Michele Kang takes over the president of Lyon as Ligue 1 Club profession against relegation

The American businesswoman Michele Kang took over the president of seven -time French champion Lyon after John Textor resigned after relegation of the club on financial irregularities.

Kang, born in South Korea, is also a majority owner of the Lady Team of Lyon-Ol Lyonnes-Een has been on the Lyon board of directors since 2023.

Lyon said in a statement that Kang will play an ‘active role’ in leading the attraction of the club against the relegation that was pronounced last Tuesday by the football watchdog of the French league, known as DNCG. The case is expected to be heard within the following week.

That statement could also decide whether Crystal Palace will be allowed to play in next season’s Europa League, for which Lyon also qualified. Textor also had a 43 percent importance in Palace – which he agreed to sell to New York Jets – owner Woody Johnson – and UEFA has rules against clubs with the same owner who plays the same competition.

Lyon added that Textor also resigned from the Board of Directors. He became Lyon President three years ago and took over from long-standing Jean-Michel Aulas, who after 35 years sold the lead to the Eagle Football Holdings of Textor.

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«Congratulations to Michele Kang for her appointment as Head of Ol (Lyon). This club deserves the best: ambition, passion and loyalty,» Post Aulas on X. «» I will always be fully dedicated to OL. «

The 66-year-old Kang will be supported in her role by Michael Gerlinger, the general director of Eagle Football Holdings.

«A highly respected figure in the European football administration, Michael brings experience in the board, regulatory issues and sports operations for more than two decades,» Lyon said in his statement.

Lyon’s Run from Ligue 1 titles from 2001-08 made it the powerhouse of French football. Since Paris Saint-Germain took over it at the top, Fortunes have steadily immersed Lyon.

The decision to relegate the club followed an audit of its finances by the DNCG, with the current debt of Lyon estimated at 175 million euros ($ 203 million).

The DNCG had already relegated Lyon to Ligue 2 in November, with the club reporting when it had more than 500 million euros ($ 581 million) in debt. A transfer ban was also imposed in the January transfer window.

News about Lyon’s relegations was met by the deprivation of Lyon -Fans, with one historic supporters group – The Bad Gones – that leads to calls to the immediate dismissal of Textor. The club shop was tagged with a blunt message that encouraged him to deal with.

Five years ago, a Champions League finalist, Lyon Nipe from Manchester United lost in the quarter -finals of the Europa League this season and missed a windfall in cash when it did not qualify for next season’s Champions League after sixth in Ligue 1.

Three weeks ago, Lyon received a much -needed money injection by selling coveted playmaker Rayan Cherki to Manchester City for 36 million euros, while high earners such as attacker Alexandre Lacazette left the club.

But it was not enough to convince the DNCG that Lyon’s books were in order, a task that now falls to Kang.

Ligue 1 resumes mid -August with Lyon planned to play at Lens if it wins the attraction.

Forbes estimates the value of Kang at $ 1.2 billion.

A year after taking over the Washington Spirit Women’s team in 2022, Kang took about 3,000 after the Washington Spirit -Lame team. They are now around 15,000.

She also leads Kynisca Sports International, a women’s led, several teams worldwide sports organization. Last November she promised $ 30 million in American football for women and girls for five years – the largest single investment specifically for the programs for women and girls in the history of the Federation.

In addition to her donation to American football, in August 2024 her sports organization Kynisca set up a global investment fund of $ 50 million (£ 39.2 million) to improve the health and performance of elite female athletes.

Lyon’s women’s team-a record eight times winner of the Champions League ocraft enjoy a new, feminine specific training campus when it will open in July 2026.

The women’s team will also share the Groupama stage with the men’s side.

The semi -final of last season for Women’s Champions League against rival PSG attracted 38,466 spectators.