View source for CS Fola Esch

{{Short description|Luxembourgish football club}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Fola Esch
| image = Fola Esch logo.svg
| image_size = 145px
| fullname = Cercle sportif Fola Esch
| founded = 1906 ({{Years or months ago|1906}})
| ground = [[Stade Émile Mayrisch]]
| capacity = 1,632
| chairman = Maurice Reidweiler
| manager = Jérôme Trausch
| league = [[Luxembourg Division of Honour]]
| season = [[2024–25 Luxembourg National Division|2024–25]]
| position = 15th of 16 (relegated)
| website = {{URL|https://www.csfola.lu/}}
| pattern_la1 = 
| pattern_b1 = _folaesch2122h
| pattern_ra1 = 
| pattern_sh1 = _folaesch2122h
| pattern_so1 = _folaesch2122h
| leftarm1 = FFFFFF
| body1 = FFFFFF
| rightarm1 = FFFFFF
| shorts1 = FF0000
| socks1 = E00000
| pattern_la2 = 
| pattern_b2 = _folaesch2122a
| pattern_ra2 = 
| pattern_sh2 = _adidasred
| pattern_so2 = _folaesch2122a
| leftarm2 = 000066
| body2 = 000066
| rightarm2 = 000066
| shorts2 = 000066
| socks2 = 000066
| pattern_la3 = 
| pattern_b3 = _campeon19red
| pattern_ra3 = 
| pattern_sh3 = _striped19red
| pattern_so3 = _color_3_stripes_white
| leftarm3 = FF0000
| body3 = FF0000
| rightarm3 = FF0000
| shorts3 = FF0000
| socks3 = FF0000
}}

'''Sporting Circle Fola Esch''' ({{langx|fr|Cercle sportif Fola Esch}}), usually abbreviated to '''Fola Esch''' or simply '''Fola''', is a professional [[football (soccer)|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 [[Luxembourg National Division|National Division]] championships and two [[Luxembourg Cup]]s 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 [[FC Victoria Rosport|Victoria Rosport]]. In August 2007, Fola pulled off a transfer coup by signing former [[Morocco national football team|Morocco]] midfielder [[Mustapha Hadji]].

In 2008, the club managed to secure second place in the championship, granting them promotion to the [[Luxembourg National Division|Fortis League]] (National Division, the top league in the country, renamed BGL League in March 2009 due to the [[2008 financial crisis]]).<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesl/lux08.html Luxembourg 2007/08]&nbsp;– RSSSF</ref>

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 [[2013–14 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] 2013–14, but lost to [[GNK Dinamo Zagreb|Dinamo Zagreb]] 0–5 in the first leg (at home) and 0–1 in the second leg (away). 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 (Luxembourg)|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 (season 1973–74)
*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==
'''[[Luxembourg National Division|National Division]]'''
*'''Champions (8):''' [[1917–18 Luxembourg National Division|1917–18]], [[1919–20 Luxembourg National Division|1919–20]], [[1921–22 Luxembourg National Division|1921–22]], [[1923–24 Luxembourg National Division|1923–24]], [[1929–30 Luxembourg National Division|1929–30]], [[2012–13 Luxembourg National Division|2012–13]], [[2014–15 Luxembourg National Division|2014–15]], [[2020–21 Luxembourg National Division|2020–21]]
*Runners-up (10): [[1916–17 Luxembourg National Division|1916–17]], [[1918–19 Luxembourg National Division|1918–19]], [[1920–21 Luxembourg National Division|1920–21]], [[1928–29 Luxembourg National Division|1928–29]], [[1948–49 Luxembourg National Division|1948–49]], [[1953–54 Luxembourg National Division|1953–54]], [[1954–55 Luxembourg National Division|1954–55]], [[2010–11 Luxembourg National Division|2010–11]], [[2013–14 Luxembourg National Division|2013–14]], [[2018–19 Luxembourg National Division|2018–19]]

'''[[Luxembourg Cup]]'''
*'''Winners:''' [[1922–23 Luxembourg Cup|1922–23]], 1923–24, 1954–55
*Runners-up: 1972–73, 2016–17

