End of an era: Jean-Michel Aulas leaves French club Lyon
Lyon’s iconic president Jean-Michel Aulas is stepping down after almost 36 years in control of the French soccer membership, handing over duties to American investor John Textor, who turned the primary shareholder final yr.
Lyon gained seven league titles underneath Aulas’ tenure, whereas the ladies’s crew established itself as a significant European power. The 74-year-old Aulas was initially set to stay in his place for 3 extra years following Textor’s takeover in December. But the membership issued a press release Monday saying he’ll as a substitute function honorary chairman any further, with Textor appointed as chief government officer of OL Group.
Textor’s Eagle Football acquired a stake of 77.49% within the membership, pledging to offer a capital improve of 86 million euros ($90 million).
The American businessman made his fortune in digital media. He additionally has stakes in Crystal Palace, Belgian second-division membership RWD Molenbeek, and Brazilian crew Botafogo.
Aulas took over Lyon again in 1987, when the membership was in debt and performed within the second tier of French soccer. By making astute participant signings and creating one of the vital famend youth academies in Europe, Aulas grew the membership right into a financially profitable entity proudly owning its 59,000-seat stadium.
Lyon’s run of titles from 2001-08 made it the powerhouse of French soccer as gamers like Real Madrid nice Karim Benzema emerged from its academy. Others like free-scoring Brazil midfielder Juninho and Ghana’s ball-winning Michael Essien made their identify on the membership on the time.
On the European stage, Lyon twice reached the Champions League semifinals. In distinction, Lyon’s ladies’s crew turned the dominant power in Europe, profitable a report eight Champions League titles.
“OL Group sincerely thanks Mr. Jean-Michel Aulas for his commitment and unreserved dedication to Olympique Lyonnais for more than three decades, during which both the men’s and women’s teams won more than 50 titles,” Lyon stated.
Lyon striker Ada Hegerberg, who gained the 2018 ladies’s Ballon d’Or, paid tribute to Aulas in a message on Twitter.
“Thank you Jean-Michel. Thank you very, very much,” she wrote.
In the years because the final title in 2008, Lyon’s males’s crew has pale as Paris Saint-Germain imposed its dominance underneath its cash-rich Qatari possession. Since QSI’s takeover in June 2011, PSG has gained eight titles and Lyon has completed runner-up solely twice.
After Bordeaux ended Lyon’s run in 2009, the membership’s fortunes dipped — regardless of a steady movement of younger expertise.
The membership completed in a dismal eighth place final season and 25 factors behind PSG. Ten league losses and 51 targets conceded — essentially the most targets allowed by any membership within the high 10 — made for grim statistics.
Under coach Laurent Blanc, the membership has been going by way of one other mediocre marketing campaign and is struggling to qualify for European competitors subsequent season, standing seventh with 4 video games left to play within the French league.
According to L’Equipe newspaper, which broke the news of Aulas’ departure, tensions between Textor and the Lyon president have mounted not too long ago, with the brand new house owners decided to vary the the membership’s sporting construction.
“The priority of the new Chairman and CEO and the Board of Directors will be to strengthen Olympique Lyonnais’ place on the world soccer stage, in line with the highest ambitions of its illustrious history,” the membership stated.
L’Equipe reported that Aulas, who nonetheless owns 9 per cent of the membership by way of his holding firm Holnest, will obtain an exit compensation of 10 million euros ($11 million).
