RC Lens Quiz
How well do you know RC Lens? Take on questions about the 1998 title, Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Varane, Šmicer and Lens' second place in 2022-23.
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easy
Czech midfielder Vladimir Šmicer left Lens in 1999 to join which club?
WhyŠmicer moved to England in 1999 after three seasons at Lens, where he won the 1998 title. -
easy
Uzbek defender Abdukodir Khusanov left Lens in January 2025. Which club signed him?
WhyManchester City signed Khusanov in January 2025. -
medium
Which veteran coach came out of retirement to take the Lens job in summer 2007, then quit after only a few matches?
WhyThe long-serving coach resigned from Lens in August 2007, only weeks into the season. -
medium
In the 1998-99 Champions League, Mickaël Debève scored as Lens won 1-0 at Wembley against which club?
WhyThe hosts played their 1998-99 Champions League home games at Wembley, and Debève's goal won it for Lens. -
hard
While Stade Bollaert was being rebuilt for Euro 2016, Lens played home games in 2014-15 at the Stade de la Licorne. Which city is it in?
WhyLens used Amiens' Stade de la Licorne, and also the Stade de France for some games, while Bollaert was renovated. -
medium
Which Malian midfielder left Lens in 2007 and joined Barcelona a year later?
WhySeydou Keita played for Lens from 2002 to 2007, spent one season elsewhere in Spain, then joined Barcelona in 2008. -
medium
In 2012 a second name was added to Stade Bollaert to honour a man who had been mayor of Lens for more than 30 years. What was his surname?
WhyAndré Delelis was mayor of Lens from 1966 to 1998. After his death in 2012 the ground became Stade Bollaert-Delelis. -
hard
Lens sealed the 1997-98 title on the final day of the season with a Yohan Lachor goal away at which club?
WhyLachor's goal at Auxerre on 9 May 1998 was enough to keep Lens ahead of Metz. -
medium
Lens won the 1997-98 French title on goal difference after finishing level on 68 points with which club?
WhyBoth clubs finished on 68 points. Lens' goal difference of +25 beat their rivals' +20, and Monaco were third. -
medium
Lens' Stade Bollaert is named after Félix Bollaert. What kind of company did he head?
WhyFélix Bollaert ran the Compagnie des mines de Lens, the coal company behind the ground that opened in 1933. -
hard
Who was Lens head coach for most of the 2007-08 season, which ended in relegation to Ligue 2?
WhyJean-Pierre Papin took over early in the season. Lens were relegated in May 2008. -
medium
In 2009 FIFA gave which club a transfer ban, later overturned on appeal, over its 2007 signing of Lens youngster Gael Kakuta?
WhyFIFA banned Chelsea for inducing Kakuta to break his Lens contract. The Court of Arbitration for Sport lifted the ban in 2010. -
medium
Lens signed striker Elye Wahi in summer 2023 from which club?
WhyWahi joined Lens from Montpellier before their 2023-24 Champions League campaign. He moved to Marseille a year later. -
hard
Lens finished third in their 2002-03 Champions League first-stage group, ahead of which German club, who finished bottom?
WhyIn Group G, Milan and Deportivo had 12 points each, Lens 8 and Bayern Munich just 2. -
medium
Lens captain Seko Fofana was sold in summer 2023 to which Saudi club?
WhyFofana joined Al-Nassr, where Cristiano Ronaldo was playing, just after Lens's second-place finish. -
medium
In 1998 Lens missed out on a league and cup double when they lost the Coupe de France final 2-1 to which club?
WhyLens lost 2-1 at the Stade de France in the 1998 final. -
hard
Daniel Moreira scored the only goal as Lens won the 1999 Coupe de la Ligue final against which club?
WhyLens won 1-0 at the Stade de France on 8 May 1999. -
medium
Lens reached the semi-finals of the 1999-2000 UEFA Cup. Which club knocked them out?
WhyThe winners took both legs, 1-0 at home and 2-1 in Lens. Lens had beaten Atletico Madrid and Celta Vigo on the way. -
medium
In which year is RC Lens traditionally recorded as having been founded?
