To what extent the name of Jean-Michel Aulas, after thirty-six years of a reign hailed everywhere for six days (except by Hatem Ben Arfa), will he still be omnipresent in the coming seasons for Olympique Lyonnais? This is one of the many questions posed by the sudden departure of this outstanding builder, having transformed a Ligue 2 club into a seven-time French champion and semi-finalist in the Champions League twice. While he should be absent for his club’s third consecutive match, this Sunday (1 p.m.) in Clermont, could JMA obtain the ultimate recognition, namely to have his name attached to Parc OL? Never in the history of French football had a president fought like him to see a stadium belonging to the club (and not to the city) emerge from the ground, so the symbolism would be strong.
“Jean-Michel has really built a remarkable organization, for both the male and female sector, quickly greeted the main interested party on the subject, namely the owner John Textor, on Tuesday. And that beyond football, there is entertainment, technology… It is a huge club, which is felt through its community around the world. He has great vision, courage, and everything he has created cannot be ignored by anyone. From there to imagining a tribute +++ initiated by the American businessman who precipitated his eviction even before the end of this season, we will not risk it here.
“A fan fantasy”
In any case, some Lyon supporters are pushing in this direction, such as Souleymane Niang (19), who keeps the account GonesSpace on Instagram. On this one, we saw a very successful visual of Groupama Stadium, renamed Aulas Stadium, appear on Wednesday. “The man deserves this recognition after having built an empire and made OL a world reference,” said this student. I am doing propaganda on the networks so that his name appears on the stadium. It is essential, especially since his departure was really hard for such a gentleman, which is ugly. However, the naming of the formidable tool launched with Groupama Rhône-Alpes Auvergne in 2017, then extended in December 2021 (until July 2025), remains a major challenge, especially for a club that has not planned to stuff four consecutive seasons without participation in the Champions League.
I can’t see the owner depriving himself of naming resources to celebrate his predecessor out of magnanimity, says sports economist Jean-Pascal Gayant. The club is counting on these crucial cash inflows, estimated at 5.5 million euros per year. Renaming this stadium for Jean-Michel Aulas therefore seems to me to be a fan fantasy, before 2025 and even after. »
Contacted by 20 minutes, the management of Groupama Rhône-Alpes Auvergne declined to respond to our interview request. “It is premature to express ourselves on this subject, which for us, a private company and current namer, conceals real impacts as soon as we speak”, simply tells us Groupama.
A situation comparable to the Bernard Tapie Vélodrome
“It would be a beautiful tribute that would make sense, notes Maxime (41 years old), a loyal OL supporter. But John Textor will no doubt try to find a big American namer to increase cash flow from 2025.” Finally, couldn’t we imagine Groupama and Jean-Michel Aulas being associated in the title of the stadium? This is indeed the case in Lille, even if the configuration was done in the opposite direction, since the naming contract (until 2027) with the Decathlon brand only saw the light of day last year. Losc supporters are therefore going to the Decathlon Arena-Pierre Mauroy stadium this season. We defy anyone to spontaneously drop this full name in a conversation. But would Lille have a viable solution for Parc OL? “I doubt that this option will be considered by the marketing department of Groupama, especially since Jean-Michel Aulas remains a divisive character in France, believes Jean-Pascal Gayant. ”The namer” will for example not take the risk of losing customers from Saint-Etienne or Marseille by associating its name to that of Aulas at this point. »
This is understood, and there is therefore no risk of having the French counterpart of the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam anytime soon. The probable status quo in Lyon is reminiscent of that concerning the Vélodrome in Marseille. Just after the death in October 2021 of Bernard Tapie, OM icon and ex-mentor of JMA, nearly 6,000 Marseille supporters signed a petition demanding that the Vél ‘become the Bernard Tapie stadium. A surge of enthusiasm that the city of Marseille, owner of the enclosure even if the decisions belong since 2010 to the Arema consortium, quickly showered. “The town hall of Marseille cannot suddenly say that it will be called the Bernard Tapie Vélodrome, explained at the time at France Info Sébastien Jibrayel, city sports assistant. You can’t break a contract, you don’t have that power. “Because in Marseille too, a naming was launched with the Orange brand in 2016 (and until 2026, up to 2.5 million euros paid per year), the stadium then becoming the Orange Vélodrome.
“In Lyon, we must make him a monument”
In the absence of the name of the stadium, could former President Aulas inherit that of a presidential stand? Since its inauguration seven and a half years ago, the Parc OL has not yet had the successors of the side stands of Gerland baptized Jean Bouin (east) and Jean-Jaurès (west). “We could imagine an unofficial name for the stadium dedicated to JMA, but it’s probably premature, confides Richard, a regular at the south corner. It will perhaps be more concrete the day he is no longer of this world. On the other hand, it would be the least we could do to give it the name of the presidential tribune. »
Also contacted in this regard, OL did not respond to 20 minutes, during an eventful week behind the scenes. And if the best idea came to us from a former international player, Claude Makélélé, who had never played for the Lyon club during his career? “What has become of OL is thanks to Jean-Michel Aulas,” said the former Real Madrid defensive midfielder on Monday. I think that in Lyon, it is necessary to make him a monument. “Like a statue on the forecourt of the Décines enclosure for the man who has won 52 collective trophies since 1987, by combining his list of male and female A teams?
“Above the departures of Juninho and Lisandro”
“When we see how much those of Cristiano Ronaldo and Johnny Hallyday were missed, it seems risky to me, smiles Maxime, our supporter. There is no rush but I will go for a fresco on the walls of the stadium, as Gérard Houllier and Paul Bocuse were entitled after their death. One thing is certain, all eyes will be on JMA’s headquarters for the last two receptions of the season, against AS Monaco on May 19 and against Stade de Reims on May 27. Especially this last match in 2022-2023 in Décines, since the Bad Gones communicated their desire “to honor as it should, at the height of the path travelled”, their emblematic former president.
“I only knew him in this position at OL, so the emotion against Reims will still be above what we experienced when Juninho and Lisandro left,” concludes Maxime. Above a Gerland in tears, there will therefore undoubtedly be a total communion of supporters with their boss at the heart of the formidable tool. His formidable tool, where he said he was living “the best day of his life”, alongside American star Will.i.am, during the inauguration against Troyes (4-1) on January 9, 2016.