Pape Diouf, former president of Olympique de Marseille (OM), is set to be honored with the Legion of Honor by French President François Hollande at the Élysée. Pape Diouf, who succeeded Jean-Claude Dassier as president of OM, will receive this prestigious award in recognition of his “eminent merits acquired in the service of the nation,” as part of the July 14, 2012 promotion.
Born in Chad and raised in Senegal, Pape Diouf arrived in Marseille at the age of 18. Despite his father’s wish for him to become a soldier, Diouf pursued his passion for football. In 2005, he became the president of Olympique de Marseille under the influence of majority shareholder Robert Louis-Dreyfus. Diouf played a crucial role in the revival of OM, guiding the club back to the Champions League and maintaining its presence in the competition for three consecutive years.
However, conflicts with Vincent Labrune, the president of the OM supervisory board, led to Diouf’s departure on June 17, 2009. Despite this, he is considered a significant figure in OM’s success at the end of the 2000s.
Known for his stance against racism, Pape Diouf has become a respected figure under the French sun. In addition to his contributions to football, he has been involved in various activities, including running a journalism school in Marseille alongside Jean-Pierre Foucault. Last May, he was even proposed as a candidate for the mayor of the city of Marseille.
