It is with moist eyes that Jean-Michel Aulas left the pitch of the Stade de la Source d'Orléans this Saturday, a few moments before the start of the Women's France Cup final between Olympique Lyonnais and Paris Saint-Germain.
Officially removed from the presidency of OL on May 8, after 36 years at the head of the club, Jean-Michel Aulas came to greet Lyon on the field before kick-off. After a final kiss and hug with captain Wendie Renard, the former leader left the pitch, visibly moved.
Jean-Michel Aulas very emotional before the final of the Women's France Cup. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/bl4lsXyQae
— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) May 13, 2023
Accompanied by Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, Jean-Michel Aulas seemed to hold back his tears, exhaling heavily, and raising his bright eyes to the sky.
"He fought for women's football"
"We want to win for Jean-Michel Aulas," Eugenie Le Sommer told Le Parisien before the game. "It would be nice for him to finish with two trophies. He means everything to the team. More than a page, it's a book that will turn for OL women! We have never seen a boys' club president at the grassroots level invest so much for girls. He had the ambition to take the team very high and he gave us the means to achieve his ambitions. He fought for us and for women's football in general, in France and around the world," she continued.
THANK YOU for any President ❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/9q8n0jFe3T
— Eugenie Le Sommer (@ELS_9_FRANCE) May 8, 2023
Under the presidency of Jean-Michel Aulas, the Olympique Lyonnais women's team won eight Champions Leagues, fifteen France Championships, and nine France Cups.