==European competition==
{{See also|UEFA coefficient}}
{{updated|11 July 2017}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/club|title=UEFA coefficients|work=[[UEFA]].com|publisher=[[UEFA]]}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Rank
! Country
! Team
! {{tooltip|Points|The final coefficient is based on performances in Europe for the previous five seasons.}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 317
| style="text-align:center;"| {{flagicon|Montenegro}}
| [[FK Mladost Podgorica]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 3.550
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 318
| style="text-align:center;"| {{flagicon|BIH}}
| [[NK Široki Brijeg]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 3.550
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 319
| style="text-align:center;"| {{flagicon|KAZ}}
| [[FC Irtysh Pavlodar]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 3.550
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| '''320'''
| style="text-align:center;"| {{flagicon|Luxembourg}}
| '''CS Fola Esch'''
| style="text-align:center;"| '''3.475'''
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 321
| style="text-align:center;"| {{flagicon|Luxembourg}}
| [[FC Differdange 03]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 3.475
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 322
| style="text-align:center;"| {{flagicon|BUL}}
| [[PFC Slavia Sofia]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 3.425
|-
|}

{{updated|match played 26 August 2021}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Competition
! Pld
! W
! D
! L
! GF
! GA
|-
| [[UEFA Champions League]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 7
| style="text-align:center;"| 0
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 5
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 19
|-
| [[UEFA Europa League]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 19
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 5
| style="text-align:center;"| 11
| style="text-align:center;"| 17
| style="text-align:center;"| 34
|-
| [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 0
| style="text-align:center;"| 0
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 11
|-
| [[UEFA Europa Conference League]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 7
| style="text-align:center;"| 4
| style="text-align:center;"| 0
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 9
| style="text-align:center;"| 11
|-
| '''Total'''
| style="text-align:center;"| '''35'''
| style="text-align:center;"| '''7'''
| style="text-align:center;"| '''7'''
| style="text-align:center;"| '''21'''
| style="text-align:center;"| '''30'''
| style="text-align:center;"| '''75'''
|-
|}

