Olympique Lyonnais on Monday announced in a press release the exit of Jean-Michel Aulas after 36 years at the head of the club. He will be temporarily replaced by the club’s new owner, John Textor, who also owns Botafogo.
At the age of 74, the manager made his mark at the helm of Lyon, winning more than 50 titles, considering the men’s and women’s teams.
“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 said.
Aulas took charge of Lyon on June 15, 1987 and had one aim: to transform Lyon not only into an established club in Ligue 1, but also to do well at European level. At the time, Lyon was a club that was in the second division.
He moved the team up to the first division in the 198889 season, when he won the second division title.
In its first season in Ligue 1, 1989/90, the team finished eighth. He finished fifth and reached the UEFA Cup the next season, 1990/91.
Despite failing to win a European crown, the squad became one of the most important in France, winning multiple Ligue 1 titles and appearing frequently in European competitions.
The best result was in 2009/10, when they reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, a result that would be repeated in the 2019/20 season.
In an interview with Le Monde at the end of January, Aulas denied there was anything wrong in the club.
“We have had poorer results for two or three years, but it is not a sporting decline. We know why and we have identified the causes. We’ve just corrected it and it’s going to start again.” Aulas said.
