The 2025 OL edition: Hopes for Players, Certainties for Players
The wait is great before the 33rd football awards ceremony, scheduled for May 11. Some OL players may be among the nominated players, including Rayan Cherki, Corentin Tolisso and Lucas Perri. However, Thiago Almada and Paulo Fonseca, who arrived during the season, should not be on the list of nominees despite a promising start.
On the female side, Lindsey Heaps and Melchie Durmonay are already selected for the best player of the year. The ceremony will also reward the best referees of the season, although this task seems difficult now.
Football is often controversial, and this edition should not escape the rule. Last year, no Lyons won any prizes.
Within a week, Olympique Lyonnais experienced emotional roller coasters. Last Thursday, Paulo Fonseca’s men were eliminated by Manchester United in the Europa League quarterfinals (5-4). Three days later, they lost the derby against the AS Saint-Etienne (2-1). This Thursday, at the OL training centre, before the reception of Stade Rennais (21:05), the Bad Gones ultras sent a strong message to the players: “From pride to shame, 4 games for the podium”. Currently sixth in the championship with 51 points, OL is still in the Champions League race and will face RC Lens, AS Monaco and Angers SCO.
Pierre Sage, former OL coach, could find a bench in Ligue 1. After raising the club from last place in the championship when it arrived in 2023, he was dismissed by John Textor last January to give way to Paulo Fonseca. Since then, he has still not found a club, but two Ligue 1 teams are interested: FC Nantes and Stade de Reims.
OL will host Arsenal this Sunday on the occasion of the semifinal return of Champions League. After the meeting, DJ Feder will perform an hour-long show at Parc OL. Previously ranked first on iTunes in 22 countries with its single “Goodbye”, it has accumulated 1.5 billion streams and 300 million views on YouTube. Prior to the game, Lyon DJ XLR Music will host the pre-game on the parvis of the OL Park.
The Fenottes hope to confirm their victory in the game going against Arsenal (1-2) to reach the C1 final in Lisbon on 24 May. Wendie Renard will play her 500th game with OL, an event that could be even more special if the players reach the final. "