WhyThe club dates its foundation to 1906, when it began as Racing Club lensois. The name Racing Club de Lens dates from 1969. -
hard
Lens academy product Geoffrey Kondogbia left the club in 2012. Which club did he join?
WhyKondogbia moved to Sevilla in 2012. He played for Monaco, Inter and Valencia later. -
medium
Who managed Lens to their first French league title in 1997-98?
WhyDaniel Leclercq, nicknamed 'Le Druide', won the 1998 title and then the 1999 Coupe de la Ligue. -
medium
Franck Haise left Lens for Nice in 2024. Which coach, previously in charge of Reims, replaced him?
WhyWill Still took over at Lens in summer 2024. Pierre Sage succeeded him in 2025. -
hard
Who managed Lens to the 2008-09 Ligue 2 title and promotion straight back to the top flight?
WhyJean-Guy Wallemme, a former Lens defender, was in charge from 2008 and won Ligue 2 in his first season. -
medium
On the final day of 2001-02, second-placed Lens lost a title decider 3-1 away to which club, who won their first French league title?
WhyLyon beat Lens 3-1 at Gerland and finished on 66 points to Lens' 64. It was Lyon's first league title. -
easy
Lens finished second in Ligue 1 in 2022-23, one point behind which champion?
WhyThe champions had 85 points to Lens's 84. That finish put Franck Haise's side back in the Champions League. -
hard
Lens signed right-back Jonathan Clauss in 2020 from which German club?
WhyClauss arrived from Arminia Bielefeld. Two years later Lens sold him to Marseille. -
easy
Lens sold El-Hadji Diouf in summer 2002, after his World Cup with Senegal. Which club bought him?
WhyGérard Houllier signed Diouf. He joined Bolton later. -
easy
Which defender came through the Lens academy and joined Real Madrid in 2011?
WhyRaphaël Varane made his Lens debut in 2010 and moved to Real Madrid in the summer of 2011. -
hard
Lens were one of the three winners of the 2005 Intertoto Cup. Which Romanian club did they beat in the final?
WhyLens drew 1-1 in Cluj and won 3-1 at home, 4-2 on aggregate. Marseille and Hamburg were the other 2005 winners. -
easy
Lens bought striker Lois Openda from Club Brugge in 2022. Which club did they sell him to a year later?
WhyOpenda joined RB Leipzig in summer 2023, after scoring 21 Ligue 1 goals in his only season at Lens.
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About RC Lens
RC Lens dates its foundation to 1906, when the club began as Racing Club lensois. It took the name Racing Club de Lens in 1969. Its ground opened in 1933 and is named after Félix Bollaert, who ran the Compagnie des mines de Lens, the coal mining company behind the stadium. In 2012 a second name was added to honour André Delelis, mayor of Lens from 1966 to 1998, so the ground became Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
The club's best years came under Daniel Leclercq, nicknamed 'Le Druide'. Lens won their first French league title in 1997-98, finishing level with Metz on 68 points and taking it on goal difference, +25 against +20. Yohan Lachor's goal away at Auxerre on 9 May 1998 settled it on the final day. A double slipped away when Paris Saint-Germain won the Coupe de France final 2-1 at the Stade de France. A year later Daniel Moreira scored the only goal as Lens beat Metz in the 1999 Coupe de la Ligue final. In Europe, Mickaël Debève's goal won a Champions League game against Arsenal at Wembley in 1998-99. The next season Lens beat Atletico Madrid and Celta Vigo on the way to the UEFA Cup semi-finals, where Arsenal knocked them out.
