Jean-Michel Aulas announced on Monday that he was leaving his post as CEO of Olympique Lyonnais, after 36 years at the head of the football club.
Vikash Dhorasoo, French international footballer, former player of Olympique Lyonnais, regretted Monday May 8 on franceinfo the departure of Jean-Michel Aulas which symbolizes, according to him, “the football we all loved”. The emblematic figure of OL leaves his functions as president at 74 after 36 years of reign, even if he remains honorary president of the club.
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The club’s new American investor, John Textor, becomes the sole master on board: “Today, football is sold to pension funds, to billionaires who come from many places on the planet and who have no local roots”, he pointed. Jean Michel Aulas “was one of the last presidents really attached to his city, his club and his region. It’s really a change of era”.
franceinfo: Jean-Michel Aulas was a great lover of his club?
He was one of the last presidents truly attached to his city, his club and his region. It really is a change of times. He was obviously very much in love with his club and above all, he had a vision, ambition and he wanted to win big trophies, which he managed to do. Unfortunately, he did not win the most important: the Champions League.
It’s the end of an era ?
It was the football we all loved. Football worn by people who are attached to their city, to their club and who defended their colors. Today, football is sold to pension funds, to billionaires who come from many places on the planet that have no local roots. It gives something else.
“It does not mean that John Textor is going to be a bad president, but it is a real change. He was the last, he was the one who represented our whole history, the football of another era. he gives football to globalization, to capitalism.”
Vikash Dhorasoo, former Olympique Lyonnais playerat franceinfo
He was a very present president who took care of everything?
It was also above all a time when the structure was light, with people like Bernard Lacombe and Gérard Houiller, a small close guard who managed the club. We knew the people who were there. We knew who our interlocutors were. We could speak directly to Jean-Michel Aulas. He was close to the players. He was also a boss. I dealt with him as a football lover, but also as a boss. He was tough on business too. That’s why the club succeeded.
He also developed women’s football in Lyon. Was he a forerunner?
He was often a precursor in a way. He was one step ahead. The girls of Olympique Lyonnais won everything, marched on Europe. I hope he will continue. If I understood correctly, he will invest in the high level of the federation to develop women’s football, so that it continues. We are falling a little behind the big countries of Europe. He had understood that he had to win titles on that side.