Paulo Fonseca has reached his one-year anniversary at Olympique Lyonnais, and the transformation he has overseen at the Groupama Stadium is nothing short of a managerial masterclass. After a period of significant career rebuilding, the Portuguese tactician has firmly re-established himself as one of the elite coaches in European football.
Fonseca has maintained a staggering 66% win rate across his 53 matches in charge. This represents the highest win percentage in the history of the club, remarkably surpassing the legendary Gérard Houllier. His side currently sits third in Ligue 1 with 45 points, placing them firmly back on the podium and restoring Lyon as a genuine competitive force.
What makes this achievement truly remarkable is the context of the club’s recent turmoil. Fonseca arrived following a summer of financial instability under John Textor, where the club faced the threat of relegation and lost key pillars like Alexandre Lacazette, Rayan Cherki, and Thiago Almada. Despite Lyon having the lowest transfer investment (€50.58m) among the top seven spending teams in Ligue 1, Fonseca rebuilt the squad by placing immense trust in youth. Players like 20-year-old Afonso Moreira, who has 15 goal contributions this season, and 19-year-old Endrick have flourished under his guidance.
The tactical evolution has also translated to the continental stage. Lyon topped the Europa League league phase with 21 points, boasting the joint-best attack in the competition with 18 goals. Statistically, Fonseca is now the third-best coach in European competitions by points per game (2.17) since 2020, sitting ahead of heavyweight names like Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta.
Until a recent setback against Strasbourg, Lyon were on a 13-game winning streak across all competitions. It was the best active streak in the world at that time. By turning a fractured squad into a record-breaking machine, Fonseca has has emphatically completed his own redemption arc.
Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN