ASO Chlef was founded on June 13, 1947, as Association Sportive d'Orléansville, Orléansville being the colonial name of Chlef at the time. The club was founded by the indigenous Algerian Muslim community of the city who wanted a club to rival the already existing European club in the city, Groupement Sportif Orléansville. In its first season of existence, the club finished second in the third division. In the following two seasons, it won promotion to the first division. After Algeria gained its independence in 1962, the name of the city was changed from Orléansville to El Asnam and the club changed its name to Asnam Sportive Olympique, keeping its original ASO initials.