged for Lille, Thorgan did so out of the great Lens academy. He only played one season there until Chelsea snapped him up. Part recognition of his skills, part trying to keep his brother happy. Thorgan never played a minute for the Blues, spending seasons out on loan before securing a move to Borussia Monchengladbach, wearing the No.10 shirt and becoming a star in his own right. Hazard has since moved on to Borussia Dortmund — where he managed 18 goals and 21 assists in 122 appearances — but is now on loan at Dutch powerhouse PSV.
Striker: El Hadji Diouf
Period: 2000-2002
League Games: 54
The enigmatic striker was a dynamic potentially world-class talent in emergence while at Lens. Back-to-back African Footballer of the Year awards in 2001 and 2002, peaking with him leading the Senegalese demolition of World Champions France at the first game of the 2002 World Cup. Moved to Liverpool at the wrong time and his entire career fell to pieces. Money, ego and terrible coaching turned him from a great prospect into a ridiculous has-been journeyman remembered more for spitting and outbursts than great goals.