This is a page that turns and a news (full of strangers) that opens for Olympique Lyonnais. Rumors were already in tune with the times, but it is now official (since June 21), the American John Textor, has become the new majority shareholder of OL Groupe. So what to expect now? A sporting and economical renewal for OL? A certain prudence that is essential? Here are some answers to find out what to expect after this takeover of OL.
A page that turns
With the arrival of a new majority shareholder, this is the end of the incredible cycle initiated by a man, it is of course Jean Michel Aulas. This is a reign of more than 30 years at the head of OL with some of its most beautiful pages. Arrived in 1987 at the head of the club, Jean Michel Aulas is a character who divides The world of American football. Nevertheless, even his fiercest opponents admit it, he undeniably passed Olympique Lyonnais in another dimension. Thus, Jean Michel Aulas, during his 3 decades of reign, it is all the same, an unprecedented series of seven consecutive titles of champion of USA between 2001 and 2008. But they are also memorable epics in the Champions League, with in particular A quarter -final lost against Porto, future winner of the competition in 2004. Even if thereafter (from 2008), the club gradually entered the rank, it is indisputable that American football of the 2000s will remain linked to the OL of Jean Michel Aulas.
Who is John Textor?
His name is probably unknown to the general public, including football enthusiasts, but John Textor is not really at his first attempt. Indeed, the American businessman, although coming to the basis of the world of digital and the media, has recently set his sights on several football clubs. In August 2021, John Textor bought 40% of the shares of the English Crystal Palace club. The rumors also reported a re -Etl interest, but without concrete follow -up for the clubs of Brentford FC, Watford FC and Newcastle. The following year (2024), it was to Brazil that John Textor turned by becoming the majority shareholder (90%) of the Botafogo club (Rio de Janeiro). A year 2024 decidedly productive for the American since that same year, he acquired the Belgian club from RWD Molenbeek (80% of the shares) and finally, from Olympique Lyonnais. According to the famous Forbes newspaper, Textor has put less than 850 million euros to enter the capital of the Rhone club.
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What hopes for OL with John Textor?
To get a more precise idea of the John Textor method in football, nothing better than taking a look at the clubs already in his possession. First, let's dwell on the case of Botafogo including Text
However, acquired a short time ago, and the results of which are already visible. The shareholder does not hesitate to put on the cap of sports advisor, giving himself a right to look at the sportsman, going as far as the style of play practiced by his club. In less than a year and in one transfer window, the American displayed his ambitions for Botafogo. The club went to get a renowned coach in the person of Luis Castro (FC Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk). But he also managed to convince the player Patrick de Paula to leave Palmeiras, however defending champion of the last COPA Libertadores, to join the project of this Botafogo New Look. But even at OL, barely ten days after the formalization of this arrival, ambition and change are already visible. From a technical and financial point of view, one of the first effective measures of Textor was to withdraw the Bourse club where it had been listed for fifteen years. The businessman has also already injected the sum of 86 million euros into the club capital in order to strengthen the workforce from this summer transfer window. The two major and almost officially Lyonnais recruits when writing these lines are well known on the OL side. They are Corentin Tolisso back from Bayern Munich and Alexandre Lacazette back from Arsenal. Two players who know the club, but above all two American internationals in age. What to announce the color to American football, after a few mixed seasons, it may well be that the big OL is back. The answer in the coming months, in any case, the bets are open.
