Lyon Olympique Universitaire Head Coach
Karim Ghezal
- Role
- Head Coach
- Team
- Lyon Olympique Universitaire
- Nationality
- French
- Age
- 45
- In charge since
- Dec 2024
- Matches
- 39
- Record W-D-L
- 16-1-22
- Win rate
- 41.0%
Record in our match database since Sep 2025
as of- 39 Matches
- 16 Won
- 1 Drawn
- 22 Lost
- 41.0% Win rate
Karim Ghezal has overseen 39 completed Lyon Olympique Universitaire matches in our database since September 2025 — 16 won, 1 drawn, 22 lost. That is a 41.0% win rate, with 1126 points scored and 1194 conceded.
Records are computed from the WeTalkRugby match database and cover matches we hold data for within this tenure. They are not an official all-time record.
Record by competition
— means no data from the provider| Competition | P | W | D | L | Win % | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All matches · Lyon Olympique Universitaire All competitions | 39 | 16 | 1 | 22 | 41.0% | 1126 | 1194 |
| Top 14 Sep 2025 – Oct 2026 | 34 | 16 | 1 | 17 | 47.1% | 1006 | 1028 |
| Challenge Cup Dec 2025 – Oct 2026 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0.0% | 120 | 166 |
Last five matches
Every match in our database
39 matchesTop 14 34P · 16W · 1D · 17L
- Won v Vannes 48–25
- Won v Bayonne 31–27
- Lost v La Rochelle 16–28
- Lost v Bordeaux Bègles 28–51
- Lost v Stade Français 10–31
- Won v Pau 51–25
- Won v Racing 92 48–31
- Won v Clermont 40–36
- Lost v Montpellier 25–28
- Lost v Toulouse 31–39
- Won v Bayonne 42–35
- Lost v Stade Français 17–59
- Won v Castres 26–21
- Lost v Clermont 23–41
- Lost v Bordeaux Bègles 17–21
- Won v Perpignan 32–28
- Drawn v Toulon 13–13
- Won v Montauban 73–12
- Won v La Rochelle 44–24
- Lost v Racing 92 34–35
- Won v Pau 22–17
- Lost v Castres 22–36
- Lost v Toulouse 19–41
- Lost v Bayonne 20–22
- Won v Clermont 43–24
- Lost v Toulon 21–54
- Lost v La Rochelle 19–36
- Lost v Montpellier 13–35
- Won v Perpignan 44–19
- Lost v Bordeaux Bègles 20–32
- Lost v Pau 15–40
- Won v Stade Français 42–37
- Won v Montauban 25–18
- Won v Racing 92 32–7
Challenge Cup 5P · 0W · 0D · 5L
Career
- LOU Rugby Head Coach 2025–
Honours
- Six Nations Grand Slam (France, lineout coach) 2022
About Karim Ghezal
Karim Ghezal is the head coach of Lyon, the France lineout coach who arrived as a rescue appointment and lifted the club from 13th to 5th.
Karim Ghezal is the head coach of LOU Rugby, appointed in December 2024 and since extended through the 2027–28 season.
Born in Toulouse in April 1981, he was a second row formed at the Stade Toulousain academy who played for Béziers, Grenoble, Castres, Montauban, Racing 92 and Lyon. He was never capped by France, though he represented the Barbarians français.
France, and the return
He moved straight from playing into the Lyon staff as lineout then forwards coach from 2016, and joined Fabien Galthié’s France set-up as lineout and conquest coach from 2020 to 2023 — part of the staff for the 2022 Grand Slam and the 2023 World Cup. He spent a season as head coach at Stade Français before returning to Lyon.
The rescue job
He arrived in December 2024 on an initial six-month brief with Lyon 13th. He lifted them to fifth and was given a three-year extension by March.
Style
A set-piece and maul specialist and a hard-edged motivator. Lyon players publicly credited him with transforming the side’s aggression and defensive appetite.
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Full squadFrequently asked questions
Who is the head coach of Lyon Olympique Universitaire?
Karim Ghezal is the head coach of Lyon Olympique Universitaire.
When did Karim Ghezal take charge?
Karim Ghezal took over at Lyon Olympique Universitaire in December 2024, around 1 years ago.
What is Karim Ghezal's record?
From 39 matches in our database: 16 wins, 1 draws and 22 defeats — a 41.0% win rate.
What nationality is Karim Ghezal?
Karim Ghezal is French.
How old is Karim Ghezal?
Karim Ghezal is 45 years old.
What has Karim Ghezal won?
Honours include: Six Nations Grand Slam (France, lineout coach) (2022).