This match will be the hardest of his career and it will unfortunately last much more than 90 minutes.
Nicolas Holveck, the executive chairman of Stade Rennais, has decided to play with transparency.
Absent from the public scene since March 1, Holveck, 49, had been hospitalized for a few days.
He decided, this Friday, to ask about his state of health the word whispered behind the scenes for a few days.
Yes, he is suffering from cancer and no, he is not going to leave his post.
It was in an official statement on Friday that the club announced the situation.
“The medical examinations undergone last week by Nicolas Holveck, Executive Chairman and CEO of Stade Rennais FC, revealed the existence of cancer,” explains the club.
As the treatment does not require hospitalization, Nicolas Holveck continues to fully assume his duties, relying on the club's teams.
Stade Rennais FC and the Pinault family send their best wishes for a speedy recovery to Nicolas Holveck.
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[PRESS RELEASE]
Nicolas Holveck: "In this difficult period, I remain fully involved in the service of Stade Rennais FC"
- Stade Rennais FC (@staderennais) March 12, 2021
In the same press release, Nicolas Holveck reiterated his commitment: “In this difficult period, I remain fully involved in the service of Stade Rennais FC. I know more than ever that I can rely in full confidence on solid teams, both on the sporting plan with the Technical Director, Florian Maurice and the trainer, Bruno Genesio, that on the administrative level with all the collaborators of the club and the imminent arrival of Olivier Cloarec.
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Arrived in 2020 at the club
Unknown to the general public, Holveck is passionate about football.
He began his administrative career as an intern with Nancy in 1997, where he climbed all the levels and became the man of confidence of Gérard Rousselot, who appointed him vice-president.
In 2014, Monaco hired him for his negotiating skills, especially during the transfer window.
But in Monaco, it was difficult for him to claim the presidency, the preserve of Russian owner Dmitri Rybolovlev.
In March 2020, he responded favorably to the call of Francois-Henri Pinault, the owner of Rennes and took over from Olivier Létang.
The arrival, announced at the end of January, of Olivier Cloarec, the former CEO of Dijon, to an identical position is therefore part of Nicolas Holveck's desire to remain in place, while taking a step back in the day-to-day management.
Rennes, where Bruno Genesio took over from Julien Stephan who had resigned on March 4, is going through a crisis of results translated by only one victory in 12 games in 2021. The Breton club receives Strasbourg this Sunday.