===Matches===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Season
! Competition
! Round
! Club
! Home
! Away
! Aggregate
|-
| [[1973–74 European Cup Winners' Cup|1973–74]]
| [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]]
| [[1973–74 European Cup Winners' Cup#First round|1R]]
| {{flagicon|BUL}} [[FC Beroe Stara Zagora|Beroe Stara Zagora]]
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| 0–7
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| 1–4
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| '''1–11'''
|-
| [[2011–12 UEFA Europa League|2011–12]]
| [[UEFA Europa League]]
| [[2011–12 UEFA Europa League#First qualifying round|1Q]]
| {{flagicon|SWE}} [[IF Elfsborg|Elfsborg]]
| bgcolor="#ffffdd" style="text-align:center;"| 1–1
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| 0–4
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| '''1–5'''
|-
| [[2013–14 UEFA Champions League|2013–14]]
| [[UEFA Champions League]]
| [[2013–14 UEFA Champions League#Second qualifying round|2Q]]
| {{flagicon|CRO}} [[GNK Dinamo Zagreb|Dinamo Zagreb]]
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| 0–5
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| 0–1
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| '''0–6'''
|-
| [[2014–15 UEFA Europa League|2014–15]]
| [[UEFA Europa League]]
| [[2014–15 UEFA Europa League#First qualifying round|1Q]]
| {{flagicon|SWE}} [[IFK Göteborg|Göteborg]]
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| 0–2
| bgcolor="#ffffdd" style="text-align:center;"| 0–0
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| '''0–2'''
|-
| [[2015–16 UEFA Champions League|2015–16]]
| [[UEFA Champions League]]
| [[2015–16 UEFA Champions League#Second qualifying round|2Q]]
| {{flagicon|CRO}} [[GNK Dinamo Zagreb|Dinamo Zagreb]]
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| 0–3
| bgcolor="#ffffdd" style="text-align:center;"| 1–1
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| '''1–4'''
|-
| [[2016–17 UEFA Europa League|2016–17]]
| [[UEFA Europa League]]
| [[2016–17 UEFA Europa League#First qualifying round|1Q]]
| {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]]
| bgcolor="#ddffdd" style="text-align:center;"| 1–0
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| 1–3
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| '''2–3'''
|-
| rowspan="3"| [[2017–18 UEFA Europa League|2017–18]]
| rowspan="3"| [[UEFA Europa League]]
| [[2017–18 UEFA Europa League#First qualifying round|1Q]]
| {{flagicon|MDA}} [[FC Milsami Orhei|Milsami Orhei]]
| bgcolor="#ddffdd" style="text-align:center;"| 2–1
| bgcolor="#ffffdd" style="text-align:center;"| 1–1
| bgcolor="#ddffdd" style="text-align:center;"| '''3–2'''
|-
| [[2017–18 UEFA Europa League#Second qualifying round|2Q]]
| {{flagicon|AZE}} [[Inter Baku PIK|Inter Baku]]
| bgcolor="#ddffdd" style="text-align:center;"| 4–1
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| 0–1
| bgcolor="#ddffdd" style="text-align:center;"| '''4–2'''
|-
| [[2017–18 UEFA Europa League#Third qualifying round|3Q]]
| {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Östersunds FK|Östersund]]
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| 1–2
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| 0–1
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| '''1–3'''
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[2018-19 UEFA Europa League|2018–19]]
| rowspan="2"| [[UEFA Europa League]]
| [[2018–19 UEFA Europa League#First qualifying round|1Q]]
| {{flagicon|KOS}} [[FC Prishtina|Prishtina]]
| bgcolor="#ffffdd" style="text-align:center;"| 0–0
| bgcolor="#ffffdd" style="text-align:center;"| 0–0
| bgcolor="#ddffdd" style="text-align:center;"| '''0–0 (5–4[[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|p]])'''
|-
| [[2018–19 UEFA Europa League#Second qualifying round|2Q]]
| {{flagicon|BEL}} [[K.R.C. Genk|Genk]]
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| 1–4
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| 0–5
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| '''1–9'''
|-
| [[2019-20 UEFA Europa League|2019–20]]
| [[UEFA Europa League]]
| [[2019–20 UEFA Europa League#First qualifying round|1Q]]
| {{flagicon|GEO}} [[FC Chikhura Sachkhere|Chikhura Sachkhere]]
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| 1–2
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| 1–2
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| '''2–4'''
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Template:2020–21 in European football (UEFA)|2020–21]]
| [[UEFA Champions League]]
| [[2020–21 UEFA Champions League#First qualifying round|1Q]]
| {{flagicon|MDA}} [[FC Sheriff Tiraspol|Sheriff Tiraspol]]
| {{n/a}}
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| '''0–2''' 
| {{n/a}}
|-
| [[UEFA Europa League]]
| [[2020–21 UEFA Europa League#Second qualifying round|2Q]]
| {{flagicon|ARM}} [[FC Ararat-Armenia|Ararat-Armenia]]
| {{n/a}}
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| '''3–4 ([[Overtime (sports)|aet]])'''
| {{n/a}}
|-
| rowspan="4"| [[Template:2021–22 in European football (UEFA)|2021–22]]
| [[UEFA Champions League]]
| [[2021–22 UEFA Champions League#First qualifying round|1Q]]
| {{flagicon|GIB}} [[Lincoln Red Imps F.C.|Lincoln Red Imps]]
| bgcolor="#ffffdd" style="text-align:center;"| 2–2
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| 0–5
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| '''2–7'''
|-
| rowspan="3"| [[UEFA Europa Conference League]]
| [[2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League#Second qualifying round|2Q]]
| {{flagicon|BLR}} [[FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk|Shahktyor Soligorsk]]
| bgcolor="#ddffdd" style="text-align:center;"| 1–0
| bgcolor="#ddffdd" style="text-align:center;"| 2–1
| bgcolor="#ddffdd" style="text-align:center;"| '''3–1'''
|-
| [[2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League#Third qualifying round|3Q]]
| {{flagicon|NIR}} [[Linfield F.C.|Linfield]]
| bgcolor="#ddffdd" style="text-align:center;"| 2–1
| bgcolor="#ddffdd" style="text-align:center;"| 2–1
| bgcolor="#ddffdd" style="text-align:center;"| '''4–2'''
|-
| [[2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League#Play-off round|PO]]
| {{flagicon|KAZ}} [[FC Kairat|Kairat]]
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| 1–4
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| 1–3
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| '''2–7'''
|-
| [[2022-23 UEFA Europa Conference League|2022–23]]
| [[UEFA Europa Conference League]]
| [[2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League#First qualifying round|1Q]]
| {{flagicon|SMR}} [[S.P. Tre Fiori|Tre Fiori]]
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| 0–1
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| 1–3
| bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| '''1–4'''
|}

