What happened to Olympique Lyonnaisthe team that dominated French football at the beginning of the century, saw its influence moderated by the arrival of foreign capital in other clubs and after the sale to an American billionaire occupies last place in the French league?
No one in France can explain the descent into hell of a team that three years ago, for the second time in its history, reached the semifinals of the Champions League at the expense of greats such as Juventus Turin or the City of Manchester.
Since then, the relegation has been permanent, institutional and sporting, until after the defeat suffered this Sunday against the bottom team, Clermont (1-2), placed them last in Ligue 1, with just three points from nine games and as the only team without a win.
All the ghosts are hovering around him LyonFrench football became a laughing stock, even for its own fans, who sent the team off with chants of “we are in Second”.
A view that the owner of the club, the American John Textor, is considered “impossible”, due to the “quality of the team” and “the game they play” which is “far from those who usually go down to second”. But the results are fruitful, because the statistics indicate that some teams were saved from burning with very little baggage points in so many rounds.
In nine days, the team has already burned out two coaches. Laurent Blancwith little faith was kept in the position, was fired after the first four days, with the team already at the bottom of the championship, and replaced by inexperienced Fabio Grossoa former club player, who in the next five did not give any reaction and was already on the trigger.
Group columns are not responsive. Dejan Lovren, Corentin Tolisso and Alexandre Lacazettewho returned last season to decorate the emblem of Lyon, are shadows on the field, like the historic captain, Anthony Lopesthis campaign is unknown.
It doesn’t look any better in the case of young people, symbolized Rayan Cherkione of the stars of the French U-21 team and a shadow when he plays with Lyon.
Institutional crisis
The bench asked, the squad mocked, things would not be better in the institutional aspect, where no one Lyon believe in Texterwho came as a life-giving person to face a new era and did not seem to respond as expected.
The American billionaire, who has in his portfolio the Botafogohe Crystal palace or the Molenbeekthey failed Lyonequipment it acquired in December 2022.
His name appeared as an opportunity for Lyon will be placed on the same level as other French clubs watered by foreign capital, such as PSG Qatari or Olympique de Marseille of his countrymen Frank McCourt.
This is the opportunity to turn the page Jean-Michel’s Classroomsthe historic owner, a local businessman who took over the club in the Second Division in 1987 and raised it to the heights of French football at the beginning of this century, where he also linked up with the greats of Europe.
Based on a sustainable economic model, the Lyon He rose through the ranks, until stiff competition from other clubs relegated him to a secondary role that fans lived with the same suspicion and excitement caused by the arrival of Texter.
At first, the owner continues to have Classroomsbut their relations soured until a year later he slammed the door and sued the American for defamation.
In parallel, the sporting situation is deteriorating, the OL It lacks a credible future plan and results keep it at the bottom of the table. An uncertain future for a club with a long past.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
