"A huge leader", "emblematic", "a great loss". Messages have multiplied on social networks since the announcement, Tuesday evening, of the death of the former players' agent and president of OM, taken to Dakar by the coronavirus. Unanimous tributes. Including former rivals like PSG and OL. All, leaders and supporters, players and politicians, famous or anonymous, hailed the memory of Pape Diouf, "one of the greatest leaders in the history of French football".
Marseille supporters were, of course, very numerous to be moved by the death of the man they consider to be the biggest president of OM after Bernard Tapie. Devotion and emotion can be read in thousands of messages. One of them explains this unique report by recalling a quote from Pape Diouf: "Marseillais know football and OM, they must be treated as equals and not lie to them". Bernard Tapie's son Stéphane paid tribute to his "friend", "my big brother as you often said".
Very sad to learn of the disappearance of Pape Diouf ... he will leave a unique memory in Marseille. Thoughts moved for his family and loved ones pic.twitter.com/hS6uTQhwHg
- Florian Thauvin (@FlorianThauvin) March 31, 2020My friend My big brother as you often said I miss you already Pape Diouf pic.twitter.com/Zvb9aV2fOr
- Stéphane Tapie (@TapieStephane) March 31, 2020 Deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Pope Diouf.
All our thoughts and prayers to his family. https://t.co/2FEE7zOaez
Rest in peace Pape Diouf
with great sadness the death of Pape Diouf.
Pope will remain forever in the hearts of Marseillais as one of the great craftsmen of the history of the club.
Our condolences to her family and loved ones pic.twitter.com/WhQXQK5o23
Many players, for whom he was their agent, their president, or both, said their great sadness, their deep respect for the deceased. “An example for many of us. A great figure on the African continent is gone, ”writes Bafétimbi Gomis. “A huge man, who will always have represented OM and his values with dignity. A great loss for French football and the African continent ", salutes Benjamin Mendy.
Sad day for the world of football and much more.
We cry a great journalist, a great president, a great agent, a great gentleman, a great brother, a spiritual father. An example for many of us. A great figure on the African continent is gone. RIP PAPE DIOUF ❤️ pic.twitter.com/xp0EhDyrV9
A lot of sadness when learning of the death of Pape Diouf ... A great President but above all a huge Man, who will always have worthily represented OM and its values. A great loss for French football and the African continent. Rest in peace pic.twitter.com/3lqI7VksOv
- Benjamin Mendy (@ benmendy23) March 31, 2020It is with great sadness that I have just learned that the Pope has left us. My thoughts are with his family, his loved ones. You were the best of us and a role model for me. Know that You will remain forever in my heart Pope. I love you ❤️ # papediouf # marseillepic.twitter.com / LPBZ1DMhy0
- Mamadou Niang (@ mamadniang11) March 31, 2020“Guardian angel”, “mentor”, “model”, “guide”: the players' words to express their great emotion
Some reveal an emotional, filial relationship with Pape Diouf. "My guardian angel throughout my career", moves Basile Boli. "He called me" son ", I called him" father "", says Habib Beye. "My mentor", continues Samir Nasri. "You were the best of us and a model for me," insists Mamadou Niang. "You were a guide, a real adviser for me and above all a man of honor," said Grégory Coupet. Respect for the word given also put forward by a Djibril Cisse author of a long message of love.
Pope has been my guardian angel throughout my career, a very fine friend.
I will forever miss her unique voice pic.twitter.com/Q7badrw3dV
Few people in the world of football have touched me or had an impact like you may have had in my life or in my career. You have always been a mentor, you have been my first agent, you have been my president… https://t.co/NXbPUxwzlj
- Samir Nasri Official (@ SamNasri19) March 31, 2020pic.twitter.com/8qm0bijnJB
- Djibril Cisse (@DjibrilCisse) March 31, 2020He called me "son" I called him "father" he was my agent, my president, but above all an exceptional man for me. My tribute to you Pope would not fit in a tweet. Thank you pic.twitter.com/F4HOqrTRAV
- Habib Beye (@BeyeHabib) March 31, 2020 I'm still having a lot of pain tonight! #PapeDiouf was a complete president: he had all the qualities required for this position! It was made for @OM_Officiel and for #Marseille
A great man ! rest in Peace President!
