Pope Diouf is no more. Affected by the coronavirus, under respiratory assistance and hospitalized for several days, the former president of Olympique de Marseille died on Tuesday in Dakar, at 68 years old. As reported by AFP , citing family sources, Mr. Diouf was to be repatriated from the Senegalese capital to Nice by medical aircraft on Tuesday, but his condition deteriorated sharply and the plane could not take off.
Olympique de Marseille learned with great sadness of 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 his family and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/w9KyE45JMA
Journalist, player agent then manager
Former journalist - he started at La Marseillaise - and agent - Marcel Desailly, Didier Drogba, Samir Nasri, William Gallas ... -, Mabada Diouf, presided over OM between 2005 and 2009, after having occupied the functions of general manager from 2004. During his tenure, he will have helped stabilize the club at the top of the table, notably with three podiums and two second places from 2007 to 2009, opening the doors to the title of champion of France a year after his departure, in 2010, under the chairmanship of Jean-Claude Dassier. The first major OM title since the coronation in the Champions League, in 1993, on the side of Munich. At the time, Didier Deschamps was the captain. In 2010, he was the OM coach.
The fact remains that the balance sheet of OM between 2005 and 2009, both financially and sportingly, has never been questioned. If the native of Chad, who arrived in Marseille at 18, was forced to leave office, it is largely because of his disagreements with Vincent Labrune. According to numerous sources, the shareholder, Robert Louis-Dreyfus, decided in favor of the latter. “Pape Diouf was a great president who worked for the good of OM. Unfortunately, the differences that have arisen prevent us from continuing the adventure, ”announced the club.
Tributes rain
Many voices are already rising to pay homage to Pape Diouf, like Jean-Michel Aulas, president of OL: "Pope was a great president, very efficient, respectable and respected". “Thoughts and condolences for the family of Pape Diouf, journalist, agent, president. It has paved the way in all these sectors, ”said the former president of PSG, Michel Denisot. "You were the best of us and a model for me," sighs the former OM striker Mamadou Niang. Rolland Courbis evokes a "complete president" and a "great man", while OM mourns "one of the great craftsmen of the history of the club", a few days after the death of another figure of football, Michel Hidalgo.
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