FC Lorient, officially Football Club Lorient, is a French professional football club based in Lorient, in the Morbihan department of Brittany. The club was founded in 1926 and has developed from its origins around Lorient's fishing port into an established professional football organisation. The club's official history traces its beginnings to the Cuissard family and the “Marée sportive” team formed in 1925 before FC Lorient was formally established in 1926. FC Lorient has spent substantial periods in French professional football and achieved its first promotion to the top division in 1998. The club later established itself more consistently at Ligue 1 level, with its professional status stabilising from 1995. One of the most important achievements in the club's history came in 2002, when FC Lorient won the Coupe de France, defeating SC Bastia in the final. The same year, the club reached the final of the Coupe de la Ligue. FC Lorient has also competed in European competition, including the UEFA Cup. The club's sporting identity is strongly connected with player development. FC Lorient operates the Centre de Formation des Merlus, its professional academy, which combines sporting development with education. The club also has a women's section and maintains relationships with amateur clubs throughout the surrounding region through its “Armada du FCL” network. According to the club's current LinkedIn profile, 226 regional amateur clubs are affiliated with the network, while approximately 12,000 young Breton footballers are invited each season to participate in FC Lorient events. Community engagement is another significant part of the organisation. FC Lorient describes itself as a committed and socially responsible club involved in charitable initiatives and projects designed to strengthen social inclusion and community relationships. The club also maintains a substantial commercial network, with its LinkedIn profile reporting around 600 partners and more than 9,000 subscribers. FC Lorient's home matches are played at Stade du Moustoir in Lorient. The club's official contact page lists Stade du Moustoir, Rue du Tour des Portes, 56100 Lorient as its principal stadium address. Its administrative and football operations also include the Kerlir site in nearby Ploemeur. LinkedIn currently identifies FC Lorient as a privately held spectator-sports organisation with 51–200 employees, headquartered in Lorient, and founded in 1926.