US EditionMichelle Kang Takes over as President of Ligue 1 Team Lyon as John Textor Resigns
- On June 30, 2025, Michele Kang took over as president of Olympique Lyonnais following John Textor's immediate resignation amid the club's confirmed relegation to Ligue 2 by the DNCG due to financial issues.
- The relegation decision followed an audit by the DNCG, France’s financial watchdog, which cited financial irregularities and estimated Lyon's debt at 175 million euros, prompting Textor to step back and focus on other markets.
- Kang, who joined Lyon's board in 2023 and owns the women's team, will lead the club's appeal of the relegation ruling while working closely with newly appointed Director General Michael Gerlinger to support the club.
- Textor expressed pride in Lyon's sporting progress, confirmed no doubts about Kang's leadership, and agreed to sell his 43 percent stake in Crystal Palace to Woody Johnson amid UEFA ownership regulations impacting European participation.
- Kang acknowledged the club faces a critical moment but reaffirmed her commitment to navigating challenges, while leadership changes may ease regulatory concerns and help preserve Lyon's European ambitions.
57 Articles
57 Articles
Threatened by relegation in Ligue 2, the Rhodanian football club turned on Monday to the American businesswoman, who already owned the women's section, to succeed John Textor. She is the first president of a professional men's team in France.
The new leader of one of the major football clubs in France will have the mission of saving the professional men's team from a retrograde in Ligue 2, pronounced last week.
After the downgrading to Ligue 2 of Olympique Lyonnais, its president John Textor announced that he would withdraw and was replaced by Michele Kang. In a press release published by Eagle Football, owner of the OL, the American businessman makes an assessment of the situation.
Idaho Press
Michele Kang takes over as president of French soccer team Lyon as John Textor resigns
American businesswoman Michele Kang has taken over as president of seven-time French champion Lyon after John Textor resigned following the club's relegation over financial irregularities.
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