Lyon Home Jersey Adidas 2011-12 Everest Poker vintage

Olympique Lyonnais 2011-12 Adidas Jersey – The Everest Poker Era, the End of a Cycle

The 2011-2012 season. Lyon had just lost its eighth consecutive league title the previous season, and the Rhône club was looking to get back to the top of Ligue 1. This Adidas home jersey for OL, featuring the Everest Poker sponsor, is a testament to a pivotal period—one where an era closes and the entire Lyon community holds its breath.

Jersey Details

Season: 2011-2012
Club: Olympique Lyonnais
Type: Home
Kit Manufacturer: Adidas
Sponsor: EVEREST POKER
Condition: 8/10
State: Everest Poker sponsor intact – authentic wear of a worn vintage jersey, consistent with the age of the item

What this jersey represents

Between 2002 and 2008, Olympique Lyonnais had won seven consecutive French championship titles—an unparalleled dominance in the history of French football. The 2010-11 season saw Lille break this hegemony, and Jean-Michel Aulas' club started the 2011-12 season with one obsession: to return to the top. This jersey symbolizes this reconstruction of Lyon, between rediscovered ambitions and the brutal reality on the field.

The OL squad that season still boasted some real stars. Lisandro López, the chief goal scorer, carried the offensive responsibility with his fox-in-the-box instinct. Kim Kallström orchestrated play in midfield, Bafétimbi Gomis brought his speed and physical impact in attack, while Cris anchored the central defense. A solid group, but one that would experience a season fraught with pitfalls.

Moments etched in this jersey

The 2011-12 Champions League campaign
OL had secured their ticket to the Champions League group stage, the club's permanent European objective for years. The group included tough opponents, and the European campaign was a barometer of Lyon's ambition at that time.

The battle for the podium in Ligue 1
That season, Lyon finished second in Ligue 1 behind Montpellier—a total surprise in the French football landscape. Girard's Hérault team achieved the feat of a lifetime, and OL, despite a good season, still had to bide their time for the title.

Groupama Stadium in the making in people's minds
2011-2012 was also the period when the project for OL's future stadium was taking shape in discussions and architectural plans. Olympique Lyonnais was already dreaming of its private arena, and this jersey belongs to those seasons still lived at the Stade de Gerland, in that unique atmosphere that all fans of that era have etched in their memory.

Authentic vs. Replica

An authentic vintage jersey is not a mass-produced copy for the official store. It's the real version, the one that existed in the locker rooms, on the backs of fans who experienced the matches from the inside. The Adidas finishes of that era—quality of flocking, fabric texture, badge details—are incomparable to what is mass-produced today.

Here, the condition is advertised at 8/10: the jersey is in very good condition for its age, the Everest Poker sponsor is clearly visible and intact. The slight signs of wear that may exist are those of a jersey that has lived—not an item fresh out of its plastic packaging yesterday. That's precisely what gives value to a serious collector's item.

Vintage sizing guide

Vintage Adidas jerseys from the early 2010s fit noticeably differently from current cuts. An S from that era generally corresponds to an XS or a very fitted S today, depending on your body shape. The cuts were less "oversize," the shoulders narrower, and the drape closer to the body than current loose-fitting models.

Before you give in, measure your chest circumference and compare it with the actual jersey measurements if available. As a general rule, for a vintage size S jersey of this generation, allow for a chest of around 90-96 cm maximum for a comfortable fit. If you are between two sizes, it's better to double-check than to regret it later.

Why have it in your collection

The OL 2011-12 collector's jersey with the Everest Poker sponsor is a rare piece that ticks several boxes. First, the Everest Poker partnership didn't last forever—this kind of ephemeral sponsor is exactly what serious collectors look for, because it anchors the jersey in a very specific and identifiable time window. Then, it's a pivotal season in Lyon's history, between the end of a golden era and the reconstruction of a project.

There aren't many in this condition on the market. An 8/10 for a jersey approaching fifteen years old deserves respect—it means the fabric is clean, the sponsor flocking holds, and the piece has been well preserved. For a vintage Olympique Lyonnais jersey in serious condition, this is exactly the kind of deal you regret missing when it disappears from the store.

To go further

• Lyon - Wikipedia
• Football Kit Archive - Jersey History
• Ligue 1 - Official Website
• UEFA - European Football

If you're an OL fan or simply a lover of French vintage jerseys from the 2010s, this Adidas piece speaks for itself—go for it before another collector snatches it up.