Lens nearly won a second title in 2001-02. On the final day they lost 3-1 at Lyon, who finished on 66 points to Lens' 64 and won their first league title. In the 2002-03 Champions League, Lens finished third in their group, ahead of Bayern Munich. In 2005 they were one of the three Intertoto Cup winners, beating CFR Cluj 4-2 on aggregate. Two years later Guy Roux came out of retirement to take the job and resigned in August 2007. Jean-Pierre Papin took over, and Lens went down in May 2008. Jean-Guy Wallemme won Ligue 2 at the first attempt to bring them straight back up. While Bollaert was rebuilt for Euro 2016, Lens played home games in 2014-15 at Amiens' Stade de la Licorne and at the Stade de France. Under Franck Haise they finished second in 2022-23 with 84 points, one behind PSG, and returned to the Champions League. Will Still replaced Haise in 2024, and Pierre Sage followed in 2025.
Lens has also sold a lot of players to big clubs. Vladimir Šmicer joined Liverpool in 1999 and El-Hadji Diouf followed him there in 2002. Seydou Keita left Lens in 2007 and joined Barcelona a year later. Raphaël Varane made his debut in 2010 and moved to Real Madrid in 2011, and Geoffrey Kondogbia went to Sevilla in 2012. More recent sales include Jonathan Clauss to Marseille, Lois Openda to RB Leipzig after 21 Ligue 1 goals, Seko Fofana to Al-Nassr and Abdukodir Khusanov to Manchester City. Play the quiz to find out how much of this you knew.
RC Lens quiz answers, explained
Every question from the quiz above. Play it first; each answer stays folded until you open it.
Czech midfielder Vladimir Šmicer left Lens in 1999 to join which club?
Show answer
Liverpool. Šmicer moved to England in 1999 after three seasons at Lens, where he won the 1998 title.
Uzbek defender Abdukodir Khusanov left Lens in January 2025. Which club signed him?
Show answer
Manchester City. Manchester City signed Khusanov in January 2025.
Which veteran coach came out of retirement to take the Lens job in summer 2007, then quit after only a few matches?
Show answer
Guy Roux. The long-serving coach resigned from Lens in August 2007, only weeks into the season.
In the 1998-99 Champions League, Mickaël Debève scored as Lens won 1-0 at Wembley against which club?
Show answer
Arsenal. The hosts played their 1998-99 Champions League home games at Wembley, and Debève's goal won it for Lens.
While Stade Bollaert was being rebuilt for Euro 2016, Lens played home games in 2014-15 at the Stade de la Licorne. Which city is it in?
Show answer
Amiens. Lens used Amiens' Stade de la Licorne, and also the Stade de France for some games, while Bollaert was renovated.
Which Malian midfielder left Lens in 2007 and joined Barcelona a year later?
Show answer
Seydou Keita. Seydou Keita played for Lens from 2002 to 2007, spent one season elsewhere in Spain, then joined Barcelona in 2008.
In 2012 a second name was added to Stade Bollaert to honour a man who had been mayor of Lens for more than 30 years. What was his surname?
Show answer
Delelis. André Delelis was mayor of Lens from 1966 to 1998. After his death in 2012 the ground became Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
Lens sealed the 1997-98 title on the final day of the season with a Yohan Lachor goal away at which club?
Show answer
Auxerre. Lachor's goal at Auxerre on 9 May 1998 was enough to keep Lens ahead of Metz.
Lens won the 1997-98 French title on goal difference after finishing level on 68 points with which club?
Show answer
Metz. Both clubs finished on 68 points. Lens' goal difference of +25 beat their rivals' +20, and Monaco were third.
Lens' Stade Bollaert is named after Félix Bollaert. What kind of company did he head?
Show answer
A coal mining company. Félix Bollaert ran the Compagnie des mines de Lens, the coal company behind the ground that opened in 1933.
Who was Lens head coach for most of the 2007-08 season, which ended in relegation to Ligue 2?
Show answer
Jean-Pierre Papin. Jean-Pierre Papin took over early in the season. Lens were relegated in May 2008.
In 2009 FIFA gave which club a transfer ban, later overturned on appeal, over its 2007 signing of Lens youngster Gael Kakuta?
Show answer
Chelsea. FIFA banned Chelsea for inducing Kakuta to break his Lens contract. The Court of Arbitration for Sport lifted the ban in 2010.
