The emblematic president of Lyon, Jean-Michel Aulas, has left his place as CEO of OL Groupe to the American John Textor who bought the Rhone club last December, Olympique Lyonnais announced on Monday.
“At its meeting held on May 5, the OL Groupe board of directors appointed John Textor as chairman of the board of directors from May 5 and until the end of his term as director. , following the termination of Mr. Jean-Michel Aulas’ duties as Chairman and CEO of OL Groupe”, the club explained in a press release.
“Mr. Textor has also been appointed as general manager of OL Groupe from May 5 for an interim period, the time to identify and appoint a new general manager”, added OL, specifying that Mr. Aulas would be “named honorary president”.
Jean-Michel Aulas, 74, was to remain executive chairman on a three-year contract after the club was taken over.
However, disagreements on the sports policy to be pursued quickly appeared with the team of the ambitious American investor, already present in the capital of Crystal Palace (England) and Botafogo (Brazil).
Jean-Michel Aulas took control of Olympique Lyonnais in June 1987 when the team had been languishing in the 2nd division for four years. With him at its head, OL regained the European Cup and won seven consecutive French championship titles from 2002 to 2008, won the Coupe de la Ligue in 2001 and the Coupe de France in 2008 and 2012. title is also the last won by Lyon.
Under the mandate of JMA, the women’s team was also created. In total, more than fifty titles have been won by OL with Mr. Aulas under his management, allowing the Rhone club to become a stronghold of European football.
