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 ÃÂmile Mayrisch, in the south of the city, which they share with their sister athletics club CA Fola Esch.
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 2004âÂÂ05, Fola were relegated to the third tier of Luxembourgish football, but were promoted the following season. In 2006âÂÂ07 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 (National Division, the top league in the country, renamed BGL League in March 2009 due to the 2008 financial crisis).
In May 2013, CS Fola Esch won the championship in the BGL Ligue with a historic 5âÂÂ1 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 2013âÂÂ14, but lost to Dinamo Zagreb 0âÂÂ5 in the first leg (at home) and 0âÂÂ1 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.
(on loan from F91 Dudelange)
(on loan from Wiltz 71)
Fola have two women's teams as of the 2024âÂÂ25 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.