La Bonne Mère, the Stade Vélodrome, and now the grave of Bernard Tapie. In Marseille, the pilgrim route of the supporter of Olympique de Marseille now extends to Mazargues, at the very end of boulevard Michelet where the Vélodrome stadium sits. It is in this historic district of Marseille with the air of a small village, one of the 111 in the city, that is buried the “Boss”, Bernard Tapie, president of the club during the victory in the European Cup in 1993.
More exactly, in the alleys of the cemetery of Mazargues. “Now people say the cemetery of Bernard Tapie, which enrages the inhabitants of Mazargues, very chauvinists, who answer ‘no, it’s the cemetery of Mazargues'”, confides Nicole, a florist a stone’s throw from the entrance to the graveyard.
“Like a pilgrimage”
She is in the front row to see the many supporters who come to pray at the grave of the former president of OM since his funeral in October 2021. “People often come in groups, when there are matches , with OM jerseys. Since his death, it hasn’t stopped. There are even people from Lens and Strasbourg who come, ”she says, impressed. “And Parisians, too, imagine. They come twice a year to the Boss’s grave. We see that they are very touched each time, it’s like a pilgrimage. For what he has done for OM and for his fight against illness, ”cuts his partner.
Bernard Tapie’s grave, referenced on Google Map, overlooks the upper part of this neighborhood cemetery, and the town hall has offered him a large location around which people can now gather. “Our Boss forever”, pays homage to him on a plaque from the Old Guard, “To our eternal Boss from SW 87 and CU 84”, reads another. Three scarves in the colors of OM come to cover the bottom of the tomb, on which are placed flowers and souvenir photos. And a small pebble, with the Gwenn ha Du, testifies to the passage of Breton supporters. An olive tree and a mimosa line the right side of the tomb. “A woman who worked with Tapie comes every week to look after the tomb,” confides Nicole.
Christiane and Benjamin are used to coming to maintain the family grave. Since Bernard Tapie’s grave is opposite, “there are more people. We see young and old, especially on match days. When our families found out that he was buried here, they asked us to send them photos”, recounts this retired couple, also referring to “almost a pilgrimage”.
A “primordial” visit two days before the 30th anniversary of the Champions League
Maxime 17, who came with his family with his two sisters, one of whom wears the OM jersey with the large blue star to celebrate 30 years of victory in the European Cup, is still a little disappointed. “We expected something more monumental. It lacks a bit of maintenance, especially two days before the 30th anniversary of the Champions League, ”he believes. Nothing is ever big enough for the “Boss” in Marseille.
A “primordial” visit for his mother, Cyrielle, 37, who therefore took the whole little family to come and see Tapie’s grave during a medical appointment in Marseille: “We come from Avignon, we took the opportunity to come to the Boss’s grave. It’s the first time we’ve come, for the boss and because it’s almost 30 years of the title of European champion, ”she confides. They will not be able to return for the celebrations planned for the Old Port on Friday, unlike Christiane and Benjamin who are closely watching the program of festivities: “We came to party in town thirty years ago, people kissed my wife through the window that was down,” Benjamin recalls. “Yes it’s true, I don’t know if I would do it again now”, laughs Christiane. In Marseille, time passes, but the memories of May 26, 1993 will never fade.