In tough sporting terms and with many internal turmoil, the OL Académie has been losing its splendor in recent years. A regret for our two consultants, Nicola Puydebois and Enzo Reale, both trained at the club.
In May 2022, OL put an end to a 25-year drought. Behind Mohamed El Arouch, the 2004 generation won the Gambardella Cup and succeeded the 1979 generation led by Armand Garrido. One would have thought that this coronation with players with a bright future would further boost the reputation of the Academy. This is not the case and the two and a half years that have passed seem like an eternity. The famous 2004 generation failed to find a place in the professional group.
The sporting results are only going down, with the descent into National 3 of the reserve, the barely maintaining the U17 last season. Far from the golden age of the Academy, to the great regret of Nicolas Puydebois. “You need continuity in positions. You put someone in, they leave, you put another in, etc. OL is less interesting sportingly, economically, politically, and the profiles no longer really have the desire to stay or to come, declared the former goalkeeper in As Long as There Are Gones. We go to Nice, Lille, Rennes… It’s like the pros, they take advantage of what was built before, except that today, they are squandering what was built, the knowledge, the notoriety. It’s not normal, but it’s a global policy.”
A generational hole ahead
When he arrived at the head of OL, John Textor nevertheless highlighted the reputation of the Academy throughout the world. With Karim Benzema or even Alexandre Lacazettethere were many examples of success. There was indeed Malo GustoCastello Be careful or Bradley Stagger in recent seasons, but the center’s breeding ground is no longer becoming a real source. “OL has always been built around its training center. Each generation has had its share of players who were sold.”
This season, only Enzo A leech trains with Pierre Sage’s group. Is it a lack of talent? Today we don’t see which player from the reserve could join even the training of the pro group. A generational gap coupled with constant instability in key positions. After many years at the head of the Academy, Jean-François Vulliez left his place to Pierre Sagewho ultimately only served as director for four months.
-Lots of internal movements in recent months
Fabien Caballero ensured the transition with Johann Louvel before making the decision to set sail for Nice at the start of 2025. There was the Mohamed episode Chachalaid off last season, then that of Jordan Gonzalez who will have stayed less than a year at the Academy. So many movements that do not help create continuity. “Before, we had an Armand Garrido, a Cyril Dolce or a Robert Valette, we knew that if we got confused with them, it was us who were going to leave, remembers Enzo Reale. They had been there for 20-25 years. They had the love of the club. Today, there is no longer that, the trainers come to have a line and say that I coached at OL.”
Society has also changed and the importance given to the player has also evolved like the famous “Mbappé project”, making the trainer’s task more complicated. However, like what was seen on the floor above, the Lyon institution and training were left aside in favor of the springboard that perhaps was a stint at the Academy. It will take patience to hope to see OL perform at this level again.
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