AS Nancy Lorraine is a French football club based in Nancy, in the historic region of Lorraine. Since its foundation in 1967, the club’s visual identity has centered on a red thistle, an emblem drawn from the heraldry of the Dukes of Lorraine and the city of Nancy, combined with the club’s traditional red-and-white colors.
Design and History
The club’s first logo, introduced in 1967, featured a red thistle. In 1970, the thistle was redrawn with a more symmetrical form and softer contours, a version that remained in use for more than two decades. In 1994, under president Jacques Rousselot, the club adopted a new logo and a new slogan, “La rage de réussir.”
In 2006, the club announced another change, described by president Jacques Rousselot as “a return to the sources.” The thistle was modernized, two red bands symbolizing the city were added, and the club restored its original slogan, “Qui s’y frotte s’y pique,” replacing “La rage de réussir.” The two red bands had appeared on the club’s shirt during its 1978 Coupe de France victory and were present at the Stade de France for the 2006 Coupe de la Ligue win. [1] [2]
In 2013, the club unveiled a new crest designed by the agency Pilote Com. The design restored the “historic” red thistle that had disappeared through successive redesigns since 1967, a symbol particularly cherished by supporters. The two red bands were integrated into the border of the shield for a simpler geometry, the club’s founding date was placed beneath the thistle, and the overall design gave more space to white to recall that the club’s colors are “red on white” and not the reverse. The motto “Qui s’y frotte s’y pique” was retained. [3]
In May 2018, the club modified the crest again. The acronym “ASNL” was replaced by the words “Nancy” and “Lorraine,” and the motto “Qui s’y frotte s’y pique” was removed. The club explained that “AS” (Association Sportive) gave way to “Nancy” and “Lorraine” as a way to capitalize on the brand and better signify its territorial roots. The change was described as a refinement of the 2013 logo rather than a complete redesign. [4] [5]
Meaning and Symbolism
The thistle is the defining element of the AS Nancy Lorraine crest. It derives from the heraldic identity of the Dukes of Lorraine, who chose the thistle as their emblem and made it the insignia of an order they instituted. The motto “Qui s’y frotte s’y pique” became the motto of the city of Nancy following the 1477 Battle of Nancy, in which Duke René II of Lorraine defeated and killed Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. [3]
The two red vertical bands integrated into the shield border in 2013 reference details that appeared on the club’s shirt after its 1978 Coupe de France victory and accompanied the team during its first European campaign. They were also present at the Stade de France for the 2006 Coupe de la Ligue victory. [3]
Typography and Design
The current crest places “NANCY” prominently above the thistle and “LORRAINE” below, replacing the former “ASNL” acronym. The founding year 1967 appears beneath the thistle within the composition. The 2013 redesign, which established the current shield structure, was described by the club as having a simpler geometry that was easier to reproduce across different applications. [3] [4]
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