The club was founded in 1896 under the name ofMontriond Lausanne. However, theLausanne Football and Cricket Club was established in 1860, believed to be the oldest football club on the European continent by some historians.
The club took the name Lausanne-Sports FC in 1920 after the football section merged with the Club Hygiénique de Lausanne, a physical education club. The end of the 1950s and the whole of the 1960s were among the club's finest times. LS won the Swiss Cup twice (1962 and 1964), lost an additional Swiss Cup final toBasel by forfeit, won the Swiss championship (1965) and was runner-up four times (1961, 1962, 1963), as well as in 1969. The year 1965 was the year of the 7th and last Swiss championship title. It was probably the most successful, earning its protagonists the nickname of "Lords of the Night", a reference to some enchanting evenings. Since the advent of the floodlights in the new stadium, the matches have mainly taken place in the evenings which was at the time a unique feature.
After the2001–02 season, Lausanne-Sports were relegated because the club did not obtain a first level license for the2002–03 season. Following the 2002–03 season in the second division, Lausanne-Sports FC were again relegated due to bankruptcy. They were reformed as FC Lausanne-Sport for the 2003–04 season and had to begin play at thefourth tier. The team was promoted in consecutive seasons from the fourth division after the 2003–04 season and the third division after the 2004–05 season. After an additional six years in the second tier of Swiss football, the club was promoted to theSuper League for the2011–12 season for a three-season stay before being relegated in 2014. After two seasons in the second tier the team was promoted for a two-season stay in the top division in 2016 and survived relegation in their first season before being relegated back to the second tier again in 2018. Now somewhat of a yo-yo club the team were promoted to the top tier again in 2020.
Lausanne-Sport qualified for the2010–11 UEFA Europa League after they reached the2010 Swiss Cup final against Champions League-qualifiedBasel. In the 2010–11 Europa League, while still playing in the second tier Challenge League, they performed a shock getting to the group stages beating favouritesLokomotiv Moscow on the way.
On 13 November 2017, the club was acquired byIneos, a Swiss-based British petrochemicals company owned byJim Ratcliffe, the nation's wealthiest person.[3] The first transfer under the new ownership was that ofEnzo Fernández, son ofZinedine Zidane.[4] However, the season ended with relegation. Ratcliffe's brother Bob became club president in March 2019.[5] The club won promotion back to the top flight as champions of the2019–20 Swiss Challenge League.[6] On 27 May 2023, Lausanne-Sport secure promotion to Super League from 2023 to 2024 after draw 2–2 against FC Aarau, finished in runner-up and return to top tier after one-year absence.[7] They currently sit 10th place in the Swiss Super League after recently losing out 1-0 to Servette.
In 2024–25 season, Lausanne-Sport secure finish 5th place and qualify to European competition from next season.
On 28 August 2025, Lausanne-Sport secure reach qualify toConference League League Phase for the first time in their history after defeatBeşiktaş 0–1 on away games and win aggregate 1–2.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.