Racing FC Union Luxembourg

RTL Today has for some reason decided to assign the new intern (me) the task of outlining the accomplishments of every club playing in Luxembourg's top football league. It is a journey that will take us through 16 clubs and to every corner of this little country.

Today we return to Luxembourg City to cover a club that can lay claim to the legacies of some of the greatest clubs of Luxembourg's past: Racing FC Union Luxembourg.

History

Racing FC Union Luxembourg was founded in its current state in May 2005, but the story of the clubs that came before it begins all the way back in 1907 with the foundation of Racing Club Luxembourg. The original Racing were one of the pioneers of organized football in Luxembourg, winning the first ever National Division title in 1910 and winning the inaugural Coupe du Luxembourg in 1922. The year after their cup win, Racing merged with another early champion from the city in Sporting Club Luxembourg, forming a club known as CA Spora Luxembourg.

Spora Luxembourg became one of the most successful sides in Luxembourgish football history, winning 11 league titles and 8 cups between 1925 and 1989. However by the early 21st century the club fell upon financial difficulties due to low attendance and outstanding debts, leading to the merger that created the current iteration of the club in 2005.

This is where things get a bit complicated. The merger that created Racing Union Luxembourg involved not two but three clubs: Spora, Union Luxembourg, and CS Alliance 01. Union Luxembourg was formed as a result of a merger in 1925 between US Hollerich Bonnevoie and Jeunesse Sportive, and were a big club in their own right with 6 league titles and 10 cup titles. CS Alliance was formed just four years prior in 2001 through a merger between three-time champions Aris Bonnevoie and CS Hollerich. All three clubs were struggling financially and the move was seen as a way to save football in Luxembourg City and put an end to the political conflict surrounding the fate of the three teams.

The new club was thus born out of troubling times, but three years into its existence Racing finished 2nd in the National Division and qualified for European competition, which led many to declare the merger a success. The club slipped into a pattern of consistent bottom-half finishes after this, however, eventually resulting in a disappointing relegation in 2014.

Racing were able to secure an immediate return to the National Division the next season, and in their second spell they have found further success, winning the Coupe du Luxembourg in 2018 and reaching European competition twice more. This season is Racing's sixth consecutive in the top flight.

Accomplishments

Racing Union have just their 2018 Coupe du Luxembourg win in their trophy case in their current form, but through the many clubs it has succeeded, that trophy case grows a lot bigger. The club can claim ownership of a total of 28 league titles and 21 cup wins across all iterations, thus the club stands on a legacy rivaled by few clubs in the country.

Racing have participated in European competition three times as a new club. Their first attempt in 2008 UEFA Cup qualifying saw them blown away 10-1 on aggregate by Swedish club Kalmar FF. Their closest tie was a 2-0 aggregate loss to Romanians Viitorul Constanta in 2018 Europa League qualifying in which they held a draw in the away leg. Most recently they played Icelandic outfit Breidablik in qualifying for this season's inaugural Europa Conference League, but were again defeated 5-2 on aggregate.

Some of Racing's predecessors played in Europe as well. Both Spora Luxembourg and Union Luxembourg played in several qualifying competitions without ever winning a tie, though Spora beat Borussia Dortmund and Basel in single legs of a losing two-legged tie. Aris Bonnevoie won a tie against Finnish club Reipas Lahti in 1979 UEFA Cup Winner's Cup qualification, but were then eliminated 11-2 on aggregate by FC Barcelona.

Stadium

Racing play in the Stade Achille Hammerel stadium in the Verlorenkost quarter of Luxembourg City, located in the south. The stadium has a seated stand as well as sizable standing bleachers on either side of it and on the other side of the pitch as well. It is one of the largest stadiums in the National Division with a capacity of 5,800. The ground was inherited from predecessor club Union Luxembourg, who played there for decades prior to the merger.

This Season

After finishing in 4th place and qualifying for Europe last season, Racing have put together another solid season and are currently in 7th with a chance to move higher. They were higher earlier in the season, as they were in 2nd place as recently as late November before a string of three straight losses pushed them down the table. Racing have been difficult to beat in the new year, losing only four games out of 15 since football resumed in February. While a return to European competition through league performance is no longer possible, they have reached the semifinals of the Coupe du Luxembourg, of which a spot in the Europa Conference League is a reward if they manage to win the competition.

Racing have been lead offensively by Congolese striker Yann Mabella, whose 14 league goals put him 5th in the league scoring charts, and he has 18 in all competitions. Swiss striker Karim Rossi has also hit double figures with 11 goals, while French winger Emmanuel Francoise and Malian striker Mana Dembélé have also contributed well with 6 goals each.

For more information, visit the club's website.