It was enough that he heard a few notes of “Jump” on the radio, this Wednesday, for Alain Giresse to find himself propelled onto the lawn of the Stade Vélodrome.
"I wondered if OM played in the morning," smiles the former Marseille midfielder.
Since 1986, Van Halen's hit has been the entry hymn for players in Marseille.
Alain Giresse was therefore moved when he learned of the death of guitarist Eddie Van Halen, who died on Tuesday at the age of 65.
OM paid tribute to the founder of the group Van Halen on Twitter and is considering a commemoration during the next match on October 17.
Eddie Van Halen, founding member of the Van Halen group whose title "Jump" accompanies the entry of our players has passed away.
Olympique de Marseille sends its sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.
🔵⚪️
- Olympique de Marseille (@OM_Officiel) October 6, 2020
"The players need
Jump
, I would almost say that it galvanizes them", says Alain Giresse.
He had just signed for OM in 1986, when Bernard Tapie introduced this entry music which became a hit when it was released in 1984: “Everyone joined right away.
It triggers the enthusiasm of the supporters.
And we, on the lawn, we feel a momentum that leads us to the middle of the field.
It gives a little excitement, a last element of motivation!
"
Marco
(the first name has been changed)
, one of the founders of Commando Ultra 84, had a “heartache” when he learned of the musician's disappearance. “It's pretty crazy that it has this effect on me, this supporter is moved.
He was a complete stranger to OM, yet one gets the impression that he was part of the family.
"
For this Ultra, the three synth chords almost provoke a “Pavlovian reflex” and bring out “a whole universe of sensations, sounds, colors”.
For 34 years, “Jump” has served as a starting signal for supporters to coordinate their activities: cracking of smoke, unveiling of the tifos or sails that cover the bends of the Vélodrome.
The many sharing of this tribute show the attachment of the Olympian people to the eternal anthem of the Stade Vélodrome, let us not forget.
#OM #Jump 🔵⚪️🎸 https://t.co/BWMo5GCVGS
- VieilleGardeCU84 (@ VGCU84) October 7, 2020
The moments before and after the meetings were revolutionized by Bernard Tapie and his teams.
When the businessman took over OM in the spring of 1986, "he wanted to make the matches a real spectacle, a real celebration, beyond the purely sporting aspect", remembers Alain Giresse.
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“Bernard Tapie had just brought in great players, such as Jean-François Domergue, Alain Giresse or Jean-Pierre Papin, adds Thierry, loyal to the Vélodrome.
And in addition, he added a giant screen, a big show around the match, a fireworks display at the end, a laser projection on the lawn… ”
pic.twitter.com/BW1gycHsIq
- Jacques-Henri Eyraud (@jheyraud) October 7, 2020
“It was a first in France.
Everything that was done afterwards in terms of entertainment is thanks to us ”, assures OM speaker André Fournel.
He remembers the thoughts surrounding the choice of song: “
Jump
was on the radio a lot at the time.
There was also
The Final Countdown
of Europe, a track by Phil Collins… But
Jump
imposed itself!
The hymn is a talisman for the Marseillais.
"The leaders who succeeded Bernard Tapie tried to suppress him," relates André Fournel.
But since we haven't won a single match during this period, they put it back right away!
"
