Former Dockers and Levi’s executive Santiago Cucci is set to be appointed Lyon CEO, according to reports from both RMC Sport and L’Équipe. Cucci will handle the day-to-day management of Olympique Lyonnais and will therefore replace the club’s long-time president Jean-Michel Aulas. Aulas was dismissed by Lyon’s new owner, American businessman and Eagle Football Holding chief John Textor. Cucci was informally introduced to the media yesterday.
Cucci is a friend of former Lyon assistant coach Ludovic Giuly and of former France international Bixente Lizarazu. The 53-year-old Spaniard has reportedly started working for the Ligue 1 side for three weeks now. “Working in football has never been a goal of mine”, Cucci said. “But I believe in fate and I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t think I had a role to play. I’ve always had a great time in my career and this project is a blast. John [Textor] is a football enthusiast, involved and competent. The project is awesome.”
Cucci also shared his views on the DNCG’s ruling on Olympique Lyonnais. French football’s financial watchdog will monitor the club’s wage bill and transfer activity due to their financial issues. Specifically, the authority has deemed that Textor has not provided sufficient guarantees in the budget he has presented to them. “We have very good reasons not to be as worried as them [the DNCG]. I was very surprised by their response. They did not consider the resources from the sale of our Reign franchise…”
GFFN | Bastien Cheval
