when the mayor found himself president of OM, without knowing anything about football

While the former mayor of the city died this Monday, OM paid tribute to its former president, who had a whirlwind stint at the club in 1995 and 1996.

All he was missing was football. Since the announcement of the death of Jean-Claude Gaudin on Monday May 20, reactions have been linked to point out his visceral link with Marseille. Of the city he led for 25 years, he had “the accent, the fever”commented Emmanuel Macron, the banter, the Pagnolesques outings, “He was Marseille made man”even said the Head of State. From this “passion”, he only lacked one love: OM. The former mayor was not particularly into football. However, he briefly held the position of president of the club in 1995. Without knowing anything about the art of football.

We are in April 1995. Undermined by the Tapie years, Olympique de Marseille, demoted to the second division for a year, filed for bankruptcy, suffering from a debt of nearly 300 million francs. While waiting for a buyer, Robert Vigouroux, the current mayor is creating a mixed economy company to manage the club. This legal entity is administered by communities and private partners. Two months later, municipal elections were held. Jean-Claude Gaudin wins them, taking place for the first time in the mayor’s chair. He retrieves the files of the socialist councilor and… OM.

A hot potato for those who only have an emotional connection with the club. If “Jean-Claude Gaudin is a lover of OM”, as the club said on

“I have to admit, it was at that time that I learned what a penalty area was!”he confided to Slate in 2015. “When he became president of OM, Renaud Muselier told World in 2013he didn’t even know there was a half… He asked me if the teams ‘changed sides at intermission’.”

Leading OM was a “secret coquetry” describes Christophe Bouchet on X. He admitted “know nothing about footballremembers the man who was also president of the club. Ultimate Marseille paradox.”

Jean-Claude Gaudin “did not experience his time as president as a glory”, supports Eric Di Meco on BFM TV on Monday. Not taking pride in his devotion to the club, “as is often the case with elected officials who fall in love with OM overnight”believes the former defender but “making fun of the fact that he didn’t have much knowledge of football”.

In terms of results, the 1995-1996 season was rather prolific. After two seasons in the second division, Gérard Gili’s squad managed to climb back into D1. Jean-Claude Gaudin handed over to Robert Louis-Dreyfus, who would become owner of OM until his death in 2009.

The mayor stays in the background but bangs his fist on the table when necessary. Like this day in April 2016 when Margarita Robert Louis-Dreyfus announced the sale of OM. “No one will do us twice, Kachkar!”, insists the mayor, scalded by the false announcement which inflamed the supporters. In 2007, Jack Kachkar, Canadian businessman, begins negotiations with Robert Louis-Dreyfus. He promises to invest 115 million euros to take over the Marseille club and makes an entire city dream, with Jean-Claude Gaudin at the head. But the Kachkar bubble bursts and the takeover operation collapses.

So in August 2016, it was at the town hall, sitting to the right of Frank Mc Court, that the elected official officially announced the takeover of the club. “We’re going to have to win, we’re going to have to put in some money! tance Jean-Claude Gaudin at a press conference. Since you have it, that’s what you’ll do!” The little sentence made the rounds on social networks and once again sealed the weight of the mayor on Marseille’s affairs and passions.