CS Fola Esch


Sporting Circle Fola Esch, usually abbreviated to Fola Esch or simply Fola, is a professional football club based in Esch-sur-Alzette, in south-western Luxembourg. They play their home games at Stade Émile Mayrisch, in the south of the city, which they share with their sister athletics club CA Fola Esch.

History

Founded in 1906 by the English language teacher Jean Roeder, Fola was the first football club in Luxembourg. During its heyday, it was the best club in the country, winning four National Division championships and two Luxembourg Cups between 1918 and 1924. Fola won another championship in 1930 and the Luxembourg Cup in 1955, but had since this time lost its place in Luxembourg's top flight.
Fola stubbornly rejected a merger with its larger neighbours, Jeunesse Esch, during the wave of consolidation in the 1990s. In 2004–05, Fola were relegated to the third tier of Luxembourgish football, but were promoted the following season. In 2006–07 they finished third, qualifying for a promotion play-off, which they lost to Victoria Rosport. In August 2007, Fola pulled off a transfer coup by signing former Morocco midfielder Mustapha Hadji.
In 2008, the club managed to secure second place in the championship, granting them promotion to the Fortis League.
In May 2013, CS Fola Esch won the championship in the BGL Ligue with a historic 5–1 win against their rivals, Jeunesse Esch in the 25th match of the season. The club had a gap of 83 years since their last championship. Stefano Bensi scored 20 goals during this season.
Fola participated in the second qualifying round of the Champions League 2013–14, but lost to Dinamo Zagreb 0–5 in the first leg and 0–1 in the second leg. In 2015, Fola won the championship again, after finishing second in 2014. In 2016 they again finished second with an equal number of points with the champions, F91 Dudelange.
In 2016 CS Fola Esch, celebrated their 110th birthday, and also became a member of the exclusive Club of Pioneers, as the oldest football club of Luxembourg.

History

  • 1906: Club founded as Football and Lawn Tennis Club Esch
  • 1907: Adopts current colours of red and white stripes
  • 1910: Absorbs FC Nerva, becoming Cercle sportif Fola Esch
  • 1918: Wins first championship title
  • 1924: Wins the Double
  • 1930: Wins last championship title for the next 83 years
  • 1935: Moves to current stadium, Stade Émile Mayrisch
  • 1955: Wins Luxembourg Cup, last title before a long lean period
  • 1973: First participation in European competition
  • 2013: Wins first championship since 83 years, followed by another champion title in 2015
  • 2017: First qualification to the second round and to the third round in European competition

Honours

National Division
Luxembourg Cup

European competition

Coefficient

RankCountryTeam
290

Playing Record

CompetitionPldWDLGFGA
UEFA Champions League7025319
UEFA Europa League1935111734
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup2002111
UEFA Europa Conference League7403911
Total3577213075

Former coaches

ManagerAppointedDismissed

Women's team

Fola have two women's teams as of the 2024–25 season. The main team compete in the Dames Ligue 2, the 2nd tier of women's football in Luxembourg. A reserve women's team competes in the Dames Ligue 3 Series 2, the 3rd tier. As yet, the women's team have not been as successful as their male counterparts, as they have not won any honours.