==Current squad==
{{Updated|4 February 2025}}<ref>{{cite web |title=CS Fola Esch – Roster |url=https://www.csfola.lu/seniors-1-91590v4/groups/60/seasons/216 |publisher=CS Fola Esch Roster |access-date= 16 October 2024 }}</ref>
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no= 1|nat=LUX|name=[[Emanuel Cabral]]|pos=GK}}
{{Fs player|no= 3|nat=BEL|name=Romain Lahure|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no= 5|nat=BEL|name=Mario Muzhaqi|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no= 6|nat=LUX|name=Paddy Funck|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no= 7|nat=LUX|name=Evann Mendes|pos=MF}} (''on loan from [[F91 Dudelange]]'')
{{Fs player|no= 8|nat=LUX|name=Yann Balance|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no= 9|nat=FRA|name=Papé Ibrahima Diakhité|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=10|nat=GER|name=Ramiz Kalici|pos=MF}} (''on loan from [[FC Wiltz 71|Wiltz 71]]'')
{{Fs player|no=11|nat=ALG|name=[[Marwane Benamra]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=12|nat=POR|name=Edgar Neves|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=13|nat=LUX|name=Loan Ribeiro|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=16|nat=LUX|name=Idney Melo Có|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=17|nat=LUX|name=Adrien Scholler|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=18|nat=FRA|name=Gauthier Caron|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=19|nat=BEL|name=Yanis Lahrach|pos=FW}}
{{fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=20|nat=GER|name=Constantin Pauly|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=22|nat=FRA|name=Marlon N'Guessan|pos=GK}}
{{Fs player|no=23|nat=LUX|name=Daniel Freitas|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=24|nat=LUX|name=Fred Paulus|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=26|nat=FRA|name=Kévin Dagnet|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=27|nat=POR|name=Diogo Marques|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=28|nat=FRA|name=Julien Klein|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=29|nat=POR|name=Madiu Bari|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=30|nat=LUX|name=Marvin Nibigira|pos=GK}}
{{Fs player|no=31|nat=LUX|name=Leonel Taylan|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=44|nat=LUX|name=Emil Adrovic|pos=GK}}
{{Fs player|no=70|nat=CPV|name=Rivone Aleixo|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=72|nat=LUX|name=André Ferreira|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=95|nat=FRA|name=Mehdi Koussa|pos=MF}}
{{Fs end}}

==Former coaches==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Manager !! Appointed !! Dismissed
|-
| {{flagicon|LUX}} Henri Bossi || 1 July 1988|| 30 June 1989
|-
| {{flagicon|LUX}} Henri Bossi || 23 September 1993|| 30 June 1994
|-
| {{flagicon|LUX}} Pascal Welter || 19 February 2000 || 5 November 2002
|-
| {{flagicon|BEL}} Philippe Guérard || 10 November 2005 || 25 March 2006
|-
| {{flagicon|GER}} Michael Lofy || 1 July 2008 || 23 March 2009
|-
| {{flagicon|LUX}} Pascal Welter || 13 April 2009 || 16 October 2009
|-
| {{flagicon|BEL}} Philippe Guérard|| 26 October 2009 || 31 October 2010
|-
| {{flagicon|LUX}} [[Jeff Strasser]] || 2 November 2010 || 22 December 2010
|-
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Cyril Serredszum]] || 22 December 2010 || 30 January 2012
|-
| {{flagicon|LUX}} [[Jeff Strasser]] || 1 July 2012 || 26 September 2017
|-
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Cyril Serredszum]] || 27 September 2017 || 4 February 2018
|-
| {{flagicon|GER}} [[Thomas Klasen]] || 5 February 2018 || 16 August 2018
|-
| {{flagicon|LUX}} [[Jeff Strasser]] || 16 August 2018<ref>{{cite web |title=Official Communication |url=https://www.csfola.lu/news/communication-officielle-14759/ |website=CS Fola Esch |access-date=16 August 2018}}</ref> || 18 May 2020<ref>{{cite web |title=Offiziell: Strasser wird Hesperinger Trainer |url=https://www.wort.lu/de/sport/offiziell-strasser-wird-hesperinger-trainer-5ec3c9f3da2cc1784e35e18f |website=Luxembourger Wort |date=19 May 2020 |access-date=20 May 2020 |language=de |trans-title=Official: Strasser becomes Hesperinger trainer}}</ref>
|-
| {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Sébastien Grandjean]] || 18 May 2020<ref>{{cite web |title=OSébastien Grandjean prend les commandes du Fola
 |url=https://www.wort.lu/fr/sport/sebastien-grandjean-prend-les-commandes-du-fola-5ec236b4da2cc1784e35dfec |website=Luxembourger Wort |date=18 May 2020 |access-date=20 May 2020 |language=fr |trans-title=Sébastien Grandjean takes control of Fola
}}</ref> || ''present''
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official website|https://www.csfola.lu/}}
*[http://www.football-lineups.com/team/CS_Fola_Esch/ CS Fola Esch] at football-lineups.com

{{Luxembourg National Division clubs}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fola Esch}}
[[Category:Football clubs in Luxembourg]]
[[Category:Sports clubs and teams in Esch-sur-Alzette]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1906]]
[[Category:1906 establishments in Luxembourg]]