Proof that Pape Diouf was a very great leader, almost all the clubs of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 paid tribute to him in the evening, Paris SG and OL in mind. Kylian Mbappé sums up the state of mind: “No room left for rivalry tonight. Very sad to learn of the death of a monument to our football, ”says the Parisian striker. An opinion shared by many supporters of PSG who did not hesitate to temporarily put aside the rivalry between their two clubs to pay tribute to the former president of OM.
No room for rivalry tonight. Very sad to learn of the death of a monument to our football, my condolences to the Diouf family.
#StayAtHome
The Senegalese national channel has just announced the death of Pape Diouf, former president of OM, of the Coronavirus.
Obviously, in these moments, the rivalries no longer exist. All our thoughts go out to his family and loved ones. Rest in peace, Mr. Diouf. pic.twitter.com/NRgkeBshk1
Olympique Lyonnais offers its sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Pape Diouf who was a great president of French football. # RIPpic.twitter.com / wd7YlTxCN5
- Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) March 31, 2020Thoughts and condolences for the family of Pape Diouf, journalist, agent, president @OM_Officiel. It has led the way in all of these areas. RIP
- Michel Denisot (@michel_denisot) March 31, 2020The @PSG_inside offers its condolences to the family and loved ones of Pape Diouf, as well as to the @ OM_Officiel. The Club brings them all its thoughts of support and solidarity in these painful moments at a time when French and African football is losing a great figure.
- Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) March 31, 2020 ⚫️ Journalist, player agent and then passionate and committed club president, Pape Diouf was also a brilliant, cultivated and generous man.
French football has lost one of its wise men.
# ASSE sends its sincere condolences to the family of Pape Diouf pic.twitter.com/YD0cyTANeN
Actors from other sports also expressed their deep respect. Like judokate or rugby player Yannick Nyanga. "Difficult to find the words. That his soul rests in peace. An example. An inspiration. My condolences to his family and loved ones. French and African sport has lost a great soldier, ”writes the Racingman.
Sad to learn of the death of a monument to French football, a monument to French sport quite simply.
My condolences to the family of Pape Diouf and to their loved ones. # StayAtHomepic.twitter.com / 1ulQHuBXQo
Difficult to find the words. That his soul rests in peace. An example. An inspiration. My condolences to his family and loved ones. French and African sport has lost a great soldier. pic.twitter.com/sGDD3HUGei
- Yannick Nyanga (@YannickNyanga) March 31, 2020 The first outsourcing of our matches at the Vélodrome stadium took place under the era of Pape Diouf as president of OM.
To his family, loved ones, and @OM_Officiel, the Rugby Club Toulonnais sends its sincere condolences. pic.twitter.com/bfuGumgfdw
The tributes pleased, also from the political world or the media, many colleagues expressing their great sadness at the announcement of this disappearance. The mayor of Marseille, Jean-Claude Gaudin, obviously hailed the memory of the former leader of his city's flagship club. Phocaean supporters answered him directly to demand a beautiful and great tribute once the confinement was completed. The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, or Rama Yade, among others, also expressed their strong emotion.
It is with dismay that I have just learned of the death of Pope DIOUF, this evening, as a result of covid-19.
The disappearance of this former sports journalist, in love with his city and passionate about football, leaves a big void in the hearts of Marseillais. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/EyjmIavoZU
Pope Diouf, also affected by this terrible plague! We rubbed shoulders with OM then at the YEI / ECS in Marseille where we joined @FranckPapazian. Man of spirit, culture and great President of Club. Thanks to him for making us dream ...
- Jean-Pierre Foucault (@Foucault_JP) March 31, 2020Read also
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