OL has a new queen. Or rather a new “queen”. This Monday, June 30, the American Michele Kang was officially appointed President of Olympique Lyonnais in place of John Textor, whose divisive personality and methods were no longer appreciated by large world in Lyon. To replace him, it was therefore the 66 -year -old businesswoman and philanthropist who was propelled to the front of the stage. “Olympique Lyonnais (OL) has confirmed changes today in its management team, appointing Michele Kang to the post of president of the club and President and CEO of Eagle Football Group and Michael Gerlinger to the post of director general of the club”can we read on the press release.
A choice validated by John Textor, who dubbed him. “”Michele is the ideal choice to direct OL in the next phase and I have fully confidence in herself and OL, which will be stronger under her direction. ” Supported by Michael Gerlinger, Michele Kang faces an immense challenge of which she measures all the issues. “We are entering a critical period for OL and I would like to thank John for his commitment and his vision that allowed the club to join the Eagle Football family. I am delighted to work closely with Michael, the OL management team and the board of directors to support the club throughout the procedure in front of the DNCG and beyond. ”
She built a solid empire
Because she intends to work in the long term between Rhône and Saône, where she has already been working for several months. Known by all OL followers and the majority of supporters, Michele Kang is a little less in France. Born in June 1959 in Seoul, South Korea, where she did brilliant studies, she then joined the United States in the 1980s. There, she graduated in economics at the University of Chicago before obtaining a master's degree in management within the prestigious University of Yale. After being a consultant for large boxes, some of whom she has directed; In 2008, she founded her own company, Cognosis.
A company in the health information technology sector which weighed more than a billion dollars and which it sold in 2024. Winner of the Horatio Algiers 2023 prize, “Who rewards Americans who embody persistence in their personal and professional life”Michele Kang is a formidable entrepreneur but also an assumed feminist. This is certainly one of the reasons that prompted him to invest as much in the development and promotion of female sport in general. In 2022, she notably provided financial support to Just Women’s Sportsa media dedicated to women's sport in the United States, while making donations to various organizations.
Kang invests in sport and women's football
Last year, she launched in Paris Kynisca Sports International, Ltd. This is“A global multi-team organization dedicated to women's football, which will bring an unprecedented investment to sport on a scale allowing to conduct a lasting change.” In parallel, she gave just over € 3.4 million to the American Rugby Federation, after third place in the USA Women's team at the Olympic Games in Paris. A few months later, she dropped a little more than € 25.5 million to the American Football Federation to help the development of women's football. But her love story with football, she started long before. If she tried leather a little in school during her youth, Michele Kang really passionate about this discipline in 2019.
That year, the Americans won the Women's World Cup in France. A country where Michele Kang has expanded her empire, she who owns the Washington Spirit (National League for Women's Football) since 2022. A year later, in 2023, she became the owner of the London City Lionesses and the majority shareholder L’O OL. The same year, she became a minority shareholder of Eagle Football Holdings, of which she was also a director. It also sits on the OL board of directors. In 2024, the businesswoman officially took control of the OL women's section, she who was able to count on the support of Vincent Ponsot, Managing Director of Women.
From OL Lyonnes to OL
A club that was renamed Ol Lyonnes a few weeks ago. New identity, new logo and new ambitions, Michele Kang has admitted to dream bigger for his OL and emancipate from the male section. “Since I arrived here, about a year and a half ago, the objective was to professionalize and improve the women's team. Women's OL is the best team in the history of women's football. The players deserve their own identity. They are not secondary to the men's team, or someone's little sister. Our players play on a field of the training center. They are the best teams of women in the world so it is not possible. ”
She added: “Many positions had to be shared between the two teams but they focused on the male team. It was really important that we have a dedicated team and resources. As a female team, for all the young girls who have grown up in the world, not only in France, but in the world, Women's OL is the best. They deserve their own identity. They are separated and independent of everything else. They have their own resources, their own capacities, etc. ” Now, the one who is the neighbor of John Textor in Miami in Florida will have the hand in women and men.
She is the first president of an L1 club
President of the club and President and CEO of Eagle Football Group, the American billionaire wants to continue her work with Ol Lyonnes while saving OL from the industrial disaster. But this strong personality has the skills and especially the determination to put in order in the whole bazaar that John Textor left. It will take time and patience to get there. But those who know her have no doubt about her. This is the case of Badou Sambagué, lawyer specializing in football law and representing several international players. He has already had to deal with her on certain files and was won over. “Michele is a very good person. She is very professional, very pragmatic. She delegates and works as a team. She is able to position herself on subjects with great height. ”
He continues: “We had to negotiate the Ouleymata Sarr contract in Washington and it went extremely well with commitments that have been agreed on all aspects. She is a speech person who really wants to see athletes in the best conditions. She is very generous. She is able to come and have a coffee with a player if they are in the same city. It is a woman who is for the well-being of players and players. She did not plan to take the direction of a male club. If she does it in Lyon, it is really that she felt that she could bring something. ” The first woman president of a Ligue 1 club, Michele Kang certainly faces her biggest challenge, she who has already started work for a few days.
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