Lens signed striker Elye Wahi in summer 2023 from which club?
Show answer
Montpellier. Wahi joined Lens from Montpellier before their 2023-24 Champions League campaign. He moved to Marseille a year later.
Lens finished third in their 2002-03 Champions League first-stage group, ahead of which German club, who finished bottom?
Show answer
Bayern Munich. In Group G, Milan and Deportivo had 12 points each, Lens 8 and Bayern Munich just 2.
Lens captain Seko Fofana was sold in summer 2023 to which Saudi club?
Show answer
Al-Nassr. Fofana joined Al-Nassr, where Cristiano Ronaldo was playing, just after Lens's second-place finish.
In 1998 Lens missed out on a league and cup double when they lost the Coupe de France final 2-1 to which club?
Show answer
Paris Saint-Germain. Lens lost 2-1 at the Stade de France in the 1998 final.
Daniel Moreira scored the only goal as Lens won the 1999 Coupe de la Ligue final against which club?
Show answer
Metz. Lens won 1-0 at the Stade de France on 8 May 1999.
Lens reached the semi-finals of the 1999-2000 UEFA Cup. Which club knocked them out?
Show answer
Arsenal. The winners took both legs, 1-0 at home and 2-1 in Lens. Lens had beaten Atletico Madrid and Celta Vigo on the way.
In which year is RC Lens traditionally recorded as having been founded?
Show answer
1906. The club dates its foundation to 1906, when it began as Racing Club lensois. The name Racing Club de Lens dates from 1969.
Lens academy product Geoffrey Kondogbia left the club in 2012. Which club did he join?
Show answer
Sevilla. Kondogbia moved to Sevilla in 2012. He played for Monaco, Inter and Valencia later.
Who managed Lens to their first French league title in 1997-98?
Show answer
Daniel Leclercq. Daniel Leclercq, nicknamed 'Le Druide', won the 1998 title and then the 1999 Coupe de la Ligue.
Franck Haise left Lens for Nice in 2024. Which coach, previously in charge of Reims, replaced him?
Show answer
Will Still. Will Still took over at Lens in summer 2024. Pierre Sage succeeded him in 2025.
Who managed Lens to the 2008-09 Ligue 2 title and promotion straight back to the top flight?
Show answer
Jean-Guy Wallemme. Jean-Guy Wallemme, a former Lens defender, was in charge from 2008 and won Ligue 2 in his first season.
On the final day of 2001-02, second-placed Lens lost a title decider 3-1 away to which club, who won their first French league title?
Show answer
Lyon. Lyon beat Lens 3-1 at Gerland and finished on 66 points to Lens' 64. It was Lyon's first league title.
Lens finished second in Ligue 1 in 2022-23, one point behind which champion?
Show answer
Paris Saint-Germain. The champions had 85 points to Lens's 84. That finish put Franck Haise's side back in the Champions League.
Lens signed right-back Jonathan Clauss in 2020 from which German club?
Show answer
Arminia Bielefeld. Clauss arrived from Arminia Bielefeld. Two years later Lens sold him to Marseille.
Lens sold El-Hadji Diouf in summer 2002, after his World Cup with Senegal. Which club bought him?
Show answer
Liverpool. Gérard Houllier signed Diouf. He joined Bolton later.
Which defender came through the Lens academy and joined Real Madrid in 2011?
Show answer
Raphaël Varane. Raphaël Varane made his Lens debut in 2010 and moved to Real Madrid in the summer of 2011.
Lens were one of the three winners of the 2005 Intertoto Cup. Which Romanian club did they beat in the final?
Show answer
CFR Cluj. Lens drew 1-1 in Cluj and won 3-1 at home, 4-2 on aggregate. Marseille and Hamburg were the other 2005 winners.
Lens bought striker Lois Openda from Club Brugge in 2022. Which club did they sell him to a year later?
Show answer
RB Leipzig. Openda joined RB Leipzig in summer 2023, after scoring 21 Ligue 1 goals in his only season